Killing moles

Not a question... just a statement. I tried the "Nash choker loop mole trap" for the first time based on a friends' recommendation, and I'm pretty impressed with it. Easy to set. Got the big fat mole that's been tearing up my yard on just the 2nd try. I have no idea how he escaped death the first time. If you've got a mole problem I would definitely recommend it.

 

I have used the spike type but sometimes they are hard to set when my soil is dry and hard. What do you have to do to set that trap?

 

I step down a portion of the tunnel about as wide as my foot (also is about as wide as the trap is) then I take a 4" putty knife and push it down into the ground up to the handle and then wiggle it just a bit to make a slot in the ground. Then using the trap as a guide, mark where the 2nd slot should be and do that again.

Set the trap and push it down until the trigger foot makes good contact with the ground... then sprinkle a little soil around the slots to make sure no light is coming in around the ends of the trap..

Pretty simple but the spring is very strong. I use a quick clamp to help squeeze and set it. And it was only $15.

I've used the spike type as well. It was 0 for 1 this year, but the hoop trap was 1 of 2. I still don't know how it got away the first time. Seems like a sure fire trap.

 

And now is the time to be setting the traps. Fortunately, I have not found any this year, and haven't had any for the past two years as I recall, but have had plenty over the years and learned to start watching for them as soon as the snow is gone because the sooner you get started the fewer the tunnels and the fewer moles to hunt down.