DIY mole traps

If moles appear on a personal plot, then over time this turns into a rather serious problem. And if a couple of individuals do not cause significant harm, then as their offspring grow up, both garden crops and the lawn will begin to suffer.

Specimens with a fragile root system such as cucumbers are primarily at risk. Animal settlements are especially common in dachas with fertile and loose soil. In such a substrate there are quite a lot of insects, snails, and worms, which are actively consumed by small animals.

The question is blunt: to eliminate or not to eliminate

Now let's move on from the lyrics to action. No matter how pleasant the mole may be and no matter how much pity we feel for it, we need to get rid of it. Get rid of it - the garden and your crops will breathe a sigh of relief. If you don’t get rid of it, it will rid your area of worms, and then difficult times will come. It is not at all necessary to kill the animal; it is enough to simply catch it in one of the traps and take it as far as possible from your area. Catch it - and you can show the little animal to your children, who are always interested in such finds. In general, the capture process can also be made enjoyable, especially by diluting it with the realization that now you are providing great help to your site.

There is no doubt that the best way to get rid of moles are mole traps. Unlike chemicals, they do not scare away the animal, but physically eliminate it or simply capture it. It all depends on the type of trap installed. Often traps can be purchased at gardening stores, but you can build something with your own hands. We bring to your attention one of these homemade products. It is not difficult to do it yourself, and the efficiency with proper installation will pleasantly please you.

Live traps or traps?

All means of catching moles can be divided into two types:

Live traps that allow you to catch an animal without harming it;
Lethal traps (traps, snares of various types, fishhooks, etc.), either immediately killing the animal upon capture, or injuring it so severely that the likelihood of its subsequent survival is minimal.

The results of using these types of traps show that the effectiveness of live traps is the same as the effectiveness of means that lead to the death of moles. The question of using one or another type of device ultimately comes down to whether the owner of the property will be too lazy to constantly take the caught animals outside the garden and release them into the wild.

Based on humane considerations, traps and snares are significantly inferior to live traps, and if you can rid the garden of moles without killing the animals, then it is better to choose the gentle option. The use of devices that kill moles is hardly justified killing.

Below, the word “traps” will primarily mean live traps, into which the mole is caught alive and unharmed. However, we will also look at various traps - in order to show with what sadistic methods today some summer residents are trying to fight nature on their plots.

Mole fences and other methods of site protection

The use of fencing is not so much a way to get rid of moles in the garden, but a means of protecting the area after the fight has been carried out. If there are already moles on the site, then, of course, they cannot be driven out by fencing.

But if you managed to get rid of moles using the above means, then the reappearance of pests can be prevented once and for all by creating an insurmountable mechanical barrier.

Fencing the area around the perimeter

The most obvious and very reliable way to create a fence is to dig a trench at least 80 cm deep along the perimeter of the site, then install a mesh with a mesh of 1-2 cm in it and fill it up. Instead of mesh, you can also use slate, crushed stone, concrete, but in the standard case, mesh is the most inexpensive option. The cost of fencing it is approximately 300 rubles per linear meter of the border (including the work of digging a trench).

In the same way, you can protect flower beds, greenhouses and garden beds from moles, and in this case the costs will be significantly lower.

Practice shows that if the site is fenced with a solid fence with a sufficiently deep (up to 40 cm) foundation, then this is also reliable protection against moles.

However, theoretically, the animal is capable of digging under such a foundation, and even under a fence buried to a depth of 80 cm, because a mole’s nest can be located at a depth of up to 2.5 meters. However, in practice, 80 cm in most cases is more than enough.

Protecting your lawn from moles

To prevent the appearance of molehills on the lawn, it is enough to lay a plastic mole net horizontally over the entire area of the lawn at a depth of 5-10 cm from the surface of the ground. This mesh is covered with rolled turf on top, or covered with soil and lawn grass is sown on it. The mole will not be able to get out from under the fence, and even if there are passages here, no signs will be noticeable on the soil surface.

Sometimes a mole net is even simply placed on an existing lawn, and it quickly disappears (sinks) into the grass that grows through the cells.

For vegetable gardens and flower beds, this method is less suitable, since it is complicated by the need to plant certain plants.

Plants as a living barrier

Sometimes they try to protect a garden plot from moles by planting various plants on it (usually along the perimeter), which moles are supposed to avoid. Among such plants, the following are most often used: black beans, castor beans, imperial hazel grouse, marigolds, onions, garlic, daffodils, etc.

However, it should be said that this method does not have proven effectiveness, and there are no statistically significant cases of successful protection of an area with just such plants (there are only isolated mentions).

If you have personal experience of getting rid of moles in your garden (positive or negative), then be sure to leave your review at the bottom of this page, in the comments field.

How to get rid of moles on your property (an example of using mole traps)

Means for controlling moles in summer cottages and gardens
How to quickly catch a mole in the garden using simple means
Effective traps for catching moles in the area

Remedies for moles:

Reliable design, can be installed instantly, operates in the tunnel on both sides, and is safe for pets.

A simple, inexpensive and yet very effective mole trap.

Highly effective sound-vibration mole repeller, coverage area up to 750 sq. m.

What to do with a mole after being caught?

