Migrating Moles

[Le Braconnier 49]

I have noticed that many of the tumps in the drier areas of the pastures appear to have been abandoned whilst there are lots of new tumps in the wetter areas. It would seem that the moles have migrated. Is this normal behaviour?

[Matt 160]

Yes.

 

Moles will travel to anywhere where there is sufficient food for them. In drier weather worms go deeper and are harder to find and moles tend to migrate to hedges, scrub and woodland.

 

Just my opinion of course, but an opinion based on over thirty years of molecatching.

 

Interestingly I was in a part of Devon where clay soils predominate on the weekend, and the mole activity is much more noticeable than here on the Wiltshire chalk. I've got two farms booked for September in Devon and hope to clear them both in a week. The way the weather has been this year I expect we'll get an indian summer and the moles will all disappear the week before I'm due there though

[DKGPestControl 22]

Just to add to the info given above, moles have the shallow feeding tunnels, As stated above, hedges, ditches, woodland and river banks!

Edited August 11, 2012 by DKGPestControl

[paulus 26]

simple moles follow the worms, if its dry. worms go deeper if its wet worms come up

[Butler 396]

Just to add to the info given above, moles have the shallow feeding tunnels, but under them are the deeper tunnels that the moles dig to the water table to drink! As the water gets to far under he gound they move to areas where he water table is higher! As stated above, hedges, ditches, woodland and river banks!

 

Thats a new one to me i always thought they got all there moisture from there food. Every days a school day.

[earth-thrower 493]

I have noticed that many of the tumps in the drier areas of the pastures appear to have been abandoned whilst there are lots of new tumps in the wetter areas. It would seem that the moles have migrated. Is this normal behaviour?

Its common this time of year,when you usually have drier conditions.(although this year seems to be the exception !)where i am ( as has been said ), you can find fresh activity along watercourses.Burns,drainage ditches,etc. Edited August 7, 2012 by earth-thrower

[earth-thrower 493]

Just to add to the info given above, moles have the shallow feeding tunnels, but under them are the deeper tunnels that the moles dig to the water table to drink! As the water gets to far under he gound they move to areas where he water table is higher! As stated above, hedges, ditches, woodland and river banks!

 

Thats a new one to me i always thought they got all there moisture from there food. Every days a school day.

Quite interesting that one ! But when you have multiple captures from a good run, which leads to a water source,in springtime.I suppose this confirms,their need to drink !

[Rolfe 2]

Just to add to the above.........if mole catching in drought conditions and there is no watercourse nearby then try looking along wire netting fencing for runs, the netting catches condensation during the night and drips it beneath the fence line making it a source of moisture for worms and moles

[Matt 160]

Just to add to the above.........if mole catching in drought conditions and there is no watercourse nearby then try looking along wire netting fencing for runs, the netting catches condensation during the night and drips it beneath the fence line making it a source of moisture for worms and moles

 

Yep, very good advice there

 

Those fence line runs are killers.

[DKGPestControl 22]

Yeah, under post and rail fences are baggin runs lol catches all the water lol I thought that was a trick of mine lmao

[DKGPestControl 22]

Muti catches are only caught by me in breeding season! I check traps everyday sometimes twice. The people that tell me the get double catches all year tend to only check traps weekly or fortnightly! I believe this is just due to them catching the existing mole, another one moves in and also gets caught!

 

 

[Matt 160]

Muti catches are only caught by me in breeding season! I check traps everyday sometimes twice. The people that tell me the get double catches all year tend to only check traps weekly or fortnightly! I believe this is just due to them catching the existing mole, another one moves in and also gets caught!

 

Bollocks.

 

I get regular double catches all year round, and I check my traps the day after I've set them.

 

In the spring the double catch rate certainly increases, but I had a double catch not two weeks ago, and that will continue through the new season (I don't usually do much to the moles in July and August).

[Le Braconnier 49]

Just to add to the above.........if mole catching in drought conditions and there is no watercourse nearby then try looking along wire netting fencing for runs, the netting catches condensation during the night and drips it beneath the fence line making it a source of moisture for worms and moles

 

That is excellent advice - Thanks. I have miles and miles of it to go at.

 

Regards the multiple catches debate; the tumps in the pasture I'm currently working in would indicate seperate living quarters with communial runs towards the wetter area.

[DKGPestControl 22]

I do a lot of mole work all year and don't ever remember a double catch in the autum/ winter. I still get the odd one now but will stop soon.

[moley 115]

moles digging wells, thats a new one on me, ffs