Mole numbers

[DIDO.1 20,814]

Just wondered how many moles people have been finding compared to last year. Now iv had not a bad start to my trapping season, catching average or above average on all my farms. On one farm I had 50 when the average over the last 5 years has been 32 so when that farmer said he had heard that the cold winter had killed alot of moles I laughed and said not that Id seen. But... when visiting a hill farm owned by that same farmer I looked from a distance and thought it was the same sort of numbers as last year but on looking closer I found all the workings to be old and not alot of fresh work. You know how mole hills look when they have been pushed up in solid snow, straight sides like a cylinder, thats how most where, like hills in the cold weather and not many after. Has anyone else found this? Iv been trapping on the moor edge right high up and not found any less moles but that one farm made me think.

[trappa 517]

I trap on and around moorland too but there are no fewer moles here, more if any.

[DIDO.1 20,814]

I trap on and around moorland too but there are no fewer moles here, more if any.

 

Yes thats what iv found. But there was alot of mole workings on that 1 farm but not much after the cold weather, maybe the soil is shallow over the millstone grit and they couldnt get down deep enough? interested to know if anyone else have seen it anywhere.

[lamaha 7]

Hardly any change in numbers down south.

[logun 91]

had a lot of mole workings at mine in the cold snap.think moles just went deeper to avoid the cold.mole runs tht almost went un noticed often turned up new spoil.

[heart of wales 19]

Have trapped the same farm for Ten Years always taking decreasing numbers each as I have been eliminating them before they have the opportunity to breed,except this Year where the numbers have risen sharply,I think the snow has helped not hindered moles,bring it on more work the better.

[mad al 146]

on the increase here for sure (west Wales) and if anything evidence of life much earlier than last year

[Shrophunter 7]

Theres plenty of moles around here in Shropshire but I've been working several new farms recently where theres a large number of workings which look promising from a distance but when you look closer obviously haven't seen any life for a while. They just look abandoned and theres no new activity nearby. Dead, moved away/deeper ?

[swanseajack 227]

Theres plenty of moles around here in Shropshire but I've been working several new farms recently where theres a large number of workings which look promising from a distance but when you look closer obviously haven't seen any life for a while. They just look abandoned and theres no new activity nearby. Dead, moved away/deeper ?

whap a trap in and find out, I do, sometimes none and I think Im wasting time, then others

[moxy 617]

Moles are definatley on the increase, on a good majority of the land i trap i have caught more this year than in the past. Healthy numbers without a doubt.

It all comes down to the issue of your neighbours moles!

Dissapointing at times when you know your only going to thin out the numbers for a while. However the nice bonus is that you know you will be back the following year

I dont think the cold weather has any effect. I harrow most of my jobs before a trap goes in the ground so we have an idea where the active runs are. The last lot of frosts we had the ground froze to a depth of around four inch and you would have strugled to get your spade in with a sledge hammer but the moles continued to push up.

You have to respect the little beggars.