Hello... I'm new to the forum and really could use some help. I have a mole taking over my life and it needs to end (the mole's life...not mine). For the past 2 months or so, I have been trying to get rid of a pesky mole (or moles) in my back yard. I've tried poison peanuts, 1 spear trap, 2 Victor Out-of-Site traps and 6 Trapline traps. No luck. I've watched the videos and searched the web about them and I feel like I am setting the traps correctly. There are variations on how to set some of the traps and I've tried them all.

My ground is compacted with sparse grass which makes it impossible to cut a plug because the dirt just crumbles. I've had a relatively straight run across my yard about half way, then a 90 degree turn for 10-15 feet, then another 90 degree turn back the other direction ending on the opposite side of my yard. The mole seems to work in one area at a time and the tunnels seem a little deeper than the moles I've seen in the past. While the runs do meander a bit, in general they are straight. I also have had several dirt mounds at various times. The mole runs go across my neighbor's yard and then hit a fence line in the next neighbors yard. In the summer, I had runs up next to my house but I stomped them all down and they never came back. This fall, they reappeared in the back of my yard and won't go away.

Most of the time, I cut a hole in a run and either use one Out of Site or 2 Trapline traps. For the Out of Site, I have tried leaving the hole open as well as sprinkling it with loose soil to cover the hole. I've also tried the approach where you only cut slits in the soil and sit the trap on top of the ground. For the Trapline, I've tried both leaving the holes open and covering them with a large dirt ball to seal the tunnels. With all trap types, I cover them with a bucket. When I check the traps, they are either untouched or completely packed with loose dirt. 95% of the time, the traps have not been triggered and when they have been, no moles. They seem to be digging under or around the Trapline traps some of the time but I really can't tell for sure as the hole is completely full of dirt when I check it. I even found one of the Trapline traps sitting on top of the fresh dirt mound one day. I just busted out laughing followed by a bunch of words I can't say on the forum.

In a 20' section of tunnel, I've had 5 or 6 sets thinking I'd increase my odds. I've also been using gloves to control scent. I just can't figure out this mole and really could use some advice.

Thank you

Hire someone

It takes years at times for some to get really get on to mole work thru trial and error. It isnt easy telling someone how its done effectively online.With the money spent on traps,products and time vested would probably have been adequate funds to pay for a seasoned professional to come in to resolve your problem.

You have the tools, its getting them set properly in the right intersecting points of the most active runs or frequent use tunnels.Thats the challenge.Keep at it. Make sure you bed/seat your traps adequately for the best results and that you are setting the proper depth when using the O/S traps to engage the mole at that level.

We have no moles in our area but what Bob Jameson said about them also pertains to a lot of other wildlife.

I can handle it if it's in the St. Louis area. What Bob says is right; my technique doesn't seem all that complicated to me, but I sure do catch 'em!

To catch mole you will spend 95% of your time on your knee's prodding to finding the right tunnel. When first starting you will be setting a lot of traps, there are no short cuts. Look at the price of having someone replace a wall plug and the cost of hiring someone to trap your mole does not look bad,and all it takes to replace a wall plug is a screw driver and twenty minutes. JMO

Well, I will keep trying. If I hire someone now, I will feel like I have lost my initial investment of time and money spent on traps. At this point, it is getting personal. I read somewhere that a moles lifespan isn't very long so maybe I will just wait him out until he kicks the bucket. lol

Thanks

Then you must factor in reproduction and migration filtration into your area from adjoining properties.

Maybe you can barter for your trap with the person you hire, chalk up your time to experience! It never hurts to ask.

Oh.. that makes me feel better. Thanks

I checked my traps tonight and again, no luck. This particular hole had 3 tunnels coming together and I placed a Trapline trap in each tunnel. I've used this location for several days and because of all the digging and resetting, the hole is now pretty large. I'd say it is about 6" x 12" and about 6" deep. Two of the tunnels are only 2-3 inches down but the other one is closer to 6"-8" down and seems like it is coming up at an angle. I placed a big dirt ball about the size of a baseball over each tunnel and then place a board over the hole in the ground. When I checked tonight, the hole was completely full of loose dirt and the traps were not tripped.

