Much mystery surrounds moles.  Because these fascinating and hard working little creatures lead their existence below ground, most people know little about their way of life.  Often, the first anybody is aware of a mole present is because of their notorious mole hills.  On a well cared for lawn it can induce panic, often followed by manic attempts to rid the garden of the little pest.  Some people become so obsessed that they will try every old wives tale (and there are many) to remove the mole.  If the first thing you have done in the morning is look out of the window to inspect the lawn for new mole hills you will know what I mean.  Most people eventually seek the help of a professional.  And usually wish they had done so a long time ago!!  I meet many wonderful and often very grateful people whilst trapping for moles.  One thing they almost all have in common is a barrage of questions about the little creatures ruining their garden.  Some of the more common questions are: 

FAQ’s:
 

What are mole hills for?

To dig a tunnel the mole needs to remove the soil from beneath ground.  To do this he will push the displaced soil up vertical tunnels to ground level and deposit the soil.  This is repeated again and again and a mole hill is formed.  As the tunnel expands he will dig up to ground again and another mole hill is formed.

Why do they dig tunnels?

Moles create a tunnel network to live and feed in. 

What do they eat?

It finds food by running along its tunnels and eating any earthworms, insects and molluscs which have fallen from the walls. If there is a plentiful supply of food, moles will bite the heads off worms and store them for consumption later.

Moles are blind aren’t they?

Contrary to popular belief moles are not totally blind.  Their eyes are small and completely hidden in their fur to give the appearance of being blind but it can still differentiate between light and dark.

How big are they?

Many people are surprised just how small moles are.  Typically 5.5 to 6 inches and around 100g.  Because of the extent of the damage they can create I have heard people say they expected something the size of a badger!! 

Are they solitary?

Moles are mostly solitary and will defend their own territories aggressively. They will however share the main runs under hedges and fences and their territories will often overlap.

How often do they breed?

Moles breed once a year around March to May and produce a litter of 2-7 but usually 3-4. The young are fully mature and ready to leave the nest at about 35 days. They travel overland searching for territories of their own.

Do moles hibernate?

            Moles do not hibernate but work throughout the year.

Are moles nocturnal?

Moles work on a sleeping/working pattern of approx 4 hours. I.e. 4 hours working/feeding followed by 4 hours rest.  

How old do they live?

Moles live on average 2 to 5 years.

Mole Facts:
 

Mole: The only mole present in the British Isles is Talpa Europea, the European Mole.
 

Distribution: Great Britain, except Ireland; throughout rest of Europe and Asia.
 

Habitat: Lives mostly underground in pasture, woodland and gardens; absent from high moors, mountains and acid soils.
 

Description: Solid, muscular body covered in velvety black fur (grey, cream, orange, white and piebald colours also found). Long, pointed nose and short, upright tail. Tiny pin-head sized eyes. Large, shovel-like front feet with 5 strong claws.
 

Food: Moles have a very high metabolism and will die of starvation if they do not eat every few hours. A mole will eat at least half its own body weight a day.
 

Senses:  The eyes of the mole are very tiny but sight is not important to an animal that lives in darkness for most of the time. It does not have a good sense of smell or hearing but it is extremely sensitive to touch and can sense vibrations in the soil around it. Sensitive whiskers help it to find its way about and detect food and water; it is also helped by thousands of very sensitive, tiny hairs which cover its long nose.
 

Moles and Man:

Moles have long been regarded as a pest by many gardeners and farmers. Damage to gardens and amenity areas such as golf courses, bowling greens, cricket pitches and other recreational areas can be merely aesthetic but might also be financial if users are deterred by their presence. On racecourses, grass airstrips and sports fields, molehills can present a risk of injury to pilots, horses, riders, and others participating in sport.

Farmers report a wide range of problems due to moles, including:

• contamination of silage with Clostridium or Listeria (when bacteria from mole hills are gathered up with grass during silage production)
• covering pasture with soil (reducing the area available for grazing)
• injury to animals
• damage to agricultural machinery
• damage to drainage systems and watercourses
• damage to young plants including wilting of crops (which can reduce quality and yield)
• weed invasion and subsequent degeneration of pasture on molehills.

Why trap them:
 

If you're like most homeowners, you're probably confused by all of the conflicting "advice" on mole control. You believe every rumour, home remedy or control method is worth trying. In fact, chemicals and home remedies (including Jeyes Fluid and vibrating devices) are not only ineffective when dealing with moles, they allow the animals time to establish and become real problems.  Also, attempting to kill moles with poisonous gases (gassing) is generally ineffective. I have encountered pretty much every conceivable old wives tale used to deter moles including castor oil, bleach, moth balls, pepper, petrol, smoke bombs, sonic spikes, pickle, musical cards, windmills, flooding with hosepipes, chilli, ferret dung, garlic, broken glass, baits, certain types of plants, ultrasonic devices, ammonia, gassing with exhaust fumes and upturned bottles.  Any mole trapper will have dealt with moles that had been subjected to most of these and others as well and the one thing that they all have in common is that none of them worked!

There are no simple solutions to a mole problem and trapping is the most humane and reliable method of control.