Mole Traps

Do You Really Have Moles?

When you see mounds in your yard, you might be quick to diagnose it as a mole. Mole problems can be extremely frustrating, but before checking out your options, make sure it is actually a mole and not some other soil-dwelling animal like a pocket gopher or groundhog. Moles leave very distinct raised ridges from their near-surface tunnels. No other animal will produce these. Mole mounds are also distinctly cone shaped, while gopher mounds are flatter and more fan shaped, with a soil plug on one side. 

Get Rid Of Moles

Often times, combining control methods is the best way to make sure your pest problem can be cured for good. With moles, the easiest ways are cultural control and using mole traps. Consider changing your soil’s properties to make it less appealing. Moles eat insects and worms underground, and white grubs are a huge food source if they are present. Treating for white grubs (after/ during trap usage) can help prevent moles from seeing your property as a buffet in the future.

Choosing Mole Traps

There are three main types of mole traps available, but some other newer models, like the CINCH mole trap or Talpirid mole trap are variations on the classic models. Here is a quick rundown of the basic trap models and an overview on how to use them. Traps should come with detailed instructions and should be followed carefully to ensure safety.

• Harpoon style traps: This type of trap is what it sounds like: two stakes are placed in the ground, straddling each side of its underground tunnel with one large stake that, when triggered, will come down on the mole. 
• Scissor jaw traps: These traps have two blades that are set into the ground, and when triggered will snap together like scissors. This type of trap has to be buried under the ground deeper than other types of traps.
• Choker loop traps: Choker loop traps have to run the correct direction, so the loop can close over the animal properly. They must be buried deeper than the tunnel.
• With all of these traps, you are essentially collapsing part of the mole’s tunnel and placing a trap in the midst of it, so when the mole comes by to repair the tunnel, they will be trapped.
• Live traps can be used, and are buried 

Mole Trap Tips: How To Catch a Mole

• Trapping moles requires practice; you won’t be a mole-trapping expert immediately. You’ll need a lot of patience and even more understanding on how moles work. 
• Although the molehills are unattractive and damaging to your yard, do not make these the focus of your mole control regime. Focus on the surface tunnels, where you can lay the traps.
• The key in laying mole traps is to choose surface tunnels that are actively being used. Moles will often quickly abandon a tunnel, sometimes only using them once. To easily test the tunnels you see, step on several and wait till the next day to see which tunnels have been reconstructed. Moles generally do not like when their tunnels collapse and will work quickly to repair them, which is why trapping is so successful. 
• Once you have found an active tunnel, you should press a portion of the tunnel down flat, straddling the trap over the compressed dirt and putting the trigger pan close against the dirt. The mole will come to raise that piece of the tunnel back up and trigger the trap just at the right moment. 
• Test your trap several times to ensure it is properly working.
• Check traps every day. The trapped moles may not die immediately so it is important to check traps daily.
• If your traps have not been triggered or you have not trapped any animals in a few days, move your traps. The moles are probably not using that tunnel any more. 

No matter what type of trap you choose to use, make sure no light will get into the tunnels. You will have to do a lot of digging and messing around with the traps, so try to be as careful and possible and not disturb the tunnel too much.