Another victory

I caught another evil creature this weekend (mole). They are really driving me nuts over here. We have plenty of them. I'm thinking about getting some milky spore disease to put in the yard to eliminate the beetle larvae which they eat. Anyway, I use the Nash Chooker Loop for the most success. I've tried a few others and watched my in-laws try others and this one (I think) works the best...for me anyway. It doesn't put any obstacle in the tunnel, so the mole just comes along and thinks his tunnel got smashed down a little...so he pushes the soil back up and WHAM!...got cha! I've caught about 15 or so this year...maybe a few more. Here's a picture of the trap: http://www.nwtrappers.com/images/products/nclmt.jpg When the trap is set, the loops push down through the soil and actually rest UNDER the tunnel, with the rest of the trap resting on top of the ground...when the trap is set off, the loops are pulled up by the springs, trapping the mole between the loop and the rest of the trap.

I just ordered another version that uses pinchers. We'll see, but I think the new trap I ordered may be more effective. It appears to have a stronger spring and it looks like it's more likely to catch the mole, based on the way the trap rests in the tunnel. The key, I've found, is to find the right tunnel (one used for travel, not feeding) and place a trap which will leave the mole thinking that his tunnel just got a little smashed down...they don't seem to like anything that gets in their way, like one of the traps I have, it puts a trigger in the path of the tunnel and the mole must push the trigger...it's not an easy trap to set, everything must be just right and many times the mole just tunnels around it. Here's a picture of that one: http://www.nwtrappers.com/images/products/esme.jpg

If there's one thing that I hate, it's moles. They push up new plants and just make a mess of my beds and yard. I don't like to see animals suffer, but I have no mercy when it comes to moles.

This message was edited Monday, Oct 8th 9:06 AM

I've heard mixed reviews of milky spore, that it takes years for it to build up enough in the soil to do any good. Anyone here used it with success? The fish & wildlife people who came to speak to our master gardeners class told us the only thing that really works is traps. I would have no problem trapping the moles in our yard. Just haven't gotten around to it yet. (Need one of them thar ROUND TUITS).

Check out this guy, The Mole Man: http://www.themoleman.com/

Milky spore is iffy in zone 5. A bad winter will kill it - and you'd have to start from scratch again. I know the lawn and landscape services around here won't guarantee that it will survive the winter.

My mother battled moles for 20 years or more without success.She's used every trap available,poison peanuts,dog hair ,human hair,milky spore,Spectracide,those electronic thingys that are supposed to scare them , Juicy Fruit gum(chewed and unchewed),the water hose and her tailpipe exhaust!She's also been known to stand out in the yard with a homade'spear'.The problems started when the neighborhood aged and all the kids grew up.With the kids gone,the outdoors cats and dogs weren't there anymore either.The trees got older too and several in her yard had to be taken down.The root systems disentegrated and left nice ready made dens and burrows for nests.She fought them all year round relentlessly.Only the coldest dead of winter kept them away(here in west KY that's about 4 weeks)This summer she finally sold the place and moved to a condo in town.The people who bought the house are young with kids.Maybe they will have better luck.

Guess I won't spend the money for the milky spore. I do have good success with the traps I have, but the problem is, they keep coming back! We live near a field and wooded area, so the soil is nice and loose in those areas. They run all over in those areas...then wander into my yard. It may take a few tries, but if I get a tunnel they use often, it's just a matter of time before they become food for the fly larvae. I love watching Paul James on HGTV, but I have to disagree with him on the mole issue...he actually likes them! lol Not me :)

I had trouble with moles and gophers until I got my CAT! Now, they're just about non existant.

"eyes"

Our dog Sarah dug up one mole and killed it. Wish she'd get more of them! Saw a dead shrew on the patio the other day; the neighbor's cat must have gotten it, but been startled away from it. Or it just keeled over en route somewhere, maybe to pay a visit to Mr. Mole.

Marty -

Just got some good mole info today in a newsletter our local extension agent forwards to us:

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The P.E.S.T. Newsletter
(PEST EVALUATION AND SUPPRESSION TECHNIQUES)
1 October 2001

Editor: David Shetlar (THE BUGDOC)
Landscape Entomology Extension Specialist
The Ohio State University Extension



Now is also the time that moles are becoming more noticeable. During much of the summer, these small mammals have had to dig deep into the soil to get to the moist areas where the earthworms had moved. Over most of Ohio, the earthworms (especially the night crawlers) have return to the soil surface and so have the moles. I also noted last week that some turf areas also contained sizeable mole mounds, soil excavated by moles when they dig deeper burrows. These mounds are a sign that the moles are constructing deep burrows to escape freezing temperatures that will soon arrive.

There was an excellent article on Tom Schmidt, the Mole Man of the Cincinnati area in the recent Pest Control Technology magazine. I have mentioned Tom before, but I was unaware of the magnitude of his business.
Apparently, his company uses five full-time personnel and they have customers that contract for mole control over the entire season. The article also pointed out that Tom and his employees are well rewarded for their work!

As I've stated in the past, Tom and I both recommend trapping as the only sure way to eliminate moles. Baits, repellents and noise generators do not work! Tom maintains an excellent site on moles and mole trapping at:

http://www.themoleman.com

~~~~~~~~~

I must have heard about The Mole Man from OSU, come to think about it!

Fight on, man!

:O) Kimberley