I have an unwelcome visitor;

[Corris]

a mole (or six by the amount of hills!). Right in my lawn. The only part of the property that was half reasonable when we moved in.

The lawn is now around 50% mole hills, he extends under the hedging, into the plot and into the chicken pen (that will be when I buy some)........

I have asked him nicely to go. Contrary to suggestions that didn't work I think he merely invited his mates around.

We have bought a mole trap, which we have set for over a week. It has gone off three times - but never actually had a mole in it.

Do the sonic repellant things actually work? Any better ideas (they are £19.99)?

I do not like to kill things, but I swear this thing is digging more because I've made it cross. And really, it's the most industrious thing I've ever come across.

[roitelet]

Iv'e tried allsorts. Traps which they dig round. Blackthorn twigs to prick them, and being hemophiliac they bleed to death. Petrol or desil soaked rags which work up to a point, they don't like the smell and move away for a time. Smoke, this is about as good as the rags but more expensive. Now I have bought 4 of the sonic thingies which have at least kept them out of the vegies. I am gradually moving them nearer to the boundry and hope that they will keep them away. Don't believe the 50sq metres thing they are only effective over a much smaller area than that.

[Corris]

oh joy.

My entire lawn is probably one side of a tennis court big. It is directly at the back of the house and we look over it. And currently it looks like a warzone. Craters and hills and bare patches. Truly, 50% of it must be missing and joyously I've just spent an hour taking nettles out of the beds along the sides (and thistles) and whilst not looking the jack russell decided to excavate every trench in his search for the wretched thing! So it's all ten times worse than it was. Thank you Willis.

[SarrissUK]

I grew up on a farm in Sweden and we used to get moles destroying the lawns. My dad resolutely started up the car and attached a tube to the exhaust while us kids blocked up every hole apart from one. I reckon it'll be illegal now, or something other politically correct.. but.. it's the only really successful way of getting rid that I know of.

[cptncrackoff]

The traps should work!
Is it the barrel type or pincer type!?
The barrel is harder to set (watch your fingers) but much more sensitive.
The sonic deterents do work, just keep an eye on the batteries, if you dont check there working, you'll know when they're not! lol

[Corris]

It's a pincer type - and has gone off three times now, but no moley in it.
My son found a smoke bomb poison thing in Roys today, but had no money, so is going to pick that up tomorrow and we'll have a go.

I absolutely understand how, for instance, exhaust fuming them out is probably not ok - but I'm getting to the point where I'd do just about anything. The destruction is unbelievable - (of course the wretched dog didn't help!) - I can't believe it's just one.

[cptncrackoff]

you could try a barrel type, like i said much more sensitive!
the smokes are just to scare them off, its non toxic, you cant kill them that way anymore!

[Corris]

blast - not a lot scaring this one I swear.

[Corris]

*nice fish!*

[cptncrackoff]

lol, thanks, its an old pic now!

like roitelet said the sonic scarers do work, if you only have a small area to cover.
IIRC you just hyave to give them a little tap to check they are working.

[roitelet]

The only problem with killing them is that another will move in. The best thing is to make the area as un-mole friendly as possible, if you can!!!!!!

Another thing that does work is to bury bottles (wine) in the runs with the top sticking out. As the wind blows across the top it makes a noise and the moles don't like it, but you liked the wine I hope!

[Nicos]

Moth balls are supposed to help. Just drop them into the runs.

My sonic thing was rubbish- and very irritating cos I could hear it clicking all the time!

If you use a trap, make sure you don't actually touch the trap. Your scent will linger.

Apparently the runs are very long, intertwining and covering a large distance. Whatever you do to try and scare them away will most probably mean they'll abandon that section of the run....and eventually return.

Wildlife eh?????

[Corris]

See Nicos I'm sure your right. Today we have bought a smoke bomb thing, and have let that off in there - two new mole hills first thing, and no sign of anything in the trap!

The tunnels are MUCH bigger than I thought they would be, once you start digging up what's left of the lawn to find them.

And I don't drink - but I'm being driven that way. Perhaps even if the buried bottles didn't drive the mole out it would make me feel better.

Course, we drove back from the shop with the smoke bomb and then I started worrying he'd move with his mates into my neighbours garden, she's VERY garden proud, it's immaculate. I think I'd rather keep it myself than send it her way.

I don't mind wildlife, I always thought I liked it before we moved here, however, some sections of the local community leave a bit to be desired.

[Corris]

RIP Moley.

i thought I'd share the good news - after weeks of chasing it around and around the garden the trap finally caught it's victim.

We have smoke bombed, bought vibrators you put in the ground, dropped pellets, and reset the trap daily......... but NO MORE MOLEY!

Thanks everyone.

[Newton]

Many moley in one holey.......the uplifted soil is good for filling raised beds tho!