The caught mole must be taken approximately 1-1.5 km from the site and released - in this case, the animal will definitely not come back. It is advisable to release the mole into the wild in dense grass, plantings, bushes or forests, where it can quickly bury itself and not be caught by a predator.

If the trap is supposed to be set again immediately after being caught, then the caught animal can be temporarily shaken out into a bucket.

All manipulations with captured moles, as well as mice, rats, shrews, voles, blind men and other living creatures that often also get caught in a mole trap, should be carried out wearing thick construction gloves. As mentioned above, the mole has very sharp teeth, and in rare cases it can be a carrier of diseases dangerous to humans, so its bites should be avoided in every possible way.

Ideally, there is no need to touch the caught animal at all; it is simply shaken out of the pipe. If there is a need to take it with your hand, then it grabs either the tail or the scruff of the neck.

It is important to understand that if additional measures are not taken to protect the area from moles, then in most cases the animals will enter it again periodically, and they will have to be caught almost every year. For example, a very effective (albeit expensive) way to protect a site from moles is to dig a fine-mesh mesh into the ground around the perimeter of the site to a depth of 70-80 cm and a height above ground level of about 20 cm - this will prevent new moles from entering the territory

How to completely get rid of moles in garden plots

Some gardeners are annoyed by moles to such an extent that they decide to take extreme measures to physically destroy them.

They begin to use poisonous chemicals, which, along with their immediate purpose, destroy beneficial earthworms.

Someone (most likely fishermen) even throws their gear into the holes...

Peace to the world!

Natural enemies

Your pets can help you in the fight against moles; for example, cats and dogs (especially dachshunds and fox terriers) are considered to be quite dexterous and skillful hunters of these underground pests. Therefore, take your pets to the dacha more often and let them get their own food in the wild.

Video: Dachshund fights moles (at least he tries)

Loop trap and its design options

Traps in the form of loops are sold in several versions. The most common is the wire loop shown in the photo:

It is also useful to read: Using a mole trap-pipe to combat moles on the site

It is placed during the animal’s move, and after it is triggered, it either strangles the animal or simply crushes its body, which leads to death after a certain time. Some gardeners make such wire traps with their own hands according to ready-made drawings.

Loop traps of the following designs work similarly:

Live traps

When making such mole traps with your own hands, only one quality is required: the absence of fear of moles. The most popular trap among people is made from a plastic water pipe.

Pipe

Live trap pipe
Why the name “Solomon’s trap” was attached to this pipe is a mystery. But it's not difficult to make. For production you will need:

water pipe;
tin can with both bottoms;
a piece of wire;
drill;
metal scissors or that you don’t mind getting dull.

The diameter of the pipe must be exactly the size of the wormhole. Usually it is about 6 cm.

How to make:

Cut a piece about 50 cm long from the pipe. Drill 2 holes on both sides of the piece, on the side that will be the top. The holes are needed to secure the wire.
Cut the bottoms out of a tin can.
The height of the door should be greater than the diameter of the pipe, since it is installed with an inward slope. This is shown in the side view diagram. To secure the door to the wire, you also need some allowance. Accordingly, the door height will not be 60 mm, but 70-80 mm. The width of the door is cut slightly narrower than the diameter of the pipe.
Bend the top edge of the door around the wire.
Then remove the wire and assemble the entire structure, sequentially threading the wire into the hole in the pipe, the mount on the door and the second hole in the pipe.
Bend the outer ends of the wire so that the door does not break at the wrong moment.

To install the pipe, you need to open the mole tunnel and replace the tunnel dug by the animal with your own from the pipe. Open the passage carefully to cause the least amount of damage and not to frighten the animal. It is better to do this with a garden trowel.

The pipe is installed in progress. From above, so that the sun does not illuminate the tunnel, cover the trap with a piece of dense material and cover it with earth.

Plastic bottles

Bottle trap

A very fast and cheap way to make an analogue of Solomon's trap. A bottle trap is built on the principle of a fish trap.

To make a mole trap from a plastic bottle, you will need 2 or 3 disposable containers of 1.5 liters each. For a one-sided version you need 2 bottles, for a double-sided one - 3. In the one-sided version, the bottom of the main bottle is left in place. These are all differences, so you need to consider a double-sided option.

The “body” of the pipe is made from one bottle by cutting off the top and bottom.
From the other two you need the upper parts, cut off well below the beginning of the narrowing towards the neck.
The neck itself is also cut off.
In the remaining part, ribbons are cut on the tapering part up to the expanding part. After which the finished parts are tightly driven into the main bottle, as shown in the diagram.
The wormhole is installed in the same way as a pipe. The plastic is slippery and there is no need to secure the inserted parts. The animal, crawling along the way, will easily spread the “ribbons” and fall into the trap. He won't be able to get back.

Trap pits

To do this, you will need a 3-liter jar with a neck wide enough so that you can remove the mole clutched in your fist. The jar is buried below the mole tunnel so that its neck is level with the tunnel floor. You need to dig the hole carefully so as not to collapse the passage. The jar is placed at the bottom of the hole and sprinkled so that there are no holes left between the actual hole and the neck of the jar. The passage is covered with plywood from above.

The advantage of live traps is that the animals that are very useful in nature have a chance to survive. The disadvantages are the need for frequent checks and problems with release into the wild. The mole must be taken far from the site, otherwise it will return. But you can also kill an animal, but you will have to do it manually.

