Steve Albano 21 Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Hello, I've run a mole and pocket gopher control business just south of San Francisco, California for 16 years, and am also very interested in mole and gopher trap design and antique traps. Nice to see so many folks here who have an interest in mole trapping. Seems it's quite a well developed art in the UK and the rest of Europe. Here's a picture of a mole trap I produce and use in my business. Also use "Out-o-Sight" mole traps by Victor, which are a scissors jaw type of trap. Steve Albano Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stubby 175 Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 hi mate and welcome, prehaps you could post a few more pictures of that trap, see how it works? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Albano 21 Posted March 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Thanks for the welcome, stubby. Here are a couple of pictures of my trap in the set and sprung position. I've used a similar trap for pocket gophers for about a year, and have just got it scaled down and slightly modified to work on moles. There are some situations where it's easier to set a small inside the tunnel trap, for instance where the mole is traveling below obstacles, and there are also situations like school yards or gardens of homes with small kids, where customers don't want larger more visible traps set due to safety issues. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rolfe 2 Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 That looks a useful bit of kit Steve............wouldn't mind trying out a couple of those........any cost effective samples? I can't see how that trap would MISS a mole if it was triggered.........do you get any misses? Best Regards Rolfe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Albano 21 Posted March 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Rolfe, when I was designing the trap, I had to experiment with the jaw spread on the front of the trap. When I had it a tad too narrow, I was getting misses because the moles couldn't get their big flipper like feet past the jaws on the front end of the trap, or they would move the trap around and spring it when entering the trap. Once I got the jaw spread just right, I got very few misses. Virtually none. The disadvantage of my trap is that is that it is unidirectional, and thus you have to set two of mine to every one Talpex you're setting or Victor out-o-sight that I use. But then of course you can catch two moles at one set, which you can't do with a scissors jaw trap. What do you know about this trap approval process in the UK? Who do I have to submit a sample to get that process rolling? If you wan't a sample of my traps, maybe I could just trade you a couple of mine for one of your Talpex traps? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tiny 7 1,694 Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 welcome mate Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Welcome to the site. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ste* 0 Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 :welcomeani: to the forum. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rolfe 2 Posted March 31, 2008 Report Share Posted March 31, 2008 Rolfe, when I was designing the trap, I had to experiment with the jaw spread on the front of the trap. When I had it a tad too narrow, I was getting misses because the moles couldn't get their big flipper like feet past the jaws on the front end of the trap, or they would move the trap around and spring it when entering the trap. Once I got the jaw spread just right, I got very few misses. Virtually none. The disadvantage of my trap is that is that it is unidirectional, and thus you have to set two of mine to every one Talpex you're setting or Victor out-o-sight that I use. But then of course you can catch two moles at one set, which you can't do with a scissors jaw trap. What do you know about this trap approval process in the UK? Who do I have to submit a sample to get that process rolling? If you wan't a sample of my traps, maybe I could just trade you a couple of mine for one of your Talpex traps? I'll check a couple of things out Steve and get back to you mate.......Rolfe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Albano 21 Posted April 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Here are a couple of other fellows that I trap on a regular basis, a pocket gopher and a meadow vole. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Coney 3 Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Hello and welcome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Taylor 0 Posted April 1, 2008 Report Share Posted April 1, 2008 Welcome Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Albano 21 Posted April 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 Thank you all for the welcome. Seems like a GREAT forum! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rolfe 2 Posted April 3, 2008 Report Share Posted April 3, 2008 What do you know about this trap approval process in the UK? Who do I have to submit a sample to get that process rolling? Steve.......as long as the trap is used in mole runs underground it comes under the " SMALL GROUND GAME ACT " and is therefore excempt of any approvals process........the same as for break back rat and mouse traps. Rolfe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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