mazperks 18 Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) In a previous post I mentioned a particular spot where there were several moles, as far as I could tell, backfilling the traps. I've had Duffus, scissor, and finally Talpex in, and the same thing happening. I,ve tried moving them around, set in good straight runs, feeding, and travelling runs, same thing. Now I've been setting by the book, good tight fits, well tamped, snare wire bedded in, well covered. So now I'm thinking this mole/ moles is simply acutely aware through its various senses of the presence of traps, maybe through previous experience. I know they are for the most part loners but I'm also wondering if there is any communication between say a male and its breeding partner, to try to protect it. I say this because of the size of the area affected. Anyway I have come up with a design for a new? trap, based on the spring snare.(I know theres nothing new under the sun but maybe for moles) I have a powerful spring from a trampoline which can just be bent over and held by a simple notched stick trigger, and a wire noose attached. The noose will go just inside the run, bedded into the soil, and the mechanism & trigger outside in the dug out hole. The tunnel entrance will be plugged, and the trigger up agaist the plug. I'm hoping that with this method the mole cannot sense the trap. When its built and tested I will post the result, and hopefully get some pics up. Just out of interest has anyone ever had a supermole that couldn't be beat?. Edited March 17, 2015 by mazperks Quote Link to post
bryn27 89 Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I've not had a talpex filled yet? obviously their behaviour will be different at present regards breeding.Dont think they tip each other off though regards where traps are lol. Quote Link to post
bryn27 89 Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 5 days off and I'm now itching to get back out for some thinning. Quote Link to post
MAG1980 116 Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Looking forward to seeing these picks Maz, Ive been getting the run around off one mole on my permission four at least 2 months and it driving me nuts... tryed duffus.. back filled them so put some nomols and a couple talpas down.... th8ngs have gone very quite and no new activity. I will get the barsteward if its the ladt thing i do. ? Quote Link to post
Nicepix 5,650 Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I had one that had been chased around the garden by the customer for months and was ultra neophobic. After two weeks of back filling Duffus and going under Talpex I rested it for a week and then got it first time, second time around, using a Putange. I did a lot of probing until I found a tunnel that went over a rock and put the traps in where it couldn't tunnel under. I've used similar tactics for other troublesome moles. Find a choke point such as a patio or tree roots where the mole squeezes through an immovable gap or a really well used commuting run, ideally an old dry one. 2 Quote Link to post
perthshire keeper 1,239 Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 ive only had one very very hard mole to catch! i set 4 duffus traps with a mole in one end..and had him next day.. i think they get so pissed of seeing the other mole they throw caution into the wind 3 Quote Link to post
bryn27 89 Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 had the same thing meself a few year back PK. Quote Link to post
mazperks 18 Posted March 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Nicepix you've given me an idea,I have some thin steel sheet, I can cut a couple of inches wide, insert it into the run maybe six inches and under the trap. That would prevent tunnelling under the talpex. Quote Link to post
OldTrapCollector 377 Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Nicepix you've given me an idea,I have some thin steel sheet, I can cut a couple of inches wide, insert it into the run maybe six inches and under the trap. That would prevent tunnelling under the talpex. I doubt a mole would cross anything other than earth - just my opinion Quote Link to post
J Darcy 5,871 Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 If you set a talpex right it shouldn't be possible for the mole to tunnel under it. Try putting on blob of soil under the plate and nothing else in the tube. 1 Quote Link to post
mazperks 18 Posted March 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Here is a link to pics of my prototype mole trap. This is just a rough try to see if it works mechanically, which is seems to do. So I will be trying it out in a day or two. Let me make it clear I am not trying to improve on, or replace existing traps, this is just a one off hopefully for these super moles. The spring is very powerful and I am sure when triggered, the mole will receive enough shock to kill outright, however if not, it is no worse than a rat or rabbit snare in the outcome. The board is long enough to take a second spring/snare for the opposite tunnel. I will be taking some of the width to about 3 inches wide. http://s707.photobucket.com/user/AndrewWells75/library/Traps Quote Link to post
Phil Lloyd 10,738 Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 No offence fellah,...(and I mean that most sincerely),...but are you on some kind of medication.... 1 Quote Link to post
mazperks 18 Posted March 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Phil you are entitled to your opinion, but lets not knock it until its been tried. Remember spring snares have been in use for thousands of years, and spring mole traps in pipes and boxes for hundreds until the advent of modern traps. As i've said this is just a fun experiment to try and catch trap shy moles. 1 Quote Link to post
Nicepix 5,650 Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 I had an idea a couple of years ago but have never put it into practice as I'm useless at making things. It consists of the capacitor from a small flash gun connected to two thin wires that are sleeved except for around 5mm at the lower ends. A couple of AA batteries power it and they, along with the capacitor are housed on top of a 50mm plastic pipe that has been cut in half lengthways. The two wires go through the half pipe into the tunnel and when the mole makes the circuit it gets around 400 volts. If you search Google for home made stun guns you'll get the jist of it. Quote Link to post
Phil Lloyd 10,738 Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 (edited) Phil you are entitled to your opinion, but lets not knock it until its been tried. Remember spring snares have been in use for thousands of years, and spring mole traps in pipes and boxes for hundreds until the advent of modern traps. As i've said this is just a fun experiment to try and catch trap shy moles. Certainly not knocking your trap idea,...(for me that would be hypocritical)....I cannot even knock a nail in,...I am 100% hopeless at making anything. However, I have seen most of the images of the prototype traps that were forwarded to the Ministry of Agriculture after the banning of the Gin Trap,...so, I am familiar with the manifestations of mad scientists and their ilk... NO,..I was simply wondering about your script regarding 'super moles' and their ability to evade capture.... Personaly,.and as stated, I would wish you well with your labours, and obviously no offence intended,..but as a full time trapper of many years experience, I know it is incredibly foolish and more than a little anthromorphic to award wild animals, with human qualities.... I do not believe that moles become trap shy....but, I do believe, some folk have trouble in catching them in awkward conditions. All the best,.and good trapping ,.regards, Phil. Edited March 18, 2015 by Phil Lloyd Quote Link to post
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