iseremarc

He should stick to what he knows.

Perhaps not. But it's too spikey for me.

Don't want to appear too health and safety, but if I was using a spade with a spike on top of the shaft I'd be worried about impaling myself on it. Or merely gouging an eye out.

No, they call it a guillotine trap to describe it's action rather than the final result. The trigger wires release a spring-loaded stainless tube that shoots down and breaks or crushes the vole's ribcage or neck. If you go to any of the retailer's sites, sit down before you look at the price... https://youtu.be/j9KUBp3QCUY

In-tunnel infra red video of a french vole inspecting and being caught in a Topcat guillotine trap. The text says that the vole is wary when it approaches the trap as it has previously marked the tunnel with scent glands on it's flanks, and the trap breaks the scent trail - I don't know if that's true or not. The traps are swiss, and very expensive. https://youtu.be/S-oMIua82fk

Never used mole poison and I wouldn't know how to, but I've had a look through a few french pest control supplier's sites, and the ag ministry approved products, and it appears the alphachloralose 97.5% used to powder worms was taken off the authorised for sale list over here from, at the latest, the beginning of 2013.

I only catch the occasional mole, but I did have a mini-splurge on books, old and new, and dvds, when I first started. In the photo are; A Fenland Molecatcher by Arthur Randell : What Matt said The Natural History of Moles by Gorman and Stone : Deals mostly with european moles but also african golden moles and desmans. Plenty of information, tables, statistics, shear forces involved with moles digging actions,etc etc. Interesting, but not a how-to book. The Mole by Dr. Kenneth Mellanby : Another book built around scientific studies of mole – apparently a young mole's testicles

PK, I haven't tried a Talpex yet, just putanges and duffus. Rat taupiers aren't using their tunnels as worm traps in the same way as moles do, they're targeting existing roots, from grass to garden vegetables to trees in commercial fruit orchards, so I'm not sure how they'd react to a filled run. Worth a try though.

Steve, Thanks, PM sent.

Steve, No, not as yet.

Steve, yes that's Arvicola amphibius, formerly arvicola terrestris ( UK water vole but in this area they're mainly land-dwellers . In fact I've never seen one in water. They thrive in medium altitude environments, low alpine pasture etc). I've seen much worse damage than that shown in the photo - they have population explosions every six to seven years apparently. I'm not a pro trapper, (yet) just help out a couple of mates when their smallholdings are invaded. We've just used a few flat-packs to nail some rat taupiers that were backfilling the putanges... Nicepix, interesting tactic for t

That would explain the all the expat customers... Over this side the major pests are the rat-taupiers

Which département are you in Nicepix ?

Mole guns are on sale in most garden centers and farm stores here in France. Two of the most common types shown below. One uses specific cartridges, the other uses 410's. Followed by can happen to your hand, if you set it wrong, or your child's hand if they decide to pull it out of the lawn...

If my experience of the French is anything to go by, telling them you have a recipé for mole involving white wine and crème fraiche will have them phoning you for the bodies.