MOLE CONTROL

Moles (Talpa europea) are carnivorous mammals that live underground feeding on invertebrates such as earthworms that fall into their tunnel systems.

 

Moles are active all year round but particularly in late winter/early spring. Outside breeding season moles are very territorial and largely live solitary lives, and so in many cases the molehills of excavated soil are the activity of just one individual. 

 

Although moles may seem innocuous and where possible shall be tolerated, in certain settings control is needed as the damage that just one mole can achieve is remarkable.

 

They can be considered pests when their tunnels make the ground unstable and disturbing lawns and other turf areas with unsightly fly-tipped waste that’s visible as molehills.

 

The earth excavated into these mounds can also harbour harmful bacteria such as listeria which spoils silage and is harmful to livestock. These mounds can also damage farm machinery when stones thrown up by moles are caught in cutter blades and such like. 

 

Should the activities of a mole be considered too disruptive then control is a viable option. Consideration should be given to using an experienced pest technician with specialist knowledge for mole pest removal. 

 

As a member of the Guild of Molecatchers, we use traditional and humane mole trapping methods which we check on a daily basis. Customers need to be aware though that vacant tunnel systems are often taken over by another mole from adjacent land, so you may not be mole free for long.

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