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Mole hunt
All I see is molehills but I've never seen a mole. Anyone know the best
time to go out on patrol? Simon |
Mole hunt
"Stan The Man" wrote in message ... All I see is molehills but I've never seen a mole. Anyone know the best time to go out on patrol? Simon Moles probably/possibly never go walking. They are far too busy searching for worms a few inches below the surface. They have eyes but these are quite ineffective other than for recognising light and dark. The only moles I've ever seen above ground were either dead or moribund, other than the very few I managed to surprise and dig out~~and that requires unlimited patience. The only exception I've ever known was a few years ago, on very heavily manured recently cultivated ground, when loud squeaking could be heard below the surface. A pair of moles were dug out with one stroke of the spade and continued to fight and roll about on the surface. There was a witness, or I would have even doubted myself!!. Best Wishes Brian. |
Mole hunt
On Sun, 30 May 2004 22:47:43 +0100, "Brian"
wrote: "Stan The Man" wrote in message ... All I see is molehills but I've never seen a mole. Anyone know the best time to go out on patrol? Simon Moles probably/possibly never go walking. They are far too busy searching for worms a few inches below the surface. They have eyes but these are quite ineffective other than for recognising light and dark. The only moles I've ever seen above ground were either dead or moribund, other than the very few I managed to surprise and dig out~~and that requires unlimited patience. The only exception I've ever known was a few years ago, on very heavily manured recently cultivated ground, when loud squeaking could be heard below the surface. A pair of moles were dug out with one stroke of the spade and continued to fight and roll about on the surface. There was a witness, or I would have even doubted myself!!. Speaking of which, I've got a mole in veg patch! What're the chances that it'll just bugger off with all the digging that's going on? It's unlikely I'll be able to set a trap - the soil is much too friable with all the manure that's been added, so it's hard to dig out a section of a run without the whole lot caving in. What's the "Panel's" view on setting a 'honey trap' - a nice patch of slightly compressed soil with a board placed over it which can be lifted to expose a run? Given that the mole has made a bee-line for every bed I've dug so far, this might provide me with a means to catch the bleeder? Regards, -- Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk Emails to: showard{who is at}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk |
Mole hunt
Brian wrote:
"Stan The Man" wrote in message ... All I see is molehills but I've never seen a mole. Anyone know the best time to go out on patrol? Simon Moles probably/possibly never go walking. They are far too busy searching for worms a few inches below the surface. SNIP They must travel overground at times as they have appeared in a patch of ground I have which is surrounded by deeply sunken walls, further more the ground beneath the walls need a pneumatic drill to penetrate. However rarely I suspect. -- Please only reply to Newsgroup as emails to this address are deleted on arrival. |
Mole hunt
"Stephen Howard" wrote in message ... On Sun, 30 May 2004 22:47:43 +0100, "Brian" wrote: "Stan The Man" wrote in message ... All I see is molehills but I've never seen a mole. Anyone know the best time to go out on patrol? Simon Moles probably/possibly never go walking. They are far too busy searching for worms a few inches below the surface. They have eyes but these are quite ineffective other than for recognising light and dark. The only moles I've ever seen above ground were either dead or moribund, other than the very few I managed to surprise and dig out~~and that requires unlimited patience. The only exception I've ever known was a few years ago, on very heavily manured recently cultivated ground, when loud squeaking could be heard below the surface. A pair of moles were dug out with one stroke of the spade and continued to fight and roll about on the surface. There was a witness, or I would have even doubted myself!!. Speaking of which, I've got a mole in veg patch! What're the chances that it'll just bugger off with all the digging that's going on? It's unlikely I'll be able to set a trap - the soil is much too friable with all the manure that's been added, so it's hard to dig out a section of a run without the whole lot caving in. What's the "Panel's" view on setting a 'honey trap' - a nice patch of slightly compressed soil with a board placed over it which can be lifted to expose a run? Given that the mole has made a bee-line for every bed I've dug so far, this might provide me with a means to catch the bleeder? Regards, -- Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk Emails to: showard{who is at}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk Heavily manured, freshly worked, ground is paradise for both worms and moles. There is no better 'come on'! As you say, runs are difficult to locate and collapse too readily. However traps set in a collapsed run can get results as they are not surprised by such cave-ins. I dislike killing moles and so manure and till some weeks before planting~ by which time they have usually moved on. Another advantage of this process is that we can 'flame off' the surface and get at weeds just germinating. It works well but does need the space and time available. We tend to ask for trouble, as the manuring [horse] is at 100 tons per acre, applied early April/ May, for planting 14th June with a pH raised to eight. This is for Anemones De Caen 2-3cms[circum.] They take two weeks to emerge and the soil is again 'flamed' after the first week. Moles by then tend to be little problem. The next year, having ploughed in the Anemones, produces flowers and vegetables of enviable quality. I wouldn't be too bothered~~ they tend to disturb rather than destroy. Best Wishes. Brian |
