G. D. moles!!!

[LWJ]

I did search (but failed). There was a mole thread a few years back and since then I have learned much and been trapping the little diggers in a traditional tunnel nicely and effectively.

Until we spread compost all over our flowerbeds. Now they are just cruising under the surface with out making much of a tunnel.

How to kill? Or, how to deter?

Thanks in advance!

[stevej37]

Get one of these. Easy to set and works very good. I have four of them...first sign of tunnels, I set em all out. Amazon has them.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Get one of these. Easy to set and works very good. I have four of them...first sign of tunnels, I set em all out. Amazon has them.

I think that's the problem, he's been using something that works when there are tunnels, but since he put out mulch, they aren't making tunnels?

[LWJ]

Stevej37,
In fact I did buy one of those (thanks to your recommendation!!!) a few years back. I have not been successful with it - but it sure looks good. I have been very successful with old-school Victor scissor style traps.

But when they don't go in a main tunnel but rather go all over just under the surface? New tactics are needed!

[stevej37]

It's surprising, to me, how many tunnels, ridges, that just one mole makes.
If you can find any raised part in the lawn that comes back up after stepping it down, a trap should get him.

I've found in the outer portions of my lawn a whole maze of tunnels....looks like many moles.
I set out traps and never catch any more than one and the tunneling stops.

Of course your moles might be a diff type than what we have here.

[LWJ]

I think it is the same. One little digger can make a big mess!

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by stevej37

It's surprising, to me, how many tunnels, ridges, that just one mole makes.
If you can find any raised part in the lawn that comes back up after stepping it down, a trap should get him.

I've found in the outer portions of my lawn a whole maze of tunnels....looks like many moles.
I set out traps and never catch any more than one and the tunneling stops.

Of course your moles might be a diff type than what we have here.

There are transit tunnels and terminal tunnels.

Terminal tunnels terminate where the mound appears. If one is serious about eradicating the disgusting little mutants, one must be vigilant about where the varmint is. It takes about two days for Mr Mole to clean out a tunnel and create a mound. If one can be vigilant, one can observe the mound in progress, literal earth-moving. You have to sort of sneak up and that little pile of dirt (moles can feel vibrations like women can smell money) shovel in hand, sharpened, of course.

Then when you see the earth move, attack! Encircle the mound with your ballistic shovel penetrating at least 12” deep, much like a bunker buster.

Poof. Gone.

[stevej37]

It was last fall one day when I see a fresh tunnel right up close to the front door. No way do I want a maze of tunnels there, so I go get a handful of step in traps. The first one went in and I turned to get another and I heard 'Snap'.
I pulled the trap out thinking that I had stepped it in too far and the trigger went off.

I had the mole in the trap no more than 10 seconds after I set it.
Oh happy daze!

[LWJ]

Crowbob transit vs terminal. Great info! Maybe I can make more into "terminal" tunnels.

[Crowbob]

Terminal tunnels are the best tunnels.

[pmax]

[GH85Carrera]

We have a male dachshund that discovered a mole tunnel HIS back yard, well he thinks it is his back yard. He as successfully chased off herds of bison, polar bears and elephants. None of those have been seen in the area in many years.

Anyway a mole made the bad decision to try his back yard. He went to digging, and had mud on his back 1/2 way down his back. He made a huge mess and it took a couple of baths to clean him up. If he caught the mole, he disposed of it in a very biological way. There was never more evidence more than the neighbors talking about their moles, and that is were the moles came from, their yard.

He has successfully caught several mice, one bunny, and a squirrel. How a short legged dachshund ever got a bunny or squirrel we will never know. The evidence was right there. I had to bury the remains in the compost pile, and let the worms do the rest.

His favorite snack of all is a cicada. Num num.

[juanbenae]

I use a plastic model of the shiny one posted above. Works decently, my kill rate is like 50% on moles. It's crazy that they will often come and then leave after I set the trap or fiddle with their "tunnels". I quote tunnels because moles tunnel kinda, they more push up while digging shallower route as they eat grubs and other worms in such. Moles are not root eaters so deep tunnels are not their thing like gophers or voles that eat roots can dig deeper, stay safer, but have to clear the dirt so there are piles.

Know your enemies....

[LWJ]

^^^so tell me how you set the above trap?

[stevej37]

When you insert the trap, the two jaws go directly inline into the tunnel. When you step the big spring down, it spreads the jaws apart to either side of the tunnel. The trigger needs to be barely resting on the tunnel dirt.

[LWJ]

Cool. That is how I did it. Thanks!

[pmax]

Originally Posted by stevej37

When you insert the trap, the two jaws go directly inline into the tunnel. When you step the big spring down, it spreads the jaws apart to either side of the tunnel. The trigger needs to be barely resting on the tunnel dirt.

[stevej37]

^^^ Yummy!...perfect for the Holiday.

[juanbenae]

My gawd! So, I'm down in front of my place last evening right at dusk and something catches the corner of my eye... I look over to see my 13 y/o, 7lbs cat rolling up the hill with this huge for her normal kills Ground Squirrel... It was still alive fighting her every step of the way with her having the death lock on the back of its neck with the full on fluffed halloween cat tail... A regular David Attenborough scene!!

As she made her way to the raised porch where she generally retires with her lower area of the property kills, I tried to get her to let it go, she was having none of it and got under the porch where the fight really ensued. I wanted to try to get it away from her due to its size and how intense the battle got under the porch as I did not want her to be hurt. Through the scrum dust I saw her regrip and get it by the windpipe side of its neck. I was right by a faucet with a hose so in an effort to get her off it I turn the water on them both soaking her and she would not let go, halloween cat tail and all. She usually will run from even the slightest amount of water pointed her way.

With that not working I went and got a broom and was able to get it on the victim and she finally let go. I was able to push & pull it out from under the porch, keep her away long enough to club it with the broom handle as it was so gone it would not survive and was suffering.

You all need yourselves a Popper Kitty...


7lbs of pure bad a$$




2lbs easy.

[pmax]

Originally Posted by stevej37

Get one of these. Easy to set and works very good. I have four of them...first sign of tunnels, I set em all out. Amazon has them.