Mole Traps In The Frost

[Nicepix 5,650]

These traps have been used for decades over here and most French pro's use nothing else. The way they do it is very different to how you and I trap moles. For a start their spades are more like shovels and they don't bother probing relying on taking out a huge solid clod from between the molehills. The clod is kept intact and Putanges are placed in the exposed holes either side of the excavation so that they are almost totally inside the tunnel. Next a long orange rod of around 2mm wire is put into the eyes of each trap and the clod is lowered back into place leaving the orange wires sticking up through the surface.

 

How do they check the traps? Usually a dog is used. Typically a dachshund or similar breed indicates whether there is a mole in the traps. If they haven't got a dog it means lifting the clod and checking the traps.

 

As well as the Putange for moles there are similar traps designed for other pests such as rats, lerots (garden dormice) and the rat taupier, a strange animal that burrows like a mole, but eats plants and bulbs.

 

Only recently has the garden centre chain Gamme Vert started selling the type of traps we would use. I can get Talpex off the shelf at €9.99 each. That's £7.42 in your coinage. Their tunnel traps are cheap Chinky crap though. When I go round on my jobs I see all sorts of traps that have been used by customers. Some are antiques, most are crap, but I've seen enough redundant Beagle traps to build a small wall.

[3175darren 1,100]

 

Its good to hear about other traps, it keeps you thinking outside the box,I have the nomol equivalent and have caught a fare few moles with them,but tend to stick with the traditional tunnel trap of talpex, I like this sort of discussion,

In this weather though your not going to get many hours work with a talpex..

Tottaly agree I have pulled all my traps now at the moment,it's a waist of time, it could shape up to be a busy year as well,

[iwm 71]

Just walked in the house from a few hours shooting feral pigeons and the trap from Mr Muddy is waiting on the door mat(Thank you). You would need a setting tool to set these traps they seem quite well made. Quick shower and i will take it round to see if we can make a few .I think some type of jig has to be made to fit the machine first but everything seems to be ok to go.

I have printed a photo of the setting tool of the interweb so you never know i could get him to make this as well???.

Iwm

[socks 32,253]

Do you want me to send you one of the French traps I use that you don't need a setting tool to use to see if he can copy those ???

[Nicepix 5,650]

Just walked in the house from a few hours shooting feral pigeons and the trap from Mr Muddy is waiting on the door mat(Thank you). You would need a setting tool to set these traps they seem quite well made. Quick shower and i will take it round to see if we can make a few .I think some type of jig has to be made to fit the machine first but everything seems to be ok to go.

I have printed a photo of the setting tool of the interweb so you never know i could get him to make this as well???.

Iwm

 

If you need a setting tool send me a PM with your address and I'll post one over to you. I use a different type to the basic ones, more like circlip pliers, as they are easier to use. But I have a few of the lever type spare.

[iwm 71]

Pms sent to Socks and Nicepics. I will make sure you get them back with hopefully a few more.

Left the trap sent by Mr muddy with Jon ,He will make the jig on monday and then try one or two for me to look at next week, although i wanted him to stay at work and do them now , he told me to off. Some poeple just dont understand how important somthing like this is!!!

iwm

[bunny tickler 876]

i see he pegs the traps down too

[Nicepix 5,650]

Don't take too much notice of that lad's techniques. The pro's are a lot quicker, neater and less fussy. Also, he puts the trigger quite a bit further back than is conventional. Mine are set 1" (25mm) back from the jaws. That way the mole is trapped around the neck or shoulders.

[bunny tickler 876]

Don't take too much notice of that lad's techniques. The pro's are a lot quicker, neater and less fussy. Also, he puts the trigger quite a bit further back than is conventional. Mine are set 1" (25mm) back from the jaws. That way the mole is trapped around the neck or shoulders.

basically how not to do it then

[talpa 55]

I wouldn't want to carry 2 x spades, a big bit of board and a heavy stone as well as a bucket of traps, markers and setter.

I rarely set at a mole hill but with this style of trap aswell as traplines it could reduce what I carry as I wouldn't need a dibber, I will do a couple on next job to see how I get on with traplines.

Its good to see how others go about the jobs we do.

[torchey 1,328]

i see he pegs the traps down too

 

.

 

Not the best vid tbh, i ve never pegged mine down and had no problems but my dad does so each to their own i suppose ...whats that with two different spades f**k that....

[socks 32,253]

I peg mine down it just stops the trap moving and allows for a quicker fire of the trigger ... But as has been said each to their own .....

[Nicepix 5,650]

The video isn't representative of how it is done. The French pro's carry a large spade and a bucket containing the traps, pins to peg them down, a small narrow trowel or spoon like tool to rake out the holes and a setting tool. That's it. And you can carry a lot of these traps in a bucket. Some hang the traps off their belts with the triggers already in place.

 

I pin my traps down purely to stop any movement when the mole hits the trap. Usually the mole is caught sideways which to me suggests that they turn and squeeze through the prongs. I prefer to use them in shallow runs such as those visible under turf or under patios.

 

 

In turf I just cut a segment of turf out, clean the holes either side, slide the traps in, put small pieces of fence wire through the trap eyes to secure them, pop the turf back on and slip a small plastic flag into the turf to mark the site. Easy-Peasy.

[torchey 1,328]

I don,t think i,ve ever caught one sideways ,,,strange,,,not that i can remember anyway.

[socks 32,253]

I have never caught one sideways either ......