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Mole problems?

• Message 1. 

  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Tuesday, 24th May 2011

  Hi all,
  Well as asked im going to try and help those who have mole problems learn about the "MOLE" how this creature works and some of the many methods used to get rid of these creature's
  
  
  The first point i feel should be pointed out is that the Mole has a good side to it as well as a pain in the backside side to it,
  
  The good side is that the soil dug up by this creature is proberly the best tilthed soil you can get for your bedding area's, it really will help to improve the top soil.
  
  The downside is that these Mole hille look out of place on the well kept lawn.
  
  The Mole,
  A lot of people think the mole is blind? Not true, his sight when he appears through the tunnel he's made is greeted by a blast of strong day light,
  
  And just like the miners we had under ground not that long ago, had to be re-interduced to natural day light slowly,
  And mr Mole is the same, he spends so much time underground his sight needs to be able to adapt to day light. & no sunshades to help him.
  So thats one explanation sorted,
  
  Mr mole has very very good hearing, "Why" because he lives on worms and he has to hear them to enable himself to get to his food quickly.
  
  Smell, again mr mole has very very good smelling advantages in his make up, he can smell his worms for a very good distance, he also can smell danger, ie if when your setting a trap and you dont use rubber gloves? he'll smell human oil off your hands.
  
  He works for two hours non stop and then rests for four hours,
  
  unlike some people think that he sleeps all the winter ?? WRong, because he does'nt he's awake all winter.
  
  He makes and looks after his own runs and he'll have a nesting area we're he stores his worms for eating later.
  
  Now ive explained a few of the "Moles" ways he lives lets look at the verious ways the mole has tried tobe caught over the years.
  
  We have people digging holes and placing glass bottles in these holes with just about an inch of bottle above the grass area,
  
  the idea being that wind will blow across the top sticking out of the ground and "as we've heard" the mole has very very good hearing and this method will scare him away?
  
  Rubbish, for one leaving glass above ground level is a mistake waiting to happen, lawn mowers as far as i know dont have any sat nav to tell me im about to cut a bottle neck into little bits, plus you never know when children will walk on such items.
  
  Childs windmill wonds,
  these are mounted on a cane and stuck into the ground we're a mole hill will be found,
  IDEA,
  The idea being the same as the bottle neck and wind, as these plastic childs windmill wonds turn in the wind "they make a vibrating sound" & this is supposed to scare the Mole away? WRONG,
  Ive found they both look daft having a lawn full of 3 year olds toys sticking out of the ground & if no wind??? Mr mole pushes them out of the ground.
  
  Moth balls,
  Well we've said mr Mole has very very good smelling methods in his nose,
  and some people do say moth balls are good,
  I dont dis-agree ive never found any moths in my mole tunnels but Mr mole will only stay clear of the smell until he's made another tunnel,
  so Moth balls are only a short term solution,
  The same goes for Jays fluid and verious onion type bulbs you can push down the mole tunnel.
  
  VIBRATING PRODS,
  These are sold by most gardencentres and they are not cheap,
  iDEA,
  The idea is that this battery operated metal bar is pushed into the soil we're you think mr Mole is working, every so many minutes the rod that you've pushed into the ground vibrates,
  
  Now remembering the moles hearing? well on hearing this sound and feeling the ground move? he's off and away.
  RUBBISH? they dont last long enough, and again mr mole is'nt going to miss a dinner just because of a vibrating rod, He makes a new tunnel proberly next to the vibrating prod. AND anything that needs battery power needs them checking or they's ll go flat.
  
  The Mole bullet operated trap?
  These are costly, and the idea is that you load a bullet that filled with a chemicle that both kills the mole via the blast "but" also fills the tunnel with a deadly gas to also kill the mole should the blast not do its job.
  
  Now these bullet traps do work, and if like myself you did 5 tours of northern ireland the one thing you dont want to hear at 3 30am is a bang of a bullet going off in your back garden.
  But as i say these do work but cost a few bob and you'll need to buy more ammo as you go.
  
  The good old scissor mole trap.
  This ones been used for many years and the IDEA is you set the trap by closing your hand as you grip the scissor action and block the open claws with a metal clip (this clip is held via a wire to the frame of the trap ) and the metal clip has a hole the size of a small mole's body,
  As the mole continues to clean and tidy his tunnel (daily) he pushes his little head into the metal clip and so releases the very strong scissor action and he ends up dead as the claws close.
  