The disadvantage of a trapping pit jar is that you have to get the animals out of it by hand so as not to spoil a well-made trap. But if they manage to die of hunger, there will be no problems removing them from the jar.

Making a bottle trap

To create a mole trap, you do not need special tools or special skills. The whole process will take no more than 20 minutes, even if you are making the device for the first time.

We will need:

Sharp scissors that are convenient for cutting plastic;
2 one and a half liter bottles;
Awl;
Strong thread or thin wire.

Step 1. Prepare the container

To create a trap we will need a 1.5 liter bottle. Its dimensions are perfect for placing a mole trap in the path of an animal.

Now we cut off the neck of the bottle at the place where it begins to narrow. We leave both parts, they will be useful to us in the future.

Step 2. Making a “door” into the trap

Now we need to make a “door” that will let the animal through only in one direction. To do this, take the previously cut neck and cut off the dense part with the lid. This can be done with scissors, or with a hot knife. The plastic in this place is quite thick and difficult to cut.

After the dense part with the lid is cut off, it is necessary to make many cuts on the narrow part of the cone as shown in the picture. This is done so that the mole can easily crawl through the wide part, but cannot return. After the animal crawls into the trap, the petals will slam shut and block the escape route.

Step 3. Fastening the structure

Now we insert our “door” into the bottle as shown in the figure above.

You can secure the resulting structure with tape, but I would advise stitching it with thread or wire. The fact is that in damp soil the tape can come off, which will allow the animal to get out.

Step 4: Set up the trap

In order for the trap to work, it must be placed in the path of the mole in the underground passage. To do this, we dig a tunnel and put a bottle there. The mole trap needs to be thoroughly covered with earth so that sunlight does not scare away the animal.

To avoid harming the animal, the trap must be checked every day. The animal will not be able to go long without food and water.

I recently opened groups on VKontakte and Odnoklassniki, where I post announcements of new materials every day.

Efficiency of the method

This self-made mole trap, proven in practice, is not inferior to store-bought counterparts. The use of simple, uncomplicated technology will allow you to get rid of the pest, while saving the life of an animal that accidentally entered your territory.

Common errors that prevent the trap from functioning:

Having chosen an old move for installation, which the mole family has not used for a long time, the live trap will stand idle.
There should be no dead end on the trap; access must be made only in two directions.
For reliability, secure the edges with tape or insulating tape.

The effectiveness of live traps is the same as that of traps, and using this method of control, you will not reduce the mole population.

What to do with a caught animal

When installing traps for moles in a vegetable garden or garden plot, they should be checked for the presence of “prey” several times a day, otherwise the animal will simply die from lack of water and food.

Blind animals are not as harmless as people imagine. To protect itself from danger while freeing itself from a live trap, a mole can bite with sharp teeth.

The find should be treated with caution. It is best to take the mole to a remote area in a pipe or jar, and then release it into the wild

There is no guarantee that new individuals of the species will not settle on the site, but there will be no guarantee even if deadly traps are used.

How to make a mole trap with your own hands

The mole trap is made with your own hands from a piece of plastic or metal pipe with a diameter of 9-12 cm and a length of 40-50 cm. Two holes are made along the edges, onto which the doors will be attached with hinges.

Below is a drawing of such a mole trap:

It is advisable to observe the indicated dimensions, since a large individual will not fit into a pipe that is too narrow, a short pipe will not accommodate several animals at once, and a pipe that is too wide is inconvenient for installation, since it will not correspond to the average diameter of the mole passage.

Further:

Two oval-shaped doors are cut from a sheet of aluminum or from the bottom of tin cans. The major axis should be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the pipe, the minor axis should be slightly smaller;
At the top, in the narrow part of each door, two holes are drilled;
Wire loops are inserted into the holes, the door is inserted into the pipe at an angle of the lower part inward, the loop is put on the hole in the pipe;
The same thing is repeated with the second door.

There is also an option in which not loops are used, but a nail inserted transversely into the upper part of the pipe. The door is hung on it using a special bend, which is made after cutting out the door, for example, using pliers.

The drawing below shows the second option for manufacturing the door:

In both cases, it is useful to make several holes with a diameter of about 1.5 cm in the upper part of the pipe - this will allow you to install the trap once and not constantly remove it for checking - the caught mole will be visible through the holes.

Also very popular is the option of a mole trap made from plastic bottles. In this case, not doors are used, but two necks from other bottles. They make 10-12 longitudinal cuts, first cutting off the hard part onto which the lid is screwed. The resulting “petals” operate as a door that allows access only in one direction—the mole climbs inside by simply pressing on them with his body, and cannot push them apart to get out.

Below is a schematic diagram of such a mole trap-pipe made from three plastic bottles:

The effectiveness of all these types of traps is approximately the same if they are installed correctly.

Prevention measures

To prevent moles from infesting your garden, you need to listen to the advice of experienced gardeners and protect the area on your own.

It is important to take a responsible approach to preventive measures if work is planned ahead to improve soil fertility:

construction of a compost heap;
preparing a manure pit;
mulching with cut grass.

Such organic fertilizers are loved by earthworms, which moles love to eat.

