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MossRoad
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Moles and Mole Traps
08/15/03 05:33 PM Attachment
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There have been several discussions here and on TBN recently regarding moles and mole traps. Here's some pictures of the Victor Out O Sight mole trap and how to set it.
The first picture is of a mole tunnel. Note the raised area going from upper right down to lower left. The ground is kind of broken. Not much of a tunnel, but it is a main highway in my yard. I've killed 9-10 moles in this tunnel just this year.
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MossRoad
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In picture number 2 I stomp my heel into the tunnel. If I was prospecting for moles, I'd do this in several places along the tunnel. If it pops back up in 24-48 hours, it is an active tunnel. Since I already know this is an active tunnel, I am stomping down a place to set the trap.
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MossRoad
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In picture #3 you can see that my big feet make just the right impression to fit the trap over the tunnel.
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MossRoad
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In picture #4 I have used a trowel to cut a slice across the tunnel on both sides of the trap.
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MossRoad
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Picture #5 shows the trap in the tripped condition, setting bars installed, safety hook off and the long rod is the trigger locking rod, which will hold the trap in the set postion later. This photo shows just before compressing the setting bars. Make sure the trigger rod is between the setting bars at this time.
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MossRoad
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In picture #6 I have squeezed the setting bars together to spring load the trap. At this point it takes a pretty good grip to hold the setting bars together. If you let it go, the trigger rod can flip up and snap a chunk of skin out of your hand, so be careful.
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MossRoad
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Picture #7 shows the trigger rod slipped into the trigger pan and the safety hook latched over the top of the trap. This is so that if you set it off while installing it into the tunnel, it won't cut your fingers off or take a chunk out of your hand! Ouch!
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MossRoad
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Picture #8 shows me using the setting bars to push the trap in over the tunnel. I have rotated the trap 180 degrees so that the downslope of the trigger pan matches the downslope of my heelprint. I stop when the trigger pan just touches the dirt. If you push too hard here, you will trigger the trap.
You can see that the tunnel is now stradled by the two sets of scissor-like pinchers with the trigger pan in the middle. This way, if the mole comes from either direction, it will pass through one set of pinchers encountering a collapsed tunnel. At this point, the mole pushes the dirt up to clear the tunnel. This pushes the trigger pan up, releasing the trigger rod. The scissors close and usually catch the mole right in the middle, killing it almost instantly.
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MossRoad
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Picture #9 show the trap installed and the safety hook i the off position. At this point, the trap is ready and armed. If the mole comes from the left or right side of this picture, it will go through the trap, push up the dirt and trigger the trap.
In soft or sandy soil, I have used a plug of sod under the trigger pan, or the sand will fall away from the trigger pan when the mole arrives. It will then pass under the trigger pan without triggering the pan. Another fix for this problem is to pop-rivet a caning jar lid to the trigger pan. This will dramatically increase the size of the trigger area, making it more likely to set off the trap.
Remember... moles are basically harmless. The damage they do to lawns is only cosmetic. They eat worms and bugs and aerate the soil. They don't eat your garden vegetables as they are stricktly meat eaters. I don't enjoy killing them, but they do damage to our above ground pool and sidewalks. They also dig tunnels next to our foundation allowing paths for water to enter our basement. The reason I use the Victor Out O Sight traps is because it is the most humane, quickest way to kill the mole. That's the way it should be done if you have to do it.
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MossRoad
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Picture #10 shows an orange safety flag so someone doesn't mow over it or walk into it, etc... Also, If you have pets, dogs in particular, put a bucket or large plastice flower pot over it so the trigger rod won't get their nose.
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MossRoad
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This is a picture of the Nash choker loop trap in the sprung position.
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MossRoad
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This is a picture of the Nash choker loop trap in the set position. Imagine that the loops are under ground and the trigger pan is in a depression made by my heel. The tunnel would pass through both loops of the trap. This is the view the mole would have. As it passes through the tunnel, the mole goes right through the loop and triggers the pan the same way as the Victor Out O Sight trap. The loop pops up from under the mole and pins it against the trap, choking it. I have seen moles pull this trap out of the ground and drag itself across the yard. I have also seen several moles still alive in the trap. I had to dispatch them with a shovel. I had no idea how long they were in the trap and that bothered me. I no longer use these types of traps for this reason.
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MossRoad
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And this final picture is of grandpa's mole trap. I call it the Victor Plunger O Death trap. This is in the set position. Imagine the spikes over the tunnel and the trigger pan in the heel depression mentioned in the previous posts. The mole comes through either side and triggers the trap, getting speared by one of three spikes on each side of the trap. In theory at least... I've never been able to get a mole with this type of trap. The trigger never trips and the mole gets under it. Several times I have pulled the trap only to discover a tunnel passing right under the trigger pan. Also, it is very hard to set. I don't know how humane it is as I've never caught a mole in it. I no longer use this type of trap due to it being hard to set and the many misses I had with it. I'll stick with the Victor Out O Sight traps.
I hope this helps any of you with mole problems.
The best source of information that I have found has been at www.themoleman.com. He is, in my opinion, the number one source for mole info. Good luck to all of you.
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beenthere
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Re: Moles and Mole Traps
[re: MossRoad]
08/15/03 08:27 PM
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I use the straight "plunger" mole trap that you said your grandfather used. I find it works great and have no problem catching (killing) moles with it. You are the first I have heard of that has success with the type of trap you use. But, each to their own and use what works best for you.
There are fewer steps to go through (your descriptions and pictures were great). Just step the heel on the raised mole 'tunnel', and push the trap into the ground, with the closed 'tunnel' going between the two legs. Then step onto the pad holding the 6 spikes and drive them down into the ground. Grasp the top ring or "T" and pull back and release a few times to be sure there is a clear path for the spikes to penetrate the ground. Pull back, set the trigger to just clear the trip pan (similar to your description of the hidden trap) and be sure that the pan is just touching the ground.
The mole raises this pan, trips the spring loaded spikes and is impaled. No need to spend time digging out a tunnel to prepare a 'bed' for the trap. When trippen, I usually first step on the spikes to ensure they are penetrating to their fullest depth. Then pull out the mole. Its good 90% of the times that I have the main run figured out, which fits your good description of knowing first where it is located.
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MossRoad
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Re: Moles and Mole Traps
[re: beenthere]
08/16/03 07:37 PM
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Hey, great description. Thanks. I just can't seem to pull the plunger handle up far enough to get the latch latched. If there were some foot tabs or some way to hold it down with my feet while I pulled up on the plunger it would be much better. But the way the thing is I have to use one hand to hold it down and the other to pull up the plunger. The pulling up hand always wins the tug o war! 
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GaryM
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Re: Moles and Mole Traps
[re: MossRoad]
08/17/03 06:50 PM
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I've used the plunger trap in the past with some success. As you say, pulling the plunger up against the spring and getting it to latch can be tricky.
Good hunting!
Gary
----------------------------------------------
Hey! Aren't you supposed to be working?
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herbenus
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Re: Moles and Mole Traps
[re: MossRoad]
08/20/03 02:39 PM
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I missed the picture where you actually had caught a mole. Which one is that?
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MossRoad
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Re: Moles and Mole Traps
[re: herbenus]
08/21/03 04:52 PM
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I missed the picture where you actually had caught a mole. Which one is that?
Out of respect for the dead, I didn't take that photo.
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