Mole hunt
On Mon, 31 May 2004 15:37:44 +0100, "Brian"
wrote: Heavily manured, freshly worked, ground is paradise for both worms and moles. There is no better 'come on'! As you say, runs are difficult to locate and collapse too readily. However traps set in a collapsed run can get results as they are not surprised by such cave-ins. I dislike killing moles and so manure and till some weeks before planting~ by which time they have usually moved on. Another advantage of this process is that we can 'flame off' the surface and get at weeds just germinating. It works well but does need the space and time available. We tend to ask for trouble, as the manuring [horse] is at 100 tons per acre, applied early April/ May, for planting 14th June with a pH raised to eight. This is for Anemones De Caen 2-3cms[circum.] They take two weeks to emerge and the soil is again 'flamed' after the first week. Moles by then tend to be little problem. The next year, having ploughed in the Anemones, produces flowers and vegetables of enviable quality. I wouldn't be too bothered~~ they tend to disturb rather than destroy. I too thought this mole would move on, it's been kicking around over the winter. Unfortunately it seems to have realised it's onto a winner, with its very own gourmet restaurant right outside its front door. Just on the offchance, last night I dug a trench across its run in the border of the veg patch. I infilled with good soil and trampled it down a little, then placed a large block of wood over the earth. This morning I noticed a pile of earth by the wood, and on lifting it up saw two neat runs! The plan is to dig a hole under a run and insert a plastic lemonade bottle with the top cut off. The theory is that moley will fall into the bottle next time he goes out foraging - and I'll have him! I was all for setting a trap, and even went to the garden centre at the weekend to buy one...but the kids took one look at it and complained. So I bought a mushroom kit by way of consolation. I did notice a bottle of 'Organic mole repellent'. Ten quid though - and I'm inclined to feel that if it worked it would only send moley off to the neighbour's garden. It's a fine line really - as you say, moley is more of an inconvenience...though as it's an organic veg patch I'm rather attached to my colony of earthworms! I've found extensive runs around the roots of my newly planted beans and courgettes etc... and gawd only knows what state the spud bed is in. I have visions of roots suspended in mid tunnel - with me upstairs watering away like mad and getting nowhere fast!. I'm giving the mole the benefit of the doubt - I'll try to catch it and release it in the woods. The irony is, I wouldn't have minded it in the 'lawn' - I could well use the extra drainage a system of tunnels would have provided, and I've heard it said that the soil from molehills is excellent for potting. Current sco Mole 1 - Me 0. Seconds away... round two! Regards, -- Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations www.shwoodwind.co.uk Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk |
Mole hunt
In message , Stephen Howard
writes Current sco Mole 1 - Me 0. Seconds away... round two! The RHS recommends caper spurge, more or less on a the basis that it's an old wives' tale but might work - but all I can say is, we used to have massive runs, and ever since we have let some caper spurge mature here and there, there hasn't been a single mole. I have no idea where the caper spurge came from: it just was there in a flower bed one day! -- Klara, Gatwick basin |
Mole hunt
The message
from klara contains these words: In message , Stephen Howard writes Current sco Mole 1 - Me 0. Seconds away... round two! The RHS recommends caper spurge, more or less on a the basis that it's an old wives' tale but might work - but all I can say is, we used to have massive runs, and ever since we have let some caper spurge mature here and there, there hasn't been a single mole. I have no idea where the caper spurge came from: it just was there in a flower bed one day! My mother had caper spurges splurged all over the garden, and moles splurged all under it. Old wives' tale. -- Rusty Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
Mole hunt
The message
from klara contains these words: In message , Stephen Howard writes Current sco Mole 1 - Me 0. Seconds away... round two! The RHS recommends caper spurge, more or less on a the basis that it's an old wives' tale but might work - but all I can say is, we used to have massive runs, and ever since we have let some caper spurge mature here and there, there hasn't been a single mole. I have no idea where the caper spurge came from: it just was there in a flower bed one day! My mother had caper spurges splurged all over the garden, and moles splurged all under it. Old wives' tale. -- Rusty Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
Mole hunt
"Jane Ransom" wrote in message ... In article , Stephen Howard writes I'm giving the mole the benefit of the doubt - I'll try to catch it and release it in the woods. Apart from the fact that that is illegal, don't you think you are being rather selfish by passing your problem on to someone else? In what way would a mole in a wood be a problem to someone (other than the mole, AFAIK they dont live in wooded areas do they?) -- Tumbleweed Remove my socks for email address |
Mole hunt
The message
from "Tumbleweed" contains these words: "Jane Ransom" wrote in message ... In article , Stephen Howard writes I'm giving the mole the benefit of the doubt - I'll try to catch it and release it in the woods. Apart from the fact that that is illegal, don't you think you are being rather selfish by passing your problem on to someone else? I don't think it is illegal to release moles. Rats, mice, foxes, grey squirrels, yes. In what way would a mole in a wood be a problem to someone (other than the mole, AFAIK they dont live in wooded areas do they?) Yes. Moles quite like woodland. -- Rusty Open the creaking gate to make a horrid.squeak, then lower the foobar. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/ |