It needs to be dug into the ground to a depth of 50-60 cm, and the fence should protrude above the surface of the ground by about 40-50 cm (since in exceptional cases moles can go to the ground to overcome a deep obstacle). As a fence, you can use slate sheets, thick linoleum or other materials, the main thing is that they are durable and can withstand the powerful claws of moles.

If such protection has been thought out on a land plot, but moles still appear, you should immediately begin to scare them away to minimize the damage from their activities. For better results, it is recommended to use several types of repellers at once, for example, ultrasonic and aromatic. You can also attract a cat - moles can sense a domestic predator and leave the garden.

Crossbows

There is also a very complex and dangerous method of destroying moles with crossbows. Let's consider it as an example of the lengths people go to when trying by any means to destroy the underground inhabitants on their site.

So, how does a crossbow work: when the animal moves, a pipe is installed, sealed on one side, into which gunpowder is poured and shot is loaded. A nichrome wire is connected to the gunpowder through a thin hole, and a motion sensor is connected to it, installed 20-30 cm along the hole. When a mole passes under the sensor, it turns on the battery, it heats up the wire and after a split second the crossbow fires.

It is clear that the mole dies after this. It is also quite obvious that the design of such a crossbow is many times more complex than the use of any other homemade traps. Perhaps, the use of crossbows today is more the lot of flayer enthusiasts who are willing to spend their time and effort on inventing more and more sophisticated ways of killing animals.

4Basic rules for catching moles

In order to achieve maximum success when catching moles, we are guided by some rules:

We accurately determine the surface passages between molehills. Only in such places do we set a trap. When excavating, it is better to use a garden trowel, so we can minimally destroy the molehills. We make a hole and restore sections of these passages; The trap is installed in the dark; daylight should not penetrate into the pit. To do this, cover the area with light-proof material and sprinkle it with earth around the edges; Tube mole traps or pit traps will be more effective if we use earthworms in them as bait

With their smell they will quickly attract the attention of moles.

After installing any pest catching device, it is advisable to check it every 6 hours. Without feeding, these animals die from hunger within 24 hours. If you notice earthen mounds on your property, garden or vegetable garden, immediately begin eliminating the uninvited guests.

Odorous liquids and substances

First of all, it is necessary to determine the path of the animal. In each fresh molehill you need to make a small hole. You can use a stick or drill for this. You need to get to the horizontal gallery. Pour one glass of the special mixture into it. It is prepared from kerosene and fuel oil in the following ratio: 1 to 2. After this, the hole must be filled with earth, then trampled with feet. You can also put the following in molehills:

Shag.
Tobacco.
Bleach.
Rotten fish.
Pieces of mothballs.
Tow soaked in tar or oil.

Due to the bad smell, moles leave the area. At first, these measures will surprise the animal, and it will go away for a while. However, this does not exclude the possibility of the animal returning to its previous areas.

Effective ways and methods of control

It is very difficult to remove moles from the garden. There are many methods of struggle, but most of them cannot radically solve the problem. And if some method helps some gardeners, it may not be effective for others.

The following methods of fighting moles can be distinguished:

scaring;
traps, bait;
catching by hand, hunting;
mole beaters.

Moles usually attack an area in families. And in a short time they can quickly dig up many tunnels and cause great damage to the crop. Therefore, the fight needs to start as early as possible.

Repellent

Moles do not like different sounds and noises. They leave the noisy area tens of meters away. As repellers, you can take a variety of homemade or purchased noisemakers and rattles. You can take tin cans and thread them onto a rope. Place around the perimeter of the garden or near holes. They will begin to make noise from the vibrations of the wind. You can use plastic bottles.

It is very difficult to cover a large area with all the homemade scarecrow noisemakers. And if the garden is large, then these control methods will be ineffective. In addition, the neighbors may not like the constant noise.

To prevent sounds and noise from disturbing people, you can purchase ultrasonic repellers. But, as practice shows, they can also turn out to be wasted money. Moles are very smart and careful. They adapt over time to different sounds and do not allow themselves to be deceived. Using the same repelling methods, over time they learn to avoid the danger.

It must be remembered that moles do not hibernate in winter. Therefore, repellers will have to be used all year round. From time to time it is worth changing the sound content so that the animal does not have time to get used to it.

Plants against pests

This is an alternative method of mole control that is not as reliable as other methods. But it can be used as an additional measure. Some plants can repel moles and other pests with their pungent aroma; it is recommended to plant them in the garden next to vegetable crops.

Plants that repel moles:

Imperial hazel grouse;
Narcissus;
Decorative flowering onion (Allium);
Marigold;
Euphorbia caper;
Castor bean.

Important! The fruits of castor beans and euphorbia contain toxic substances and should not be planted where there are children.

Poisons and poison

Since this animal is a predator, various baits with poisons simply may not have an effect on it. Therefore, in order for the fight against moles in this way to be successful, you need to place the bait correctly. First you need to establish the main path of movement of the animal. A metal rod is used for this. Make a hole by turning the dipstick. Dip 1 teaspoon of poison into it so that it falls to the bottom of the passage. Cover the hole with soil. Do this in 4 different places.

Before using any toxic substance, you must carefully study the instructions. Some poisons can have a detrimental effect on plantings. Therefore, it is better to use safer methods in the garden and garden.

