The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Smallholding => Techniques and skills => Topic started by: molecontroller on February 02, 2009, 07:18:01 pm

Title: mole controlling
Post by: molecontroller on February 02, 2009, 07:18:01 pm

are moles increasing to the point of infestations ???

Title: Re: mole controlling
Post by: juliag on February 02, 2009, 07:23:04 pm

yes we have them and never noticed them before!  ???

Title: Re: mole controlling
Post by: northfifeduckling on February 03, 2009, 10:57:08 am

Yes, over the last few years we've been getting more in the veg plot, thank goodness not on the lawn. I don't find them troublesome at all where they are, though. I let them eat the bugs and put the lovely hills on my new raised beds.

Title: Re: mole controlling
Post by: Rosemary on February 03, 2009, 11:49:48 am

We don't have them - touch wood. I presume they're not good news - eat worms and create soil piles.

The soil looks lovely though. Is it worth collecting for sowing?

Title: Re: mole controlling
Post by: northfifeduckling on February 03, 2009, 11:58:17 am

I do quite appreciate that they loosen our heavy soil a bit lol, still plenty of worms about. You're right, it's lovely crumbly soil what they bring up, give it a ago, Rosemary!

Title: Re: mole controlling
Post by: kaz on February 03, 2009, 03:37:42 pm

The trouble with moles is when the tunnels they dig collapse, thus making it possible for something to break a leg if it walks into  the callapsed tunnel. Not good news. :(

Title: Re: mole controlling
Post by: northfifeduckling on February 03, 2009, 05:53:57 pm

biggest danger of  breaking a leg in my garden is by falling over something I left there or an overgrown hole or ditch I dug myself lol There are ultrasonic devices a friend of ours used to deter moles, I think it worked.

Title: Re: mole controlling
Post by: The Devon Molecatcher on February 07, 2009, 08:38:51 pm

I watched wildlife on 2 (BBC) "Unearthing the mole" a great profile of the mole, as a full time molecatcher ,the paradox for me is I really like Moley, but when he encroaches too far into a persons space they do not appreciate his presence and I am called in.
If anyone wants my advice free let me know,
Happy Growing,
" The Devon Molecatcher"

Title: Re: mole controlling
Post by: garden cottage on February 08, 2009, 07:23:54 am

placement of traps which run? or is it pot luck

Title: Re: mole controlling
Post by: The Devon Molecatcher on February 15, 2009, 06:16:17 pm

Hi,
 use a half barrel trap this is easy to set, but you will need to "tune" it before placing it.try to place 3 traps and go for a spot 250mm (9" in old money!) from the hill dont oversize the hole and make sure the floor of the tunnel is smooth, set the trap centrally to the tunnel-goog luck
Ebor