I had a few other sites set along the same mole run just a few feet away and no activity was present.

The cycle continues. I'm doing something wrong and can't figure it out.

We all run into a mole a two every year that I describe as the "The Mole from [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot]". Sometimes you have to get creative. I had one a few months ago that I worked on for 3 weeks. Finally I thought back on the definition of being crazy, doing the same thing over and over and getting the same results.

This mole was working a small boulevard where I figured he was denning under a sidewalk, too awkward for a Out of Sight. When I used traplines, he would push the one out from under the sidewalk. So I decided to place only one trapline trap in the outgoing tunnel vs the incoming part of the tunnel. But I reversed the trap so when he entered the outgoing tunnel he was met by the clutching tines. It was a easy task setting the trap using a pliers being careful not to trip the trap and just pushing it in and then moving a little dirt to cover the exposed metal. Needless to say after describing this set-up, I caught the "Mole from [Please excuse my language... I'm an idiot]".

This was just one incidence, I have used many creative methods, I guess my summary is, sometimes one must think out of the box.

Jerry.... thanks for the tip. I will remember that for possible future use.

I can't seem to figure out what this mole is doing. He just fills the holes but it isn't evident (to me anyway) that he is using the tunnels. It seems like he is just plugging them from one direction but not going on through. I have several sets in a row about 5 feet apart. One hole will be full of dirt and the next one down the line hasn't been touched. Is it possible that he is only coming up to plug the air holes in the tunnel and is really working mostly deeper than I can see?

I read somewhere that you can bury a 3 pound coffee can with the top of the can even with the bottom of the tunnel. The mole comes along and falls in and can't get out. Something tells me this mole isn't that stupid but at this point, I will try anything. Do you think that will work?

Also.... Does anyone know of a way to lure the moles in by scent? Berkley makes soft plastic fishing lures that smell natural. (Power Bait) I wonder if plastic worms would attract the moles by scent and if so, how far could they smell it. My thinking is that it might divert their attention when they get close to the trap and put the plastic bait just behind the trapline trap or in the middle of the out of site trap. I know they sell poison worms that but I'd rather see the critter in the trap so I know his fate rather than guessing he is dead.

Are you bedding the Traplines like the video on Steve's website?

Do the traps fit pretty tight in the tunnel?

With moles I like to set the trigger really light, too

I'm just thinking out loud here. Sorry you're having problems. Moles can be maddening at times. Good luck!

Terrier...Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I have watched the Trapline videos and feel like I am bedding the traps correctly.

Some of the tunnels are tight but some are a little larger than the trap. They have gotten larger I think because I have had to reset a few times and each time the ground crumbles away a little when I clean out the hole. The part of the yard where this mole is doesn't have a healthy lawn with grass roots to help hold the soil together.

I don't know if the trigger would really matter as it seems like the mole isn't even going through them. It seems like he is just pushing the dirt to plug the tunnel where the trap is but somehow, he fills up the rest of the hole. Most of the time, the trap is full of dirt and not tripped. I then have to dig out the hole to get to the tunnel and then dig out the tunnel to retrieve the trap. It has me baffled.

Pull your traps for a week and come back with a fresh mind and set of eyes and you will get him.
Works for me.

Water the lawn for 3 days and set the area :-) should do the trick

I trap for a golf course and when I find a mole that continually pushes up dirt into my traps I do the following. Take a one inch section of 5/16 inside diameter tubing and place it over the spring of a trapline trap. I then use a 6 inch turf staple and insert it along the back of the trap. I then place it in the run at top so it hangs down so the mole can't feel the trap. This takes some time to set up but it has been quite effective for me after I learned just how to make my set. I also believe scent on my traps is very important so I wash my traps between sets and not use a trap a second time without washing it. I also wash my gloves after each set. Good Luck!