Traps and traps

You can try to catch the mole in a trap. There are several models of such traps of the same type. A very effective Solomon's trap. This is a metal pipe about 40 cm long. The diameter should correspond to the diameter of the hole. There are hanging doors on both sides. They can only open inwards. The trap is placed in a tunnel and covered with soil.

Traps are considered an inhumane way to eliminate moles. The result can be achieved if you purchase a trap of the correct design. It is placed in the mole shaft and covered with earth. Theoretically, the mole should touch the valve or spring and the trap will work. But this animal is very smart, it can sense danger and simply avoid it. In addition, the valve may work when the soil collapses or may not work at all.

Mole beaters

These are special electrical devices, of which there are many options. They kill the mole in the hole when it passes a certain area.

Catching with a shovel

Excavate the mound to the hole in the mine and wait for the animal to begin to restore order there. The location of a mole can be determined by its movement in the soil. You need to dig it up with a shovel and throw it in a bucket.

Flooding the hole

This is the most inhumane way to fight. They throw carbide into the hole, run a hose there and turn on the water. Animals suffocate and drown.

Working mechanisms

If the mole population exceeds 5-10 individuals, then you cannot do without traps. They work flawlessly. You can make the structures yourself, but it is preferable to purchase spring triggers in specialized stores. Thus, you will not get hurt during the manufacturing process, the design will be durable, and in case of breakdown or failure to perform functions, you can always order repairs using a warranty card.

Trap for an underground animal

A mole trap is a ready-made device, upon contact with which the animal is killed by suffocation or fracture of the cervical vertebrae. The basis for traps is a wire base.

You can free territories from moles using scissor traps, plunger mechanisms, all kinds of nooses, and crossbows.

Catch with a scissor trap

By choosing a trap presented in a design similar to scissors, you will certainly know that it has worked. This type of mole trap is quite well known among gardeners due to its advantages:

It's easy to install. You need to insert the handles into the soil and cock the mechanism.
You can see that the trap has worked even from afar.
Sensitivity is adjustable.

Disadvantages of the pest control method:

The small size is sometimes not enough to place the device in a tunnel at depth.
If you don't adjust the sensitivity, it triggers on leaves, stones, and nuts.
In cold weather, frozen handles do not function.

Since the main harvest time is the summer-autumn season, and fresh passages are located near the surface, the disadvantages will not play a decisive role during the purchase.

Skat-1 system against the blind beast

Plunger designs

In terms of efficiency, plunger designs are not inferior to scissor traps. There are two main types: “Scat-1”, “Scat-2”. A mole trap, regardless of type, is designed to kill underground inhabitants.

The operating principle of Skat-1 is similar to the operation of a crossbow. To start work, you need to stick the legs into the soil on the sides of the mole's hole, cock the spring, which inserts the guard into the hole.

Hitting the guard, a spring is activated, which releases three spokes into the mole, killing the animal.

How does Skat-2 work? Catching occurs similarly to the first plunger design, only, having touched the guard, the staples clamp the pest, breaking the backbone or limbs.

This method of fighting is considered professional, although live traps will bring more results, since after the plunger mechanism is triggered, you need to re-tension the spring, but a large pipe can accommodate 2-3 adult individuals at once.

Will a loop trap work?

A suffocating trap for a mole is made of wire. This loop is easy to make yourself. If you don’t have enough time, then similar mechanisms can be found in agricultural stores; the price relative to other traps is not so high.

Like any type of trap, a wire loop is laid in the move. Crawling through a round hole, the mechanism is triggered, and the mole is squeezed by a deadly noose.

The device is designed for reusable use, so that by purchasing several traps, you will be able to clear the land of moles that prefer to settle in families.

Harpoon fishing

Another type will be various crossbows. This rather labor-intensive process of catching moles can harm even humans. How does a mole trap work?

Harpoon for catching underground animals

A pipe filled with gunpowder and shot, sealed on one side, is used.
Nichrome wire is connected to the gunpowder.
In the same way, connect the motion sensor at a distance of 20-30 cm from the crossbow.
As the sensor passes by, the wire heats up and the device kills the animal.

An absolutely inhumane method of fighting is not only labor-intensive, but in most cases it is useless, because if the mechanism does not work, the animal will be injured and will die for a long time and painfully.

A mole is not a fish

Particularly “sophisticated” hunting enthusiasts recommend catching moles with a hook. Such an action is inherently useless, since the animal is injured and ultimately dies. How do you catch moles with hooks?

Triple fishing hooks on the fishing line are lowered into the hole, bringing the rest of the fishing line out. While making its way in search of food, the mole runs into sharp hooks that pierce the skin. Trying to free itself, the animal begins to move convulsively, thus moving the stick to which the fishing line is attached.

It is almost impossible to pull out a hook that is caught in the muscle fibers of the animal, and the mole slowly dies for several days from the injuries received and lost blood.

Popular live traps

Operating principle of the device

If the mole has already moved in, then repellers are unlikely to have an effect. Subterranean animals that prefer silence become accustomed to the noise of windmills constructed from polypropylene bottles or low-frequency signals from ultrasonic devices.

Easy-to-make devices are useful for fighting moles in small areas: in the garden, garden, near the house.

