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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: _fletch_]
#5163094
08/17/15 04:56 PM
08/17/15 04:56 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,240
West Michigan
Getting There
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,240
West Michigan
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I would go with Trap line Products traps, Steve Albiono (spelling?) they are on line.
To Old
U.S. Army 60-63 SGT.
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: _fletch_]
#5163741
08/18/15 04:41 AM
08/18/15 04:41 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
England. UK
roe
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
England. UK
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Since this thread is still alive, I'll post additional questions here. I set up another mole job today. This one is going to be more difficult than the last, as I could find zero shallow runs. But the mole hills were enormous! Runs were going downward at a steep angle as the job before, but this time I tried digging down to find where they leveled out, which ended up being around 14-18" down. Then I set OOS traps over these runs. My question is, can you not spook a mole by doing that much excavation? I still need to get some moleinator traps (Albano's) but TRapper said he uses OOS's exclusively, so I figured I would give it a shot. My work looks much worse than the mole hills though, lol. I'm sure the homeowner was concerned... Don't worry, you won''t spook the mole. IMO try some Talpex traps. False fire them in clay, then there's nothing to stop you. Those deep runs will have been there a good while probably, but in the warmer weather this is where the mole will travel the most. I did 5 jobs yesterday, one of them was in a garden. Soil wasn't nice, a mix of orange and and clay. I could tell that there was only one mole, but i put three talpex in. The home owner had been trying to catch the mole for 3 months!Two hours after I had set the trap they rang to say that the trap had moved....yep, thats there mole gone to heaven. Another satisfied customer and they'll recommend me for sure...
What doesn't kill us makes us stranger...
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: roe]
#5164108
08/18/15 02:05 PM
08/18/15 02:05 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 72
South Texas
Aggie73
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 72
South Texas
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Roe - unfortunately, true Talpex mole traps are not available in the USA. Just like you guys in the UK, if I'm not mistaken, cannot directly buy Trapline Mole traps from Steve Albano. I've recently bought some true Talpex traps from Fourteenacre and some Talpex-type traps from Flatpack in the UK but the postage and handling fees (carriage?) are exhorbitant unless you're buying in large quantities! Like a lot of mole catchers over here, I use mostly the upgraded Out-of-Sight and the Trapline Mole traps. I resort to the Talpex along house foundations, fences, driveways, sidewalks, etc. or anywhere I think Mr. Mole will dig under my sandy soils. 
"Happier than a gopher in wet sand."
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: _fletch_]
#5164111
08/18/15 02:10 PM
08/18/15 02:10 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
England. UK
roe
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
England. UK
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Aggie, your moles look a little smaller than ours. Would this be correct?
What doesn't kill us makes us stranger...
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: _fletch_]
#5164116
08/18/15 02:21 PM
08/18/15 02:21 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 72
South Texas
Aggie73
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 72
South Texas
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Roe, yes. The same common Eastern Mole found in my area is even smaller than the same subspecies found in other parts of the USA. I'm in the deep southern part of the USA. It's very hot and dry in South Texas!!! Of course, this makes it somewhat easier for me as moles are attracted to irrigated, landscaped and mulched yards and homesites rich in organic matter and insects. Perfect habitat for moles and gophers!
"Happier than a gopher in wet sand."
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: Aggie73]
#5164290
08/18/15 05:44 PM
08/18/15 05:44 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,240
West Michigan
Getting There
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,240
West Michigan
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Roe - unfortunately, true Talpex mole traps are not available in the USA. Just like you guys in the UK, if I'm not mistaken, cannot directly buy Trapline Mole traps from Steve Albano. I've recently bought some true Talpex traps from Fourteenacre and some Talpex-type traps from Flatpack in the UK but the postage and handling fees (carriage?) are exhorbitant unless you're buying in large quantities! Like a lot of mole catchers over here, I use mostly the upgraded Out-of-Sight and the Trapline Mole traps. I resort to the Talpex along house foundations, fences, driveways, sidewalks, etc. or anywhere I think Mr. Mole will dig under my sandy soils. Do you have a problem with animals digging up your traps? I see you have cables on them. Ev.
To Old
U.S. Army 60-63 SGT.
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: Getting There]
#5165281
08/19/15 02:46 PM
08/19/15 02:46 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 72
South Texas
Aggie73
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 72
South Texas
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Getting There - Adding the tethers to these traps was probably overkill on my part. I only recall one instance where a critter absconded with my mole in a Steve Albano trap set. On my recent purchase of Talpex traps, I did not add the tether cables.
A mole's main diet of earthworms plus secretions from its scent/musk gland makes for a not so tasty treat for the 4-legged predators. Pulling a trap with a mole always make me look for the natural gas leak around the house. That's what they smell like to me! I'm not too worried about losing my traps as much anymore.
"Happier than a gopher in wet sand."
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: TRapper]
#5165761
08/19/15 09:18 PM
08/19/15 09:18 PM
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,174
IL - Shawnee Ntl Forest
ShawneeMan
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,174
IL - Shawnee Ntl Forest
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A friend of mine told me the mounds are the result of a male digging a breeding chamber.. but he's also told me some other "tales" that have never proved out.