I have been expermenting with several liquid products the past few months and have been getting some positive results. My first objective was to mask any human scent left on the traps and then something to lure moles to my sets. This last week after 17 inches of rain and two days of sun I put out on fresh mounds ten sets without scent and caught four moles. I also put ten sets using scent and caught seven. All the sets were on higher ground as the level areas were too wet. If my research pans out I will place the info on this site for all to use as they see fit as I dont want to proffit from what should be given to all.

Thanks, Coast Trapper. My experience with the Talpirid "worms" was disappointing, to say the least. The manufacturers, Bell Labs, refused on several occasions to provide hard science to back up their claims as to the efficacy of their product. That's pretty bad.

First of all, sorry for the posting to an old thread but I just had to share... (as Paul Harvey would say)... the rest of the story.

As you can see from my posts last fall, I was having a difficult time catching a mole that was tearing up my yard. I spent most of the fall and early winter trying to catch this mole. I never did catch him and gave up when winter got here.

This spring was pretty cool in western Missouri and I didn't see any mole activity until mid June. For the first few days, I didn't see enough activity to know where to set traps so I didn't set any. Then a few mounds started appearing so I went to work again. I have 2 Out of Site traps, 6 Traplines and one old rusty spear trap that I don’t use much in my yard since the moles seem to work deeper than most I've seen.

After a few days of moving traps around and trying to find the best spot, I finally got my very first mole in an Out of Site trap. I felt so much relief that I did a mole victory dance in the yard. I disposed of the mole and reset the trap.

Day 2….Mole #2 caught from the same hole on the OOS trap.

Day 3….No mole or activity from this hole so I moved the trap.

Day 4….Mole #3 caught from the new hole on the OOS trap.

Day 5… It rained hard and kind of made a mess out of my set ups and dirt mounts. No Moles caught.

Day 6…Still a muddy mess… No moles caught.

Day 7…Mole #4 caught from the same hole as #3 on the OOS trap.

Ok…. I spent 2+ months trying to catch a mole last fall and got goose egg. In one week this year, I have caught 4. The only thing I can think of is that the mole from last fall was a smart old timer and he died of old age over the winter. A new family moved in that is dumber than dirt.

I have read that moles don't like company. How many more could there be? All 4 moles came on the OOS traps and I still have not had any luck with the Traplines. Maybe I need to shelf the Traplines and buy more of the OOS traps.

Anyway, I just had to post this as I am still in amazement of my lack of success all fall last year and a complete turn-around this year…...so far that is….

With the Skill I have developed using the trapline traps I have not used an OOS trap for a few years now.We have hundreds of them to use. The only place we use them as of late is in the very shallow surface feeding runs that the OOS traps works great for those kinds of set ups.

The OOS traps can be used in many other scenarios if you wish to dig down and excavate the runs to get to the depth needed to connect with a deeper mole run.However if you have to do that you might as well use the trapline traps when all that effort is needed to set an OOS.

Just things you learn to adapt to in this work and if you get proficient with a device and a good solid method routine there is reason for change in old methodology. I was a hardcore OOS and spear trap user in situations where the longer spear type traps gave a bit more penetration for engaging a mole tunnel.

Now it doesnt matter the depth of activity, those moles can run but cant hide from a good trapline trap set up. Our clean out percentage time has gone way down in the last few years. Of course developing an eye in identfying and deciphering the road map of mixed runs, mole den sights,locating deeper primary use travel tunnels and identifying feed run tunnels take alot of credit with that success rate as well.

I never give advice after Bob Jameson....it makes me sound dumb...

With your experience Lt Grey I dont ever think that many contributions that you make could sound dumb.

Many would be quite privledged to know what you have forgotten. Hopefully there will be a few that will develop that intense daily drive to excel in trapping and ADC that has motivated both of us for all these years. It has been a very good ride for me but the road has been getting a bit rocky the last couple of years.:)

Update...

Day 8 ... Mole #5 on OOS from same hole as #3 & #4 mole. (The moles seem to be getting smaller... I hope this is a good sign that the end is near.)

