Most people who like to maintain a nice lawn will at some point find themselves muttering uncomplimentary things about moles. Others will twist an ankle by stepping into a mole run in the dark. Children enjoy stomping around on the raised mounds generated by moles as they travel.
Moles can be helpful creatures.
Everyone is a little mystified by these subterranean creatures with little or no sight. Moles are actually beneficial to everything but your lawn because of their control of the insect population. For adventurous sorts, the best way to eliminate moles from your yard is to use a mole trap.
Mole traps must be set over active runs.
The first step to putting a mole trap to good use is to locate where the mole travels most often. Many of the mounds that are seen on the ground are left from a one time travel to a new location. The only way to really tell and active run is to mash it down by stepping on it. Check it the next day. If it is raised back up, the mole is using this run for part of its regular routine. If it is still flat, keep looking for an active run.
Set the mole trap to straddle the run.
Generally, people use the type of mole trap that kills the mole. This trap has to be placed so that its legs penetrate the ground on each side of the mole run. Doing this causes the tripping mechanism to be inside the run so that the mole can be effectively caught on its travels. Proper placement is essential to trapping moles. A few inches off in either direction and the mole will pass by unharmed and unaware.
Some mole traps require bait.
Many mole traps are simply in the way of the mole as it makes its way through the ground. When it hits the trap, the spring-loaded knife pierces the soil and the mole. Other traps require bait to be placed on the mechanism to attract the mole to the trap. This is more true of live traps than the fatal type. Always read the instructions carefully regarding the type of bait recommended for the particular trap before placing it.
Be careful to get hurt when using a mole trap.
LIke a rat trap, mole traps can exert a lot of force when doing their work. A hand or finger caught by the trap may suffer severe damage. Unlike a rat trap, the mole trap has a sharp blade that can penetrate your hand. Do not use your finger to test the trap mechanism. If you feel compelled to test it, use a stick or some other implement. Try not set the traps where children or animals other than a mole can get hurt by them.
Remove the mole promptly and dispose it after it is trapped.
To keep your trap in good condition, it is best to remove it from the ground and dispose of the mole as soon as you note that it is tripped. Clean the trap to ready it for its next mission. Many times, yards that have one mole have several. You will want to begin the process of trapping again as soon as you see a new run in your yard. Having the trap ready to go will keep other moles from doing extensive damage before they can be caught.
Release live moles in uninhabited areas if possible.
It is not nice to plant moles into your friends and neighbors yards. If you are able to successfully trap a live mole, remove it from the neighborhood. Someplace out in the woods well away from houses and yards is a good plan.