Plastic bottle trap

In specialized stores you can find a trap in the form of a plastic pipe. You can make homemade mole traps that are identical in functionality with your own hands. The operating principle of a purchased one will not differ from a home-made trap.

What is required for the device to work effectively?

You need to put bait in the middle of the pipe.
If you design a trap yourself, consider the volume of the bottles so that the mole’s body can fit inside.
You need to install the mole trap correctly.

While picking up a delicious meal in the form of beetles or earthworms, the mole will not be able to get out of the trap on his own.

How to design a trap

Available: plastic bottle fixture

How to make a mole trap from plastic bottles? Making a homemade trap is a little different from a purchased pipe.

On portals dedicated to the topic of gardening, you will be able to find the necessary drawings, and before starting work, see what the result should be.

Take three empty plastic bottles of the same size.
Using a utility knife or scissors, cut off the bottom and top of the first bottle.
The remaining two need to be cut approximately in the middle. Only the tops are required for the trap.
Cut the neck, creating “petals”.
Place the necks into the body of the main bottle on both sides.

When crawling into such a trap, it will not be a problem for the mole to bend the petal, and after the pest reaches the desired target in the main hollow section, the closed neck will not let it out.

Where to place the mole trap

A properly created trap will not guarantee that a mole will fall into it. To obtain the result, the correct installation of the live trap is required.

Preparation and placement of mole traps

It is advisable to bury plastic pipes in newly dug holes.

Finding them will not be difficult, since they are located relatively close to the surface of the soil near the dug heaps. Where the mole made its way, the soil loosened in the tunnel will be slightly raised. Installation details can be seen in videos posted on the Internet.

Efficiency of the method

Common errors that prevent the trap from functioning:

Having chosen an old move for installation, which the mole family has not used for a long time, the live trap will stand idle.
There should be no dead end on the trap; access must be made only in two directions.
For reliability, secure the edges with tape or insulating tape.

The effectiveness of live traps is the same as that of traps, and using this method of control, you will not reduce the mole population.

Catch a mole in a jar

Having tried the live trap represented by a pipe, an additional way to protect the crop will be a mole trap-jar. It's much easier to do. The basis can be a bucket, a trimmed five-liter bottle, or a glass jar.

The main selection criterion will be open access from above for the animal.

Scheme for catching a mole using a made apparatus:

Dig a hole at least 25 cm deep.
You need to dig where there is a fresh passage.
To prevent the animal from noticing the trick, compact the soil a little near the container placed in the recess.
It is necessary to cover the top of the trap with thick fabric or wood so that light does not penetrate into the hole.

What to do with a caught animal

When the animal was caught

Blind animals are not as harmless as people imagine. To protect itself from danger while freeing itself from a live trap, a mole can bite with sharp teeth.

The find should be treated with caution. It is best to take the mole to a remote area in a pipe or jar, and then release it into the wild. There is no guarantee that new individuals of the species will not settle on the site, but there will be no guarantee even if deadly traps are used.

There is no guarantee that new individuals of the species will not settle on the site, but there will be no guarantee even if deadly traps are used.

Three shovels

A method of catching moles from a series of oddities and for those who have nothing else to do in the country. They can also be classified as traps, although it would be more correct to call them an ambush. This method requires 3 shovels. We stick the first one across the mole passage and trample the earth on both sides. Now we wait for the animal to appear. His appearance will be noticeable by the movement of the earth.

It is unknown when the animal will appear. If you are lucky and the mole is discovered, we stick a second shovel behind the mole. Now, with the third shovel, we quickly dig out the animal before it has time to dig another hole.

Swissinno Mole Trap

The Swiss miracle of technology, the mole trap Mole Trap SuperCat, is a cross between the Skat 61 plunger trap and a mouse trap-squeezer. The principle of operation of the design is quite simple - the product is inserted across the mole passage, the spring is cocked, opening the entrance to the animal and setting up the guard. As soon as the mole hits the guard, the spring descends and crushes the animal's head or neck.

The trap is supplied with a probe for reconnaissance and a special device for quickly preparing a hole for the trap itself. It looks like the one shown in the video below:

On a note
The previous model of the mouse and mole trap Mole Trap from Swissinno worked on the same principle as the Skat 62 - it crushed the animal with two staples that closed like scissors.

In general, the Mole Trap is quite easy to use, but expensive. The price of the old version is about 2,000 rubles (which is twice as expensive as the analogue Skat 62), and the new one is about 3,500 rubles.

Other mole traps, their advantages and disadvantages

No less often than pipe-shaped live traps, slightly less convenient methods of catching moles are used: in buckets, deep pans, glass jars or wide plastic bottles with a cut neck. They are buried in the gap in the mole's passage, the edges are covered with a roller of compacted earth, and the opened passage is covered on top with boards so that sunlight does not enter it.

Moving along the way, the mole simply falls into such a trap “pit” and cannot get out of it. When checking, the animal is taken out with a gloved hand and taken away from the site. This method is also quite effective, although it is more labor-intensive to implement than using a good pipe mole trap.

Unfortunately, moles are also often killed with special traps (crushes, crossbows, snares...) Their designs are varied, but their main disadvantage is the inhumane destruction of animals, which are only to blame for the fact that they turned out to be a person’s neighbors in the area.

