Do Moles Get "Trap Shy"?

[Steve Albano 21]

I'm curious as to what people thing regarding whether or not individual moles will learn to avoid traps?

 

I trap moles and gophers, and the gophers definitely will learn to avoid traps if they've been pinched in a trap but survive. But I don't think moles do.

 

My feeling is that they're harder to trap in some soil conditions and they're more likely to dig around or pack dirt against traps in some conditions, but I don't see any real reason to believe that they're actively learning to avoid traps.

 

What do you guys think?

[glass22 0]

I don't think they ever learn to be honest.

 

It seems you can fail 10 times and on the 11th it would walk straight to it's death.

[moley 115]

I don't think they ever learn to be honest.

 

It seems you can fail 10 times and on the 11th it would walk straight to it's death.

 

don,t know about trap shy , i don,t think animals know its a trap , its just something that wasn,t there yesterday or shouldn,t be there , i think its down to smell /sense , touch whatever but they all make mistakes at some point

[BRY 79]

I think moles can learn to be trap shy to a point, where people have tried to catch them before and failed miserably but setting traps wrongly in the runs then going onto other deterants .

 

i have a mole job on at the moment were 2 other firms have failed badly to get this mole on a big lawn, i have caught the surrounding offenders but this mole on the lawn is very tricky to get. and its a fair traveling distance to.

I WILL GET HIM

 

Bry

[devonlad 0]

A mole knows every thing in its environment and is quickly alerted to any change, that is why it is important to ensure it's environment is left as it expects to find it, more often than not it's as simple as a trap not placed correctly or changes to the tunnel's shape or orientation by the trapper which alerts the mole to danger.

[glass22 0]

I think it's also worth remembering they have very little to fear in their tunnels, preditor wise, so they're going to be pritty confident.

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

I don't believe that moles become trap shy,...but obvious strong and unfamiliar odours seem to cause awareness problems on some occasions.

This apprehension can result in the mole either turning around and rejecting the trap or at best,..slowing down and patrolling his tunnels far more carefully,..and it is this quiet approach that can change the outcome of an otherwise easy kill. I have found that moles are well used to finding their tunnels damaged and blocked by heavy traffic from tractor wheels, cattle and horse hooves, etc.

And when they encounter such devastation to their worm traps, they have to effect an instant repair,..and invariably plough on in regardless.

And that is where my favourite wee trap comes into play...

But,..this is only an opinion,..and I could well be wrong...

 

All the best,..and good trapping,...kind regards,.CHALKWARREN...

[devonlad 0]

Think of all those double catches your missing out on CW.. by not using the halfbarrell. Jokes aside, they are good traps, just not as good as a nicely tuned Halfbarrell

 

DL

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

Think of all those double catches your missing out on CW.. by not using the halfbarrell. Jokes aside, they are good traps, just not as good as a nicely tuned Halfbarrell

 

DL

 

I sure can't argue with that fact Devonlad...

 

My Flat Pack half barrels are so fine tuned,..the cold breath from a large earthworm could fire em'....

 

But,..I'm having some real fun with these imported Curry Wallahs,..

 

And there is a definite time and place for them...

 

All the best to you,...cheers,.CHALKWARREN...

[devonlad 0]

I take it those are the ones recently stocked by Magnum Trap??

[Phil Lloyd 10,738]

I take it those are the ones recently stocked by Magnum Trap??

 

 

Yes they are,..and I am well made up with them..

 

When I first handled the original Dutch Talpex traps ,..some 25 years ago, they were a mystery to me

 

But now,.I am far older,..far fatter,..but considerably more adaptable,.and I like the Magnum Talpa...

 

They are hardly precision made, ..finely honed works of art,..but as workmanlike 'rough and ready' tools for the job,..., they are perfectly adequate...

HOWEVER,..that being said,..I would urge folk to think carefully before purchasing similar copies from China....

 

All the best,..CHALKWARREN...

[nighttimenellie 4]

i havent got a clue if they can be trap shy, but i have had the odd one that once missed seems to be a bugger to catch, all of the above ideas all seem reasonable statements as to why they get missed, in my case its because im a fecking idiot, but i think its diferent in each case, the question i would like to ask is , if you proper mole lads think a change in type of trap say from HB to talpex or whatever might just get that stubborn mole, or is it just a case of doing it right in the first place.

[devonlad 0]

i havent got a clue if they can be trap shy, but i have had the odd one that once missed seems to be a bugger to catch, all of the above ideas all seem reasonable statements as to why they get missed, in my case its because im a fecking idiot, but i think its diferent in each case, the question i would like to ask is , if you proper mole lads think a change in type of trap say from HB to talpex or whatever might just get that stubborn mole, or is it just a case of doing it right in the first place.

 

 

Personally,...

 

I am happy with my batch of imported Jalfrezi Grippers,...and for that reason alone,..(and bearing in mind the competitive nature of the mole catching business locally),... ..I would strongly advise folk to stick with what they know,..and what they feel comfortable with using....

 

You know it makes sense.....

 

Horses for Courses....

 

 

 

 

 

All the best,.CHALKWARREN...

 

 

As above stick with what you know, just make sure all points are covered (mentioned previously) and in addition, ensuring trap is sealed properly (covered, no gaps or holes to the outside world)

 

If you still fail with your HB's, then try the "Jalfrezi Grippers" they are apparently full of "eastern promise" !!

[nighttimenellie 4]

It wasnt that i was going to change traps more that a change in trap type might be usefull if you have missed one a couple of times with one type , a change to another might fool it(not the right term but i cant think how to put it)

[devonlad 0]

It wasnt that i was going to change traps more that a change in trap type might be usefull if you have missed one a couple of times with one type , a change to another might fool it(not the right term but i cant think how to put it)

 

In what way do you think you could "fool" a mole into entering another trap ?? the reason I mention using another type was if you are not placing the HB properly in position, in which case you may have an easier time using another type.

 

However, if poss it is best to stick with one type initially and perfect its use and setting before using another, Pro's may use a variety of traps as certain soil types better suit particular traps. But the halfbarrell is in general terms all things to all men. I think your problem is where or how you are setting your trap, a well placed and set trap will catch, it is as simple as that...