Mole numbers this winter ?

[earth-thrower 493]

Just wondering if anyone has noticed a difference in the amount of moles, on their patch ?,...because of the long dry summer we had. I was guessing numbers would be down, where i am. But im pleased to say, i was wrong about that !   lol    cause there seems to be more about, on a fair amount of ground here, compared to the same time last December/January ?

[tilimangro 1,013]

Absolutely flat out with moles

i suspect the drought forced the moles out of predators way in their search for food 

I was expecting a quiet winter but in currently booked up weeks in advance

[earth-thrower 493]

Good stuff, then ! ,...i did read the odd press report about alot of moles found dead on the surface, etc , as a result of it, at the time,.....cheers, for the reply.

[mole trapper 1,693]

Good down here also. Started early like the old days. Interesting that the wasps were like the good old days also. 

[3175darren 1,101]

I am catching, but they are in deeper runs than normal, not big numbers, as in less than expected, but they are putting a lot of soil up at the moment, how’s the wood barrelled traps doing 

[earth-thrower 493]

56 minutes ago, 3175darren said:

I am catching, but they are in deeper runs than normal, not big numbers, as in less than expected, but they are putting a lot of soil up at the moment, how’s the wood barrelled traps doing 

Aye, ave noticed that too, how the mole activity can vary, from year to year. Still setting the odd wood barrel , along with the Duffus mate. Trouble is they are more time consuming to set, when your busy,.... (PM you there)

Edited January 17, 2019 by earth-thrower

[3175darren 1,101]

4 hours ago, earth-thrower said:

Aye, ave noticed that too, how the mole activity can vary, from year to year. Still setting the odd wood barrel , along with the Duffus mate. Trouble is they are more time consuming to set, when your busy,.... (PM you there)

This weather front will cause some mess, as soon as the ground hardens the boys will be spreading slurry, and collapsing the runs with the tanker/ tractors, then you will see some soil pushed up, when they clean out, its been that mild bloody grass was starting to grow, its going to be a interesting yr that’s a fact,

[DIDO.1 22,844]

I'm catching less in 6 months than I once caught in a week....but all mine are in gardens and business parks now plus a couple of football pitches rather than farms, so the money is about the same

[trappa 518]

Getting solid numbers here but definately down on last few years. This is 30+ from this morning. 

Higher ground has far fewer moles than usual. 

[Jamies Apprentice 5]

On 16/01/2019 at 18:55, mole trapper said:

Good down here also. Started early like the old days. Interesting that the wasps were like the good old days also. 

I am doing twice what I was doing this time last year........   

[earth-thrower 493]

On 18/01/2019 at 17:53, trappa said:

Getting solid numbers here but definately down on last few years. This is 30+ from this morning. 

Higher ground has far fewer moles than usual. 

Do you generally get alot of rain, or not, where you are trappa ?,.....i think cause we get that much of it throughout the year here,  the moles still found the damp spots, even in the long dry summer we had last .....(possibly even helped them somehow ! ,.....cause im still a little surprised, at the amount of activity),....never had as hot & dry a summer in these parts , for a long time.

[earth-thrower 493]

On 17/01/2019 at 22:43, DIDO.1 said:

I'm catching less in 6 months than I once caught in a week....but all mine are in gardens and business parks now plus a couple of football pitches rather than farms, so the money is about the same

Good on you,.....

[trappa 518]

On 20/01/2019 at 01:00, earth-thrower said:

Do you generally get alot of rain, or not, where you are trappa ?,.....i think cause we get that much of it throughout the year here,  the moles still found the damp spots, even in the long dry summer we had last .....(possibly even helped them somehow ! ,.....cause im still a little surprised, at the amount of activity),....never had as hot & dry a summer in these parts , for a long time.

Id say we get above average for rain here, but i dont know for certain. I know i do rodent control on farms and i was catching more moles than rats for two months this summer, as they were coming up onto the surface looking for food/water?? and getting caught in the snap traps, something i personally havent known before.

[earth-thrower 493]

Aye, a remember you mentioning before. Who'd have thought that could happen ? Bet you got a bit of a surprise, on discovering that ?  Iol.  

[trappa 518]

While i think on, has anyone noticed any unusual amounts of fleas on their moles this year? i pulled one fella out yesterday that was covered, literally covered, i probably did him a favour killing him, wish id taken a photo. Not sure if it was a one off or not but after that i was looking and did see what i think was higher than normal flea numbers. Ive been doing bedbugs and mice today so havent been moling but back at it tomorrow  so gonna take some photos if i find any.