Bob... I feel like I am using the Trapline correctly but perhaps I am not doing something quite right. I don't know what my problem was last fall exactly but I had no luck on any of the traps. The holes where I am getting moles this year, I have only used the OOS. Maybe I am just don't have the Traplines in the right place.

I still don't know what I am looking at most of the time when I try to figure out what these moles are doing. This year, I have so far seen very few actual surface tunnel activity. Most of what I have seen is mounds so I have set my traps in or near those areas where I found the tunnel.

If you dig out (like a cookie cutter removal)a 10"x10" square of sod/dirt (keep it in one piece if possible) about 6" to 10" deep with a spade tile type shovel like I use between some mounds that appear to be in somewhat of a line, you will at some point intersect the primary travel tunnels.

We do this all the time when shallow or mid level surface tunnel networks are not readily visible and only the mounds are the indications of mole activity. These networks are almost always close to trees, shrubs or sloped hillsides void of any appreciable trees or larger plant growth of any kind. As these are typically their nest chamber sites. The roots or grade slopeing help to keep the chambers dry for the most part thru absorption or runoff.

Some runs may be the jointure of multiple tunnels that you find at times. I find 3 and 4 runs intersecting many times at good mound connection run locations. I set a trap in each run that I find. Digging out your access plug may compress or disfigure some of the original tunnels so just use your fingers to probe around to find and reestablish the compressed runs.I use the handle end of my dandelion tool for this purpose many times.

Some of these runs will run at a steep angle down, some parallel to the surface and others at different angles.Give yourself enough room to work with each trap that you set, set all the runs and replace the cut sod right back into the cut out area the way it was removed. That way the runs will match up fairly close to the previous position of the tunnels.

These intersections get alot of use. Kind of like trapping fox or coyotes at a farm road field intersection in a pasture. You just know you will catch there.

I have very good catch success on digging out and setting up new or freshly developed mounds with steves traps. Once you have found a suitable mound kick the mound down to the ground level, probe for the blocked surface tunnel and re establish the run and its decent angle. I probe the tunnel and clean it well and compact it for the first 6-8". Widen the run just large enough for the open set jaws of the trap to be pushed down into the run as far as I can from the surface making sure you bed the trap /compress it into the bottom of the run securely. Flag and anchor down the trap and leave. DO NOT cover the dug out tunnel and set trap.

You want the air flow and sunlight to project into the tunnel. If this mound access run is still on his maintenance schedule and when they are new or close to a primary travel tunnel they typically will be visited every few days or so. This new disturbance will cause the mole to investigate and come up for an inspection to the new opening and most likely attempt to close it once again with a few handfuls of dirt in most cases.

The airflow and sunlite flowing into their tunnels in the wrong positions of their tunnel network tends to dry out their tunnel environment which causes a temperature rise which they dont like or want. They need a very controlled environment to live and to maintain their body temperature comfort zone. So the inclination for them to keep as many runs closed is quite important to their lifestyle.They only maintain ground level breather ports where needed along their network to allow enough air to suit their needs.

One of the big problems I have seen while teaching individuals how to trap moles using any type of mole trap is making sure that you set the trap in the mole run at the correct "precise" direction of travel. Too many times I have critiqued someones job set up that was having problems only to find out that their lineup of the trap placement into the mole run was off to one side or another.

Thus when the mole would travel to the point of contact of the trap the mole may have passed thru the trap from an angle and not fired the trap or not engaged it at all due to a bad set up. Make sure your set ups are in as straight of a line as you can find or dig into a better location if you arent real good at angular set ups yet. Bed those traps well and push them back into the run as far as your method and tool use will allow you. My dandelion tool allows me to set way back into the run so there is no slop in the run size and you have totally submerged your trap past the point of entry into a virgin part of the tunnel.

Bob,

I certainly appreciate your time and effort to provide that detailed explanation. Very impressive. I now understand the comment LT Gray made previously. Sounds like you do know your stuff!

