There is a lot of standing water in the Mid-West. Do you think the mole go deeper or to higher ground? I have no idea what they do in a flood.

Most will be to china right now on there yearly migration . Normaly around mid July they return

Well I'm on higher ground than the major flooding we have down the hill... So I will let you know if I have an influx in moles up here? But on a more serious note i would kind of like to know that too I assume they would do the same as most mammals and head for higher ground?

Everet; I don't know if you use these sources of info but almost all of our universities of states with farms and ranches have either extension services or agriculture departments that have done extensive research on moles. ie; UC davis, Iowa state, Ohio state and even the internet service for mole control. I am a firm believer a trapper can not get too much info about the animals they trap. All info from these source should be screened for what applies to your situation. As to what a mole does in wet ground I find that they will hunt out higher ground if possible. When its the rainy season here on the golf course or the two ranches I work for I look for slightly higher ground to look for runs. Good luck and good trapping and I wish I had sources for info when I started like what is available now.

Hi coast trapper,
Would the university research on moles you mention be available on the internet? and if so can you recommend a web address I could have a look at?
Thanks, in advance.

As for my own experience with moles in floods: There has been a lot more rain than usual near me this last year. Not only am I getting slightly more mole work than usual but I’m getting calls from people who live higher up in the hills and people who have sandy free-draining soil who have never had mole problems before.
I can only assume that the moles are moving, or rather following the worms, away from any waterlogged areas.

Ship: There a thousand different locations around the world in mole research and many different fields of study. The quickest way to start is just type in moles/animals/what you want to know/country. Here in the USA try UC Davis; www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74115.html, or Internet center for Wildlife damage; http://icwdm.org/handbook/mammals/moles.asp also try The Mole Tunnel and I believe Cambridge University in your country. Good Luck

Coast trapper:
I have read several reports and paper from many universities but I have never read where any of them addressed the question about flooding. There is a great deal of information out there. I just wished they would get rid of a lot of the old information that is no longer any good.

Some comments found on “the www”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_mole - Eastern moles are good swimmers and not limited by rivers, but heavy clay soils associated with some waterways may limit dispersal.[4]

http://www.britishmolecatchers.co.uk/aboutmoles.htm - The mole builds its nest above the water level to ensure the nest is kept dry?. Moles are excellent swimmers and in times of flood will swim to higher ground. This also accounts for people who live next to streams and rivers been constantly plagued by moles.

http://icwdm.org/handbook/mammals/moles.asp The moles have only a few natural enemies because of their secluded life underground. Coyotes, dogs, badgers, and skunks dig out a few of them, and occasionally a cat, hawk, or owl surprises one above ground. Spring floods are probably the greatest danger facing adult moles and their young.

http://dartmoorpestcontrol.co.uk/moles_11.html Moles are excellent swimmers and in times of flood will swim to higher ground.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/moles.html- Spring floods kill many moles, especially young ones; humans also kill many moles.

http://wildlifecontrolsupplies.blogspot.com/2012/04/mole-faqs.html Can moles swim? All moles can swim it’the need arises. They have been observed to swim up to an hour and to cover a distance of over a half mile. The star-nosed mole is semi-acquatic and often obtains its food underwater. Members of this species are usually found in low- lying areas near water. In fact, their tunnels may exit into ponds or streams.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDCJf-dareI

"The Natural History Of Moles" book will answer many of your questions. I found it to be very informative and believe it to be a must read for serious mole trappers to better understand mole biology and their habits.

http://www.amazon.com/Natural-History-Moles-Mammals-Series/dp/0801424666

Leave it to Mr Fry,,,,,,,,,

Good info. I have read a lot of the info you posted. But here is one I bet you have never seen. Saturdays local paper showed a 26lb Chinook salmon caught from the Rogue river on the southern Oregon coast. That's right. He used a dead mole for bait.

I tried to order a copy on line, what a screwed up system. They need to have someone look at there web site. I will look for one some place else.

Sat. 4/20 Curry Coastal Pilot