That said, we've had tones of rain this summer (like 5 inches in one week) but I don't see the tell tale tunnels as I did last year.
Gonna see what I can do with the "connect the dots" method. I caught 8 of the little demons last year and still have 3 or 4 creating havoc around here.
Thanks for the tips! Definitely not on the breeding chamber thing...mounds are created when digging deeper horizontal tunnels...they have to put the dirt somewhere Yeah - that makes sense... Sweet Pea - Yes - he does consume a fair amount of adult beverages... No offense to anyone else, but he bought a Ranger Bass Boat to go catfishing with - it was broken down in less than a month - need I say more??
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: Aggie73]
#5165841
08/19/15 09:58 PM
08/19/15 09:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
South Dakota
_fletch_
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
South Dakota
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A mole's main diet of earthworms plus secretions from its scent/musk gland makes for a not so tasty treat for the 4-legged predators. Pulling a trap with a mole always make me look for the natural gas leak around the house. That's what they smell like to me! I'm not too worried about losing my traps as much anymore.
Seriously? I figured moles would be good coyote bait, or that's what I've been saving them for at least. You figured if they love skunks, they wouldn't have a problem with moles... I mixed some in when I ground my mouse bait, may have screwed up there.
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: _fletch_]
#5165847
08/19/15 10:02 PM
08/19/15 10:02 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
South Dakota
_fletch_
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
South Dakota
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The deep runs are still kicking my tail. Managed to pinch one today when it finally made a shallow run, as we've had a cool front mixed with precipitation the past couple of days. But it's taking too long. I did order a half dozen of Steve's traps a couple days ago, so I'm looking forward to trying them. I still don't exactly see how they wouldn't get prematurely tripped as the mole is pushing dirt up through the deep runs, but maybe it will make sense to me once I actually set one.
Last edited by _fletch_; 08/19/15 10:04 PM.
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: _fletch_]
#5165869
08/19/15 10:13 PM
08/19/15 10:13 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 25
Michigan
DaveK
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 25
Michigan
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I'm imagining a mole cartoon with a bulldozer blade on front. I don't think they push that much ahead of them....
Last edited by DaveK; 08/19/15 10:13 PM.
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: DaveK]
#5165988
08/20/15 12:02 AM
08/20/15 12:02 AM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
South Dakota
_fletch_
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
South Dakota
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I'm imagining a mole cartoon with a bulldozer blade on front. I don't think they push that much ahead of them.... Haha... point taken. But it sure seems like it sometimes when these huge hills just pop up overnight!
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: _fletch_]
#5166058
08/20/15 04:20 AM
08/20/15 04:20 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
England. UK
roe
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
England. UK
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The deep runs are still kicking my tail. Managed to pinch one today when it finally made a shallow run, as we've had a cool front mixed with precipitation the past couple of days. But it's taking too long. I did order a half dozen of Steve's traps a couple days ago, so I'm looking forward to trying them. I still don't exactly see how they wouldn't get prematurely tripped as the mole is pushing dirt up through the deep runs, but maybe it will make sense to me once I actually set one. Hi, they don't push so much, they generally pull dirt back.
What doesn't kill us makes us stranger...
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: roe]
#5167133
08/21/15 12:10 AM
08/21/15 12:10 AM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
South Dakota
_fletch_
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 24
South Dakota
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Hi, they don't push so much, they generally pull dirt back.
That's interesting, thanks. Well I received my shipment from WCS today and now have some of Albano's traps, so I'm looking forward to trying them out. Today, I set a few No-Mol's in those deep runs. Thanks for the input everyone.
Last edited by _fletch_; 08/21/15 02:03 AM.
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: _fletch_]
#5167366
08/21/15 08:42 AM
08/21/15 08:42 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,240
West Michigan
Getting There
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,240
West Michigan
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The hard one for me is the area where a mound was, and the owner keeps running over them with the lawn mower.
If the dirt has been pushed up, there is no need to keep pushing the dirt up but the mole can still be using the tunnel and you never know it. I let the customer know not to push down any runs or mounds once I start setting trap. I also ask them not to cut the grass to close to Steve's traps if they are set in shallow runs, it will jam dirt in the trap and when the mole clean the tunnel it will feel the trap and go under.
To Old
U.S. Army 60-63 SGT.
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Re: A little mole advice needed
[Re: _fletch_]
#5170073
08/23/15 06:14 PM
08/23/15 06:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 173
Ohio
Sweet Pea
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 173
Ohio
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Best thing I ever did was get one of LT's mole trapping tools. It isn't good for real deep runs but for surface runs I can put in a set in about 10 seconds ! For carrying mole traps to a set? I clamp them on each other to form a ring and open them at each place. Try it, it's amazing how light it is. No need for a bucket ! LT taught me that trick. A real time saver ! Angela 
Bighead Taxidermy....You Kill It, I Mount It.
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