My back yard has about 18 trees so it sounds like you hit the nail on the head. I guess I am in a den area based upon your explanation. Any idea how many moles I should expect to be in the area? My backyard along with several adjoining neighbors have many trees. Last year, there was a visibile surface tunnel running from my yard across the neighbors yard and into another neighbors yard where it ran parallel with a fence. I have not seen that tunnel visible yet this year. The yards in this area are not extremely healthy I guess because of the lack of sun it gets. The ground is somewhat compacted and the grass is not realy dense.

On the mounds, I have tried setting a Trapline downward into the tunnel. However, it sounds like I have not been pushing it far enough down the tunnel. Are you saying that you push the trap down the tunnel with the dandelion tool? I would think that would be difficult to keep in line and to not trip the trap. I have just been using a trowel and big screwdriver as my "mole tools". I don't own a dandelion tool but I guess I may need to get one.

Sometimes when I have set traps in mound holes, I have covered the hold and sometimes left it open. When I left it open, the trap was plugged up so I guess the mole wasn't coming out of the tunnel far enough to get into the trap. I will use your tips on the next set up. (Unless I have removed them all... I'm at 5 in 8 days which is about 3 or 4 more than I thought I had to begin with.)

As far as the 10 x 10 plug, I don't think my ground would ever stay in one piece to use as a plug. Can you just sprinkle the dirt back into the hole or does that cover it up too much? That is what I have been doing with the OSS trap and that seems to be working.

Again, thank you for all of your helpful advice.

If your cut out plug will not hold together due to dry ground or lack of root thatch I just go to a place on site. Typically fringe areas with weeds etc should suffice with a more integrity sound piece of sod. Just cut out a matched sized plug from a grassed rooted area and transport it to the needed plug site. I just push and nestle it into place the best you can.

I do this procedure often as necessary on alot of jobs that have the conditions such as you are describing. Using a more stable rooted /grassed plug allows much easier trap checking on that location for the needed time to monitor that location set up. Removing it and replacing it daily or as needed will work out much better.

Numbers of moles on site is difficult to determine. Factoring migration into the picture creates another unknown regarding potential varying population in the area and those tunnels that may intersect into your property that can influence your population also.

The dandelion tool allows you to work nicely steves types of trap and also the spear types. Once you get onto its use you will become more proficient at set ups. When setting a run, after I set the trap, I engage the bottom backside of the traps jaws with the forked end of the tool. I push the trap jaws forward into the run with the tool while holding the push bar forward during this proceedure. This prevents the trap from firing while positioning the trap during placement. Make sure you press down on the traps frontal jaw base area after positioning the trap in the run.

Trap bedding is important.

smoke bombs are the solution to everything

And this comes from your experience with mole work I suppose?

Bob... thanks again for your helpful advice. After mole #5 on Sunday morning in the OOS, I have not seen any activity since. How long do you wait to pull your traps without seeing activity this time of year?

Pulling traps is a judgement call in most cases.If you feel you are set on good potential travel ways and you arent sure if you are cleaned out yet just leave them set and mow around them. If they are set on your own property I am sure it isnt a problem to do so.

Or you can take a break and pull the traps out and monitor for renewed activity. With all the rain we are haveing you should be seeing some activity if they are still there or if new ones move in with these wet conditions continuing.

Dig open some of the primary runs on top a little about a fifty cent piece size and monitor for dirt plugs closeing the openings. If that happens you have new activity in that run.

Well, I guess I spoke too soon. This morning (day 10 I think... I'm starting to lose track...) I got mole #6 out of the same hole as 3,4,& 5. I have 1 other OOS set and 3 sets (2 traps each) of the Traplines that have had no activity at all for several days. I have also left the hole open where mole #1 and #2 came from and it has yet to be plugged for 5-6 days.

I guess you are right... it isn't doing any harm in leaving them up a while. It is raining tonight so maybe will help if there are any left.

We set 2 new jobs yesterday. The runs were very saturated with water and some had running water in them due to a high clay content tabling the water. Most likely it will take a few days for the areas to perk and continue to run off. If it rains more then it most likely will extend our job a little.

We set the higher ground and landscape areas as the lawn wasn't suitable for much mole activity until it dries more. We have primarily eastern moles here. If we had star nosed moles it would be a no brainer as they like and prefer that kind of habitat.