But various methods of repelling moles are for the most part less effective than traps. Many of them do not always work (for example, noise, as well as rotten fish, perfume, ammonia, carbide), others are harmful to the soil and its inhabitants (pouring kerosene, gasoline into holes, pouring Alphos tablets, fumigating with insecticidal and sulfur bombs). But the effectiveness of other methods is initially questionable: sticking reeds into the ground, burying feces in underground passages, etc.

In some cases, special mole repellers (not all models on the market) provide a good repellent effect. However, read more about repellers in other articles on our website. And before that, do not forget to leave a review about your personal experience of using a mole trap-pipe, if you have such experience (to leave a review, just write it in the comment field at the bottom of this page).

Another effective, but inhumane method is to catch a mole like a fish on an improvised “donka”.

Too much water can kill plants.

Plunger traps, including Skat 61 and Skat 62

The plunger traps Skat 61 and Skat 62 are designed to kill moles, and therefore, generally speaking, their use in a civilized economy is undesirable.

The operating principle of these traps varies:

The Skat 61 mole trap uses the principle of a crossbow. Its legs are stuck into the ground on the sides of the mole’s move, and after the spring is cocked, the guard is inserted into the move itself. When the mole hits the guard, the spring is released and the mole is pierced by three spokes. In many cases, death does not occur immediately, and the animal suffers for several tens of minutes;
In Skat 62, the principle of operation is similar, but after touching the guard, the spring compresses the brackets, which crush the animal (or part of it) together.

The disadvantage of these traps lies not only in the inhumane nature of their use, but also in the fact that once triggered, the device no longer works until it is freed from the corpse and re-armed. For comparison: the same mole traps, pipes or pits, catch as many moles as the number of them that can fit in the trap.

That is, despite the fact that Skat 61 and Skat 62 are positioned as professional plunger traps for moles, they are noticeably inferior to live traps in terms of their effectiveness.

Types of ready-made traps

There are quite a few ready-made mole traps, for example: scissor traps, tunnel traps, plunger traps, pipe mole traps (also called humane traps) or live traps, ultrasonic repellers. Let's look at each trap in detail.

Scissor trap

There are many options for such devices, which are most often found in gardening stores, etc.

The photo shows a simple example of a scissor trap

Advantages:

Easy to install (just press the handles into the ground and cock the mechanism).
You can observe the operation from a distance.
It is easy to adjust the sensitivity of the device.
Simple but reliable design.

Flaws:

Although easy to use, the trap is difficult to install in a tunnel opening, especially at great depths. It must be located and hidden so that the moving parts are not obstructed in the form of stones, pieces of peat, or clods of earth. Due to the tight handles, it is difficult to completely hide the device without light entering the passage, ensuring reliable operation.
If there are low temperatures in the ground, the handles freeze and the trap does not work.
Heavy rain can wash away the soil, making the trap undetectable.
Difficult to install in very shallow and very deep tunnels.

Tunnel trap

The most suitable design for a mole trap is one that includes a semi-tunnel. Such a trap is easy to hide; working parts for the most part do not jam from foreign objects.

Advantages:

Easy to install in a mole passage. It is enough to pour a little earth on top to block the access of light.
Quickly and effectively kills pests.
It is easy to adjust the sensitivity of the mechanism.
Working parts practically do not jam due to the ingress of stones, peat, etc.
If you cover the trap with peat or a board, frost and rain will not affect its operation.
It is used with equal success in deep and shallow tunnels.
Can neutralize two moles at the same time.

Flaws:

Complex installation, requires advance instructions. If used incorrectly, you can easily get hurt.
The operation of the device cannot be seen from afar.
Invisible above the ground, so if the pointer is lost, the trap will be difficult to find.

Plunger trap

If you prefer to use a scissor trap, then this effective device is worth a try.

This is what a plunger trap looks like Another version of a plunger trap

Advantages:

The trigger mechanism is triggered in a different way from the previous two types. The trap is activated not by the movement of the mole with its nose or paws, but by pushing through the earth to restore the previously dug tunnel. Thus, the trap is very useful in the presence of moles that bypass the traps.
A very powerful trap that requires a little practice to use.
No need to adjust before use.
Relatively easy to install, but requires a little time, especially when working on rocky soil.

Flaws:

If there are stones in the ground, it can become stuck, as is the case with a scissor trap.
If you do not have the skills to install it correctly, the device may not work, and moles will freely pass through it.

Humane mole trap-tube and ultrasonic device

Quite ineffective devices. The first is a hollow tube with movable doors on both sides, the second also has the shape of a tube that is installed in the soil. According to reviews from gardeners, it is almost impossible to get rid of moles using such traps, because moles bypass some of them, while they get used to others or ignore them altogether. However, there are also cases where ultrasound turned out to be effective, as long as it did not become addictive, like any surface noise produced by a person.

Example of an ultrasonic trapHumane tube (not very effective)Ultrasonic mole repeller device

TOP mole traps for the garden and summer cottage

Here is a rating of the most effective mole traps based on customer reviews:

— SuperCat Vole Trap from SWISSINNO made in Slovenia;
— SuperCat Claw from SWISSINNO;
— SuperCat Wire, designed for catching field mice and moles;
— Mole Trap from SWISSINNO

SuperCat Vole Trap from SWISSINNO (Switzerland)

The SuperCat Vole Trap mole trap is a small plastic cylinder weighing 350 grams and 23 centimeters high. Successfully catches mole rats, moles and voles. The principle of operation is similar to a mouse trap, only without bait.

