On Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:25:13 +0000, The Original Jake wrote:

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I used this type of trap which kills rather than traps live.

http://www.primrose.co.uk/mole-claw-...ml?src=cat_box

The page has a link to instructions showing where and how to place the
trap. The handles will indicate if it has been sprung.


Interesting traps, and apparently somewhat more sophisticated to those we
get in France. In the instructions though the tunnel seemed very
shallow. Sometimes they can be quite deep, which makes things more
interesting. Not sure that the method shown would work for us, also when
there are a lot of rocks in the ground the tunnels are anything but
straight.

A lot of people equate a lot of mole hills to a lot of moles! But apart
from the mating season, they tend to be territorial and an invader will
often end up in a fight to the death between it and the resident!
Anything around 10 mole hills is likely to represent a single mole.


That's true. But you can have a lot more than 10 mole hills. We used to
have an old fella that trapped for us, he was an expert and enjoyed doing
it. Would never accept payment, didn't drink any more (well, aside from
a shot of calvados in the coffee) so his "payment" was a half an hour of
company while we listened to his stories (no hardship for us!) When he
started, he pulled about 40 moles from perhaps 2 ha, in a couple of
months. I know they're supposed to be territorial, but I think we had an
over population!

If it's feasible, lowering the soil pH can help - the lower pH tends to
discourage earthworms which, in turn, discourages moles who find no
food. Of course, all the organic matter dug into veg patches and
allotments encourages worms.


Hm, I've heard this, but honestly, with a pH of 5 to 5.5 (i.e. fairly
acidic) we've got lots of moles and lots of worms.

You may well find, as I did, that catching 1 or 2 moles is the end of
your problem.


Let's hope so. I've got lots now.

-E



--
Gardening in Lower Normandy