Ah hahahahahhaahahahaha.....

Just silicone it.... Right vinke

Day eleven... Mole# seven...is going to heaven. (from same hole as 3-6 on the OOS trap) I keep thinking I'm at the end but they keep coming. I'm still in amazement that I could't catch 1 stinkin' mole all last fall and now 7 in 11 days.

Practice,persistence and good effort usually prevails in trapping success.We have all paid some dues with respects to the learning curve.Success is a gratifying feeling isn't it after a continued effort gives the desired results. Look at the knowledge,skill and confidence you have gained in the process.

Bob, your comments relate to life in general as well as moles and are right on target. But, yea... it feels really good to be in the win column for a change. I certainly appreciate your help and guidance.

I'm looking forward to trying some of your tips for the Trapline but I have not seen enough activity to try new spots. I've been content with an average of a mole every other day coming from one of the 2 OOS holes. (...If it aint broke... don't fix it.)

Day 12... no moles or activity (yet). It rained hard yesterday so it made a muddy mess of things in the the war zone. I will keep at it though...

Update: Day 16 and no visible mole activity since victim #7 which was on Day 11. I think it's over unless the heat is driving them deeper. I will give it until this weekend and then pull my traps if I have not seen any more activity. Wooohoooo!!!

Side note: On 2 different nights last week, while checking my mole traps in the evening after dark, I have seen 2 small bats. One was barely moving on the ground and one was not moving and hanging on the trunk of a small tree about 2 feet up. Both were gone when I checked the following day. Any ideas what they were doing so close to the ground?

My guess is they arent ready to fly here for another couple of weeks or so give or take. They got out of the roost site nearby and crawled to the tree across the lawn and that is as far as they could make it. Unless they have a roost cavity in the tree possibly.

Well I hope I don't have roost site in my back yard. We had bats in our attic a few years ago. I kept hearing noises in our master bedroom closet and thought they were mice, squirrels, chipmunks, racoons... anything but bats. I set rat/mouse traps in the attic and a live squirrel trap. Nothing.... couldn't figure out what it was.

I looked on the outside of the house near where we heard the noises and found some droppings that had shiny stuff in it....like colors of a fly....the lightbulb went on and I headed straight to Google. Bingo...bat poo.

My wife and I counted 18 that came out of the attic one night. I banged on ceiling until the noises stopped to make sure they were all out. I then shoved a rag into the crease they were coming out of until a more permanent repair could be made. I have not heard one in the attic since. (They were actually getting in through a very tiny crease in the soffit.

.....Aaaany way... I guess as long as they are outside, I don't mind since they keep the bug population in check. My neighbor has a small bat house mounted on his house but I have never looked close enough to see if anything uses it. Maybe I should.


Day 17..... No moles or activity since Day 11. (Just in case you are keeping track....ha)

After about a month of thinking I had got all the moles, I saw a little surface activity last night when mowing. There was also 1 mound in my neighbor's yard just across the line. I thought for sure I was free of these little buggers after getting 7 in about a 10 day period in late June and no activity since.

I got my traps back out and set one OOS last night and had nothing this morning. When I got home from work, I had one in the trap. That makes 8 from my back yard since late June. I wonder if I just missed one earlier in the year or if a new batch has moved in. ??

(Sorry to post to an old thread but I am just doing this mainly for documentation so my mole history is in one place. When they make movie about it someday, it will be easier for the writers and production crew to follow...

A new one moved in. If you are next to a wooded area, you will have them moving in all the time. Just set traps as soon as you see new workings.

The immediate area isn't heavily wooded but many of the backyards in the neighborhood have many trees that were left when the houses were built. The somewhat woodsy area sort of zig zags and eventually finds some actual wooded areas nearby. Occasionally I see deer tracks in the back yard.

Prior to last fall, I only recall one other year where I had moles but they didn't stick around very long. (I didn't trap then... I used those poison peanut pellets which you never know if they work or not.) Oh well, now I have traps so I'm ready for those buggers.