Steve, Can you post any step by step photos of how you set up a run,(both shallow and deep) with your new traps?.......that's what we're all dyin' to see!

I'll get some pics and a blow by blow commentary up tonight, LT. Sent you some traps the other day.

Hi Steve

Could you please send me some samples of the new mole trap, so I can try it.

Thanks

Art

Steve, I received some traps today.....The package had been opened...and appeared to have never been taped... Two traps inside though..(Right?)

It took me a bit to figure it out...but after a few tries, I fianally got it set right and sacraficed a #2 pencil into it's waiting jaws......SNAP!

Is this a big enough trap for Eastern moles? I know Bob is trying some out and I'm not sure which species you have in Cali, although, they look like ours on film. What keeps the mole from pushing the trap, once he feels it? Does he just disregard it as a root perhaps, and move on through?

In any event, thank you for sending me these and they will be in the ground tomorrow.

Here are some pictures from some setups from yesterday and today...

This first photo shows some superficial feeding tunnels in a lawn area. These tunnels are the reason the client called, but probably aren't the best place to set the traps. You could set them here, but best to check around and see what else you can find first.

Same yard as first photo, about 10 feet away from lawn, there is a very shady and damp area with a long wall running the length of the front of the property. There's about a 99% chance that there's going to be a somewhat deeper travel tunnel along the base of that wall. No signs of activity on the surface, because the tunnel has been in constant use for a long time, and all surface signs washed away long ago. This is a great place for a set up.



OK, here's the basic set with my traps. Just dig out a 4 or five inch segment of the tunnel, and place set traps both directions in the exposed tunnels. Push the traps into the tunnels at least far enough that the trigger pan is inside the tunnel. If you keep a finger against the back of the trigger pan, you can prevent the traps from firing as you push them in. Usually I can get them far enough in that the spring on the back of the trap is half way or all the way into the tunnel. Bed the trap into the soil a bit by pushing down on the spring or the spring catch on the back of the trap. Finally, block off the exposed end of the tunnel behind the trap with a dirt clod or compacted mud ball, and filter loose soil over set to exclude light.



Another good setup location. These are brand new tunnels in a flower bed that had just been worked and watered in preparation for some new plantings. The moles moved right in. There were obvious fresh signs on the surface, unlike the deeper travel tunnel shown next to wall in above photos. But I like setting on straight tunnels along walkways or other obstacles.

And what's that green thing at the top of the picture?



Oh, run for your lives, moles, the evil molechaser is going to get you. I catch moles right next to these things all the time.

LT, yes, just the two I sent. I don't know why your box was opened, but those priority mail boxes aren't supposed to be taped. They just close up with some a adhesive glue strip built into the box.

I'm pretty sure the trap is big enough for eastern moles, though I'd like to get feedback on that. The space between the front tines is actually a tad larger than the space between the uprights on a no-mol, so I think the size should be OK. But if it seems small to you, let me know.

Art, sure, I'll get a couple of samples to you soon.

Steve, Set the traps this morning. I tried to "snug it up" inside the tunnel, as much as possible. I am interested in how you know they're fired. Do you just dig them up everytime you check? When I've used the No-Mols, that's what I always had to do. I would assume it's probably the same.

The point you made about "the tunnel being 99% deeper along the wall" is a great tip for newcomers, if they payed attention. That tip will make you some money and "save face" chasing these sometimes elusive moles, especially when it's just one that has been there some time and has a network of tunnels.

I've found that a key ring and 1/16th cale will make an excellent tie off, if used with an 1/4" rod.

yes you need to cross stake those traps.HA! You gotta be kidding me LT Grey.MMMMMMm maybe use a drag on a few too.:)

Whatever! Just post us how you're using those tools you had in the post with the saddleback shrew! (I always caught a lot of shrews in the No-Mols too.... They eat the dead moles think)!

Steve, I received 2 traps Thursday and set them Friday. Set them back to back as you suggested and followed the written instructions that you sent me (like above). These were set in deep tunnels in Missouri clay. Today I checked them. The traps were both sprung and the eastern mole filled them full of clay. I didn't see any signs of tunneling around the traps, it just looked like the mole was trying to push them out of the ground. Any suggestions?

Tonight is a great night to bring this thread over onto a conference call call with Steve Albano

Thanks for the link Robb. I could finally listen to the program. I couldn't figure out how to listen without registering. Very informative. Great Show!

Can't have "The Mighty Mole Trapper's Thread " without this :

http://whacamole.com/

Enjoy !

Interesting! Thanks Cragar

If I ever get a vendor booth at one of the annual association meetings, I think the old whack-a-mole could really pull in the foot traffic!

what would happen if you opened up a mole tunnel and place a set mouse trap with extra large pan in the way with no bait? Just kind of blind set it. Would it work?

I think an adult mole could pull out of it...They work on shrews and meadow voles though!

Maynard Stanley, "Stan5858" made this video on how to use the new Albano Mole Trap and I hope this thread is a good place to share it. http://thewildlifepro.com/albano_mole_trap.html


Find more videos like this on WWW.WILDLIFEPRO.NET

Barkstone is awlful quite.....He must be slammin' the moles...Hey Barkstone fill us in..... I wanta know how The Barkstone rolls..........

I saw something today that I thought my fellow molers could help me with. When I got to a client's location today, I discovered a maze of very shallow runs in mulch. They resembled vole runs after snowmelt. Upon closer inspection, I spotted 2 juvenile moles resting in the runs, and dispatched them. There was no weed barrier, and this was in the hot sun. What gives?