ratattack 111 Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Got a job on with 2 adjoining gardens with the moles working both sides,the mole isn't overly active, one side has been having a go at trapping themselves. I have had traps down for the last week and have had 3 traps sprung but no capture! Traps are talpex, scissor and barrel, I have plenty experience catching moles over the years but rarely get any issues with filled traps! Any suggestions? Quote Link to post
StephenWalsh 73 Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 I had one very similar ages ago. Leave it for a while, maybe two or three weeks and then trap any new workings. You might try a trap line trap although I have had very little success with them. Quote Link to post
ratattack 111 Posted September 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 I doubt the customers would want it leaving, they aren't happy about the lawn as it is! Trap lines were my next thought but have never used them before. Quote Link to post
J Darcy 5,871 Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 How can a mole trigger talpex without being caught in it? Is there any rabbits in the garden scratting at the top of the trap and setting it off? Quote Link to post
perthshire keeper 1,237 Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 ive seen them go deeper and set it off with the new soil being pushed up and ive seen them TRY and go deeper and get hit with the jaws but not caught and i think the shock kills them so when the traps pulled out its empty but a lil feel in the soil and he is in their dead...happens on new drillings..had it about 3-4 times 3 Quote Link to post
J Darcy 5,871 Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 I have never had a Talpex go off when there hasn't been a dead mole firmly caught....must be lucky i guess.... 1 Quote Link to post
logan 447 Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Set more traps you will always get it in the end . Quote Link to post
Mr Muddy 141 Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 Is he actually back-filling the traps or just digging around/under them? Quote Link to post
StephenWalsh 73 Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 You said he wasn't very active? Quote Link to post
Phil Lloyd 10,736 Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 (edited) ive seen them go deeper and set it off with the new soil being pushed up and ive seen them TRY and go deeper and get hit with the jaws but not caught and i think the shock kills them so when the traps pulled out its empty but a lil feel in the soil and he is in their dead...happens on new drillings..had it about 3-4 times You are spot on there fellah... Edited September 9, 2014 by Phil Lloyd Quote Link to post
3175darren 1,093 Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 Go along the lawn on your knees and collapse his run's, give it a day and you will see where he has pushed them back up,stick your talpex in there, he won't be too bothered to find a collapsed area ,when he comes to it again, and will just go ahead and start clearing the run,as said above its very rare for a talpex to trigger and not catch,but it does happen,depends on how you back fill them sometimes, as in how well the soil naturally settles and compacts itself in the trap bottom, and how much soil the mole is pushing forward as it moves along its run,if its pushing a lot of soil the trap may trigger before the mole get's to the end of its tube, at least like this you will know the run prior to the trap is clean, if you are care full not to walk along it and collapse it again,as you select your new trap site,ask the client to keep the garden quiet don't let the kids run riot in it, till you have caught it,good luck this works for me and may not for everyone,I am not a professional but there are people on here who are, and they are probably better people to advise you. Quote Link to post
3175darren 1,093 Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 sorry its along the same lines as phil's, I saw the message to read his reply while typing mine, and never thought to do so. 1 Quote Link to post
ratattack 111 Posted September 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 It's only one mole by the amount of activity, very few fresh hills being pushed up. The talpex was set off 3 days after being set and it may well be the bugger went deeper and sprung it. The homeowner next door has had a go herself which may well have educated him somewhat! I always avoid stepping on runs etc where possible, the soil is rubbed through gloved hands as it goes back in the tunnel so it's quite fine not lumpy. I've had the odd one killed next to the trap in the past hopefully this is the case here and no more activity is found on my next visit ! Definitely nothing else setting them off, rabbits digging on the lawn wouldn't be tolerated by these kind of folks! Quote Link to post
Frontbum 76 Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 I had a bit of this with a talpex couple of weeks ago, the mole had dug underneath the trap (as said above) so I cleared out the trap site and reset in the new lower tunnel and was caught the next day. Good luck hope you catch, a tricky mole can drive you mad Quote Link to post
nod 285 Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 When I use to use talpex i never back filled mine, always got on fine with it like that Quote Link to post
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