Moles

[MRT]

Why is it some moles fill traps with soil? My heart sinks when I pull up a trap with soil because if they fill one they seem to fill them all and they are devils to catch. What am I doing wrong? Talpex traps

 

[Johnnyboxer]

I have the same problems with duffus traps

Frustrating

 

[MRT]

I have the same problems with duffus traps

Frustrating

Others catch first time and I can't see the difference. Try to cover the traps well, little roof of squashed turf, hay over any gaps and loose soil on top so shouldn't be air or light getting through.

 

[Monty]

Maybe try cleaning the runs out with a spoon first. Works very well with the putange traps I use.

I thought the talpex type were well suited to crumbly dry soils where moley bulldozes the soil?

 

[milkloss]

Clean the run out well and tamp the bottom with something like T handle off a spade. If they find loose soil in the run they'll have a scratch around and block the trap.

 

[puntabrava]

Why is it some moles fill traps with soil? My heart sinks when I pull up a trap with soil because if they fill one they seem to fill them all and they are devils to catch. What am I doing wrong? Talpex traps

You’re trying to catch them where they are feeding? they are moving slowly and feel the disturbance above where you have put the trap in front. You need to go back to your fence line/ hedgerow and find the ‘motorway’, they are not so cautious here and moving much faster and will be in your trap before they are aware of disturbance.

 

[Paddington]

Anyone else stick a marshmallow inside the trap ? I laughed at this at first but seemed to catch a few more moles. Not working at the moment, perhaps because it's Lent.

 

[milkloss]

Put blackthorn up the runs. They cut themselves and don’t clot........

 

[serf]

You’re trying to catch them where they are feeding? they are moving slowly and feel the disturbance above where you have put the trap in front. You need to go back to your fence line/ hedgerow and find the ‘motorway’, they are not so cautious here and moving much faster and will be in your trap before they are aware of disturbance.

Good advice never thought of this , they are crafty feckers , as above its a heart sinker when you pull trap full soil

 

[Mur Huwcun]

I’ve had a disasterous few months on the job this year so know your pain and frustration. Only caught 3 so far, nearly every trap every day is bulldozed with soil. Putanges, scissors, and tunnel traps. If I had a gun I would be quicker sitting there all day!!

Usually get them within few days, the buggers must of been on an online course over the Covid period!!!

 

[serf]

 

[serf]

I’ve had a disasterous few months on the job this year so know your pain and frustration. Only caught 3 so far, nearly every trap every day is bulldozed with soil. Putanges, scissors, and tunnel traps. If I had a gun I would be quicker sitting there all day!!

Usually get them within few days, the buggers must of been on an online course over the Covid period!!!

I had good bit luck last year with em but not done any lately , it does put you off when you have a bout of empty traps .

 

[JSmith]

Moles live by scent an touch, as above make the run smooth where you’ve disturbed the soil, try not to cut too big a hole for the trap, I use gloves an rub hands in soil well before touching traps, new traps get buried for a week under the turf!! Clever little buggers you gotta treat them with respect, it’s not simple catching them or they’d be exterminated!! I don’t catch every time by no means at all but catch more since I took advice like above! Other thing we do if large numbers is Harrow field flat an then go a couple of times a day with the shotgun an shoot the feckers, aim just below the mole hill, have to be quite close, if you don’t hit them you generally stun them enough to get hold of them, you can get high numbers in a short time if you make the time to do it, mate an his lad had fifty in two days over 40 acres

 

[hendrebc]

Shot 6 the other day but none since think I peaked too soon
Will have to get some traps out again but was never very good at it.
Moles seem to have had very good year here!

 

[ARW]

I can catch them easy in one field that’s got lighter land, but in another heavy field I cannot get them, the holes are very deep and they always fill the traps up

 

[Dry Rot]

As Milkloss, post 5, tamp the bottom of the run. I assume they are trying to make the run deeper every time as the tunnels must tend to fall in from above. Also, I run the chain harrows over them, then set a trap in the run a couple of metres from a fresh mole hill. Now is a good time to trap as they are hungry after the winter and getting ready to breed.

 

[czechmate]

Anyone else stick a marshmallow inside the trap ? I laughed at this at first but seemed to catch a few more moles. Not working at the moment, perhaps because it's Lent.

You mean marmalade, surely?

 

[MRT]

You mean marmalade, surely?

Could understand if I was using Marmite

 

[Bobthebuilder]

I’ve had a disasterous few months on the job this year so know your pain and frustration. Only caught 3 so far, nearly every trap every day is bulldozed with soil. Putanges, scissors, and tunnel traps. If I had a gun I would be quicker sitting there all day!!

Usually get them within few days, the buggers must of been on an online course over the Covid period!!!

Snap, not having a good run at all this year, not really had the time to check/move them every day in a line of hills how far back from the freshest hill is it best to put the trap?

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Snap, not having a good run at all this year, not really had the time to check/move them every day in a line of hills how far back from the freshest hill is it best to put the trap?

I’ve a run in one field that you can actually see as it’s just under the grass! Tried traps somewhere on that run everytime and there’s soil in each everytime!!! I usually try them by the wall etc but have had good success in middle of fields aswell