How many moles are you supporting ?

[Iceni]

I tolerated our moles for 3 years until they began to dig up the new parking area. Answered an ad in the local ironmongery and along came M le Taupier. Amid much sucking of teeth, gallic shrugs etc he opined that we probably only had 2 or 3 on our 3000 m2 - they are "hard working little b******, you know".

Anyway over the past month he has caught 8. No new molehills so M le T has gone. though not before warning that others will visit unless neighbours and farmers make a concerted effort.

I can foresee an investment in sonic booms, chillies, anti-mole mines, empty bottles and/or any other various remedies that you recommend - please.[8-)]

John

not

[Pierre ZFP]

I decided to let the moles win.  My immaculate billiard table lawn (OK, large weed patch with some grass) has its usual crop of molehills in the spring as our little friends dig new tunnels and clear old ones.  After this activity, there is little more than the occasional lump popping up.  I kid myself that the moles are good as they add drainage to the land.

[Bugsy]

I actually caught a mole who was on the surface of our lawn last summer. What a beautiful little creature. Silky soft fur and the most amazing strength in his front legs. I don't kill anything, apart from flies and probably burglars, [:)], that's just me, of course, but my neighbour was amazed when I took the mole down the the end of our field and let him go.

 

[londoneye]

ive often thought that if you could find a way to harness them into little teams, and lead them up and down a field, you could do away with rotivators etc etc, and make a fortune out of them!!! (yes ok sometimes i get bored digging and my mind wanders).    I often go around collecting the earth they dig up to put in my flower pots because its so fine.    having said that i havent started work on the (laughingly referred to ) 'lawn' yet, and suspect i will turn into an intolerant psycopath (spelling ?) once i have finished regrassing etc and they are constantly messing it up !

[Wozza]

Cats are the answer - our black cat is a demon at catching any rodent, but specialises in moles. He has an amazing amount of patience and will sit and listen to them digging for ages - then when they pop up for a gander - zaap!!

I also will not, however, kill anything myself, so let them free if they are delivered alive (and boy, do moles squeal), but as far away as possible.

Having said all that, I have never seen any of our other cats catch a mole - they are more interested in the loir and/or lerots and mice.

[Iceni]

Thanks for the advice but for me the cure is worse than the disease, Wozza. Though a Jack Russell might have the same success and we like dogs (not in the Korean sense).

John

not

[Gail Smith]

Our dog is fantastic at catching moles.  She stands for hours watching and watching and then suddenly she pounces and there is a mad scrabble and she emerges from the depths with the said mole.  She then spends an hour or two 'playing' with the body which is a bit grim.  We have never managed to rescue one from her alive but we have got one or two unmutilated.  They are beautiful creatures.

There is a problem with this though and that is that she digs big holes in the lawn when she finds them.  I dont know which is worse, the mole hill or the dog excavations!!

We never had one mole hill last year because she did such a good job.

Gail