Mole hunt
On Tue, 01 Jun 2004 10:31:52 +0100, Stephen Howard
wrote: On Mon, 31 May 2004 15:37:44 +0100, "Brian" wrote: Heavily manured, freshly worked, ground is paradise for both worms and moles. There is no better 'come on'! As you say, runs are difficult to locate and collapse too readily. However traps set in a collapsed run can get results as they are not surprised by such cave-ins. I dislike killing moles and so manure and till some weeks before planting~ by which time they have usually moved on. Another advantage of this process is that we can 'flame off' the surface and get at weeds just germinating. It works well but does need the space and time available. We tend to ask for trouble, as the manuring [horse] is at 100 tons per acre, applied early April/ May, for planting 14th June with a pH raised to eight. This is for Anemones De Caen 2-3cms[circum.] They take two weeks to emerge and the soil is again 'flamed' after the first week. Moles by then tend to be little problem. The next year, having ploughed in the Anemones, produces flowers and vegetables of enviable quality. I wouldn't be too bothered~~ they tend to disturb rather than destroy. I too thought this mole would move on, it's been kicking around over the winter. Unfortunately it seems to have realised it's onto a winner, with its very own gourmet restaurant right outside its front door. Just on the offchance, last night I dug a trench across its run in the border of the veg patch. I infilled with good soil and trampled it down a little, then placed a large block of wood over the earth. This morning I noticed a pile of earth by the wood, and on lifting it up saw two neat runs! The plan is to dig a hole under a run and insert a plastic lemonade bottle with the top cut off. The theory is that moley will fall into the bottle next time he goes out foraging - and I'll have him! I was all for setting a trap, and even went to the garden centre at the weekend to buy one...but the kids took one look at it and complained. So I bought a mushroom kit by way of consolation. I did notice a bottle of 'Organic mole repellent'. Ten quid though - and I'm inclined to feel that if it worked it would only send moley off to the neighbour's garden. It's a fine line really - as you say, moley is more of an inconvenience...though as it's an organic veg patch I'm rather attached to my colony of earthworms! I've found extensive runs around the roots of my newly planted beans and courgettes etc... and gawd only knows what state the spud bed is in. I have visions of roots suspended in mid tunnel - with me upstairs watering away like mad and getting nowhere fast!. I'm giving the mole the benefit of the doubt - I'll try to catch it and release it in the woods. The irony is, I wouldn't have minded it in the 'lawn' - I could well use the extra drainage a system of tunnels would have provided, and I've heard it said that the soil from molehills is excellent for potting. Current sco Mole 1 - Me 0. Seconds away... round two! Regards, You might try my method. A mole just started investigating my lawn, so I went and bought one of those ultrasonic repellor. Result!!! Mind you all I had to do was buy it, not take it out of the packet, or heaven forbid actually put it in the garden. So they do work, but just not in the way I expected :) |
Mole hunt
In article , Tumbleweed
writes In what way would a mole in a wood be a problem to someone (other than the mole, AFAIK they dont live in wooded areas do they?) Presumably someone owns the wood and doesn't want moles any more than you do. -- Jane Ransom in Lancaster. I won't respond to private emails that are on topic for urg but if you need to email me for any other reason, put ransoms at jandg dot demon dot co dot uk where you see |
Mole hunt
On Tue, 1 Jun 2004 19:04:17 +0100, Jane Ransom
wrote: In article , Stephen Howard writes I'm giving the mole the benefit of the doubt - I'll try to catch it and release it in the woods. Apart from the fact that that is illegal, don't you think you are being rather selfish by passing your problem on to someone else? Is it illegal? Please state your references. When I called DEFRA about this they seemed a bit puzzled...the local rep is getting back to me - but in the meantime the only reference I could find to the legality of relocating trapped moles was a DEFRA publication that states that it's 'not recommended' - the reason given that there hasn't been any research into what happens to relocated moles ( plenty of research into ways of killing them though ). Similarly the Mammal Society knew of no such legislation regarding moles ( unlike that which applies to, say, grey squirrels ). In fact they seemed to think it was an excellent idea - assuming I could catch the mole in the first place. Seems a bit odd that it's legal to kill them but not, supposedly, to trap them and release them back into the wild given that they don't pose a health risk to humans, nor are they particularly rampant in their breeding habits. As for the charge of being selfish - how does the decision not to kill an animal who's only crime is that its foraging habits are inconvenient come across as selfish? Is it perhaps the case that you'd rather other people decimated wildlife on your behalf so as to prevent your having to deal with it at some point? As regards releasing into the woods - how could this be construed as passing the problem on to someone else? Surely, if a wood doesn't have a comprehensive range of wildlife then it's not really a wood - more like an untidy back garden. When conducting your research into the legality of relocating moles, please bear in mind that the woods I refer to are on my land. Regards, -- Stephen Howard - Woodwind repairs & period restorations www.shwoodwind.co.uk Emails to: showard{whoisat}shwoodwind{dot}co{dot}uk |
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