  These are i feel on of the best mole traps,
  
  Holly leaves,
  the Idea being that you push the leaves into the mole tunnel and then cover the tunnel hole, the mole smell the fresh air coming into his tunnel an as he tries to repair the hole (roof of tunnel) he cuts himself on the sharp points of the holly and because of his smooth body he bleeds to death.
  
  I ve mixed feelings on this method but ive not tried it.
  
  exhaust pipe gas,
  The IDEA is to put the hose attached to the exhaust pipe of say a moped and start the engine and fill the mole run with poison via the engine fumes and this gasing of the mole is the end,
  unless mr mole has his very own gas mask????
  
  Now to the good bits,
  The victorian way of dealing with mole's.
  
  We said about Mr Mole having such a good smelling tools,
  Well the victorian gardeners would collect urine from the servants and use this on the compost heap,
  
  Well some how it was dicscovered that Moles didnt like the urine, and so it was the norm for the head gardener to be seen "urinating" down the mole hole.
  
  Can you imagen todays gardeners being caught by the next door neighbour kneeling down on the lawn providing the mole tunnel with its regular supply of urination (by hand & fresh)
  
  Honest it's not what you think! im really trying to scare the Mole Away, I have to be on my knees or i cant get it in???????
  
  And the last method is infact an american one (trust the yanks to come up with the answer)
  
  The jar method,
  The IDEA is to find the mole hill and remove enough soil so that a jar approx 5 inch deep will fit into a hole you've dug just so the rim of the jar will be approx 1/4 of an inch below the run the mole uses to get along his tunnel,
  
  The mole falls into this jar and because its made of glass the mole cant climb out and dies.
  
  Regular lawn mower sounds/ kids playing on the lawn etc etc will also keep mr mole from hanging around,
  Remember its the worms mr mole is looking for and he has to listern/ & smell to get them,
  the only way to stop mole hills is to kill the mole, any smelling traps are only as good as the smell keeps smelling,
  
  Well friends I did say its takes a bit of writing this little lot and i hope you've enjoyed /learned and have had a laugh, (if you do the victorian way on your knees ? Do it under cover of the early morning) when next door are asleep.
  
  Regards Punpun.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Logissimo (U14020652) on Wednesday, 25th May 2011

  Good one punpun.
  
  I am sure everyone will appreciate your extensive and well researched post.
  
  I have a very effective solution which I dare not mention here and which you almost mentioned but I am very reluctant to use it. I think I will try to put up with the moles as I have long ago given up trying to have a nice lawn. Ours is now brown and will no doubt stay like this until September when we can expect the first real rain, hopefully!
  
  All the best L

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by snezzyannamaywong (U13816190) on Wednesday, 25th May 2011

  
  
  I liked you ' Victorian Story' about the Moles. I gather from previous correspondence that you live in France where Moles are renowned for their presence and likewise the French Gentlemens toilet habits, but over the past 12 years have yet to see any let up in the presence of Moles! Snezzy

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• Message 4

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  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Wednesday, 25th May 2011

  
  
  I liked you ' Victorian Story' about the Moles. I gather from previous correspondence that you live in France where Moles are renowned for their presence and likewise the French Gentlemens toilet habits, but over the past 12 years have yet to see any let up in the presence of Moles! Snezzy   Hi Snezzy,
  The only place i nkow of we're no moles are, Is northern ireland,
  so if anyone wants a mole free place to live but enjoys lots of rain????
  
  Then you know the place to be.
  
  But on a serious note, while serving H.M, I managed to be working with the USA
  Army and i did see one company who came to your home and set out all these charges around the garden (back yard if your american) and then attach all these wire's charges to one box and blow your garden up,
  yes it got rid of the mole population and half your garden, But people seemed happy to pay for this service.
  
  Now't stranger than folk!
  
  Regards Punpun.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Wednesday, 25th May 2011

  Hi L,
  I must admit i was nearly crying while writing the victorian bit and just thinking of the mole catcher being caught out by the neighbours returning home and him trying to explain.
  
  Arrrrrrrrrr Yes im going mad, daily bit by bit , "But you know something?
  I love it".

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