Moles

[DaveJ]

I chopped up an offcut of blue alkathene into foot lengths and use that as trap markers. As suggested by @Kevtherev 's Dad who first taught me to catch moles.
I've been pretty successful considering the mess there was here when I started (there's an old GoogleEarth satellite pass from just before I started that is embarrassing). But the worst fields now are ones where I ploughed 8-10 years ago for turnips, but only power harrowed to put back into grass. The moles are running under the furrows and are extremely deep and hard to find the runs.

 

[hally]

Thought I'd lift all my traps today as it's got to wet, this little bugger must have swam into the putange

 

[GAM]

Just letting anyone know who maybe interested, I have just picked up last of my mole traps, as we are about to chain harrow the old tumps off....... ended up with 45, a lot learnt, yet still have a mole or two left in one field, as they have out smarted me all winter! Lots of old wives tale have gone out the window!! I have caught with brand new traps, and suffered with old ones! I have caught them in floods traps, and have caught them in tunnel traps turned upside down.... Im thinking they don't like rusty things, as they may scag themselves, one thing I found if you steam cleaned (dish washer when the wife is out) them, you were more likely to catch when moving fields! Ps. watch your fingers on the tunnel traps..

 

[GAM]

Thought I'd lift all my traps today as it's got to wet, this little bugger must have swam into the putangeView attachment 764986

Yes, I have checked a trap in the evening, and it was submersed in water, purely by routine I checked it the following morning and had one in there, it was either escaping back to the hedge line, or the little buggers are amphibious!

 

[Yale]

Another tip I would recommend is if you have a digger then with hedge banks if there are ones with maybe no fence or hedge then remove about 5 metres and simply replace.

This is especially important with hedge lines which run perpendicular out from neighbouring properties who don’t catch moles.

Effectively you disrupt the motorways they use which have been there for centuries.

Any mole trying to run that hedge bank will have to establish a new run and show itself.

 

[hally]

Yes, I have checked a trap in the evening, and it was submersed in water, purely by routine I checked it the following morning and had one in there, it was either escaping back to the hedge line, or the little buggers are amphibious!

It’s like a game of chess trying to outsmart them, I love the job

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Could you put gas down the holes

 

[Derrick Hughes]

 

[berisford]

Would a good thermal rifle scope be capable of finding a mole under ground ?

 

[beefandsleep]

Would a good thermal rifle scope be capable of finding a mole under ground ?

No

 

[milkloss]

No

Don’t tell me you tried it!!

Might see where they’ve been pushing fresh earth up maybe?

 

[davieh3350]

Could you put gas down the holes

And then light it...

I only did it once... Or twice... Blew the heaps up down the run.

 

[beefandsleep]

Don’t tell me you tried it!!

Might see where they’ve been pushing fresh earth up maybe?

I’ve watched rats and all sorts through a thermal scope, it doesn’t take much to block a thermal signature. You have zero chance of seeing anything under ground, even a few mm underground.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

And then light it...

I only did it once... Or twice... Blew the heaps up down the run.

Did it kill the moles

 

[davieh3350]

Did it kill the moles

I shouted down the burrow to let them know I was going to be knocking their houses down gave them fair warning to leave. If they chose to ignore me I don't think they would have survived

I've gone soft and just kick their hills down where I'm not going to mow.
Brings a lot of nice fine soil to the surface
Same as dockens, as soon as you see them as a green manure you loose a problem and see a benefit.
Going to put the Vari spreader on with the harrows behind and do a little topping up of grass and other things and knock the hills down before I start trapping them.

I like the challenge and satisfaction of catching them though...

Bloody hard to find the traps when the kids from the caravan site go and pull out your marking sticks!

 

[Trying]

On the black fen land I’m finding that since I’ve gone min till I’m getting less moles. Well less than last year. I’m finding that they are keeping just under the surface which is loads easier to set traps. I’m getting about 3/4 moles every couple of days. Last year I put a couple of legs in about 8” deep the moles used these as runs cus it was easier for them. Haven’t had any of these this year either

 

[hally]

On the black fen land I’m finding that since I’ve gone min till I’m getting less moles. Well less than last year. I’m finding that they are keeping just under the surface which is loads easier to set traps. I’m getting about 3/4 moles every couple of days. Last year I put a couple of legs in about 8” deep the moles used these as runs cus it was easier for them. Haven’t had any of these this year either View attachment 788282

Show off

 

[neilo]

Been having a set to on a field infested with the buggers. Swedes last year and due to be DD’ed Spring Barley if we get a bit of rain to soften it.
Difficult setting traps as the soils so hard/lumpy, but had 12 since yesterday, and i’ve Only covered half the 14ac yet!
Included this pair just now, from a trap set this morning.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Dan the Mole been here all day he was up to 80 traps at lunchtime

 

[Trying]

Been having a set to on a field infested with the buggers. Swedes last year and due to be DD’ed Spring Barley if we get a bit of rain to soften it.
Difficult setting traps as the soils so hard/lumpy, but had 12 since yesterday, and i’ve Only covered half the 14ac yet!
Included this pair just now, from a trap set this morning.

View attachment 790760

Well done. It’s quite satisfying when it happens. I wonder if there are different breeds as your moles look darker than mine. Mine are grey/ black colour. Where as yours look black.