The device, invented in Switzerland and manufactured in Slovenia, is characterized by a relatively simple installation that does not require the use of any significant force. Sticks vertically into the ground. All preparation consists of one step; you don’t even need to dig a tunnel.

Buy now - from RUB 1,326/piece

When the trap is triggered, its handle falls back. This is clearly visible even without removing the device from the ground. The mole can climb into it from any direction - the direction of movement does not at all affect the sensitivity of the spring.

The only drawback of this SWISSINNO mole trap is that when the device is triggered, another animal cannot get into it - the spring must be cocked again. Sharp plastic teeth can injure your hands if handled carelessly. Therefore, the trap should never be given to children.

SuperCat Claw

Judging by the reviews of mole traps, SuperCat Claw is the only mole trap model that is used not only by amateur gardeners, but also by professionals.

The trap works on the principle of scissors, with a pin sandwiched between the knives. It is installed in the tunnel opening so that the mole, when moving, hits or knocks out a jammed object. At the same time, the blades collapse, piercing the body of the animal.

Main advantages:

— simplicity of design;
— ability to adjust sensitivity;
- not complicated installation;
- light weight - only 290 grams;
— compactness – dimensions 3×12×17 centimeters;

Buy now - from 512 RUR/piece

Despite its apparent simplicity, it is not always possible to set a trap the first time. The reason is frequent obstacles in the form of dense clods of earth, stones or plant debris. In wet weather, the ground around the device is washed away by water, and it becomes visible. And at low temperatures, the handles often freeze and cannot work.

Review of the SuperCat mole catcher

MoLe Trap by SWISSINNO

The principle of operation of this trap is not complicated - it is placed across the mole tunnel with a pre-cocked spring, which opens the entrance and winds the guard. As soon as the mole stumbles upon it, the spring straightens, pressing the neck or head of the animal.

Buy now - from RUB 1,239/piece

The main thing is to install the Move Trap in the right place. A branded accessory for finding holes from SWISSINNO will help with this - a special rod equipped with a comfortable handle. With its help, it is not difficult to detect mole and mouse passages passing underground - you just need to stick the rod into the ground.

Wire mole trap SuperCat

The SuperCat Wire Trap is designed to kill voles and moles. If used correctly, it is a fairly simple and very reliable mechanical mole trap. The manufacturer recommends using four to eight pieces at a time. This significantly increases the likelihood of the entire mole family settling on the site being exterminated at once.

Buy now - from 340 RUR/piece

It is better to install a wire mole trap while wearing fabric gloves. This is necessary so as not to leave foreign odors that can scare away moles.

Features of mole hunting

Only a madman or someone who has no idea what this activity is like would go after this animal with a gun. It may seem to a novice hunter that hunting moles is a pointless and boring undertaking, but this is far from the case. If you taste all the delights of mole hunting just once, you will be captivated by this activity forever and will recommend it to all your friends and acquaintances. Perhaps if every skeptic tried this “strange” activity at least once, his opinion about mole catchers would change significantly.

Material dividends are not all that hunting animals can bring. From an emotional point of view, this type of hunting will allow a new look at nature even for those individuals who “see” it quite rarely. As a rule, moles begin to be hunted when the fields bloom with different colors, the smell of black currants is fragrant in the air, and young mushrooms begin to attract with their recognizable caps. This is the time when the aroma of freshly cut hay and meadowsweet is in the air.

However, despite all the above-mentioned romance, catching moles will not be easy. Like any other craft, this activity requires great dexterity and certain skills. It is worth knowing a lot about the biology of the animal, especially where exactly it lives.

Description of the mole, habitat, nutrition and reproduction

A black, black-brown or dark gray fur-bearing animal with a rounded body, short hair, no ears, a tail three centimeters long, small barely noticeable eyes, an elongated nose, inverted, shovel-like front paws with sharp claws - this is there is a mole. The length of its body can reach 23 centimeters.

Loose, moist soil, saturated with worms and insect larvae, is a favorable environment for its habitat and reproduction. Moles are predators; they belong to the family of insectivorous mammals. They eat a large amount of food per day. The daily portion is equal to their body weight. The animal is constantly in the process of work, so it must replenish the energy spent.

The mole's "house" is a system of underground tunnels, similar to a labyrinth. Tunnels connect the so-called chambers in which it stores its nutritional reserves. Mice, frogs, mole crickets, lizards, ants, and small snakes can get caught in the traps that the mole creates underground. It comes across earthworms especially actively in winter; in cold times they penetrate deeper layers of the soil in search of warmth, ending up in its passages. The cunning animal just moves through its tunnels and collects food; thanks to its excellent sense of smell, it can eat well.

If a mole has chosen a certain piece of land, this means that its hole occupies several meters in width and depth. Moles live in whole families. Mice can live next to them. It is often possible to identify burrows of moles and shrews in one area.

This animal does not feed on plants or root crops, as many farmers mistakenly believe. Its lifespan is five years. A female mole gives birth to one litter per year.

Choosing a location for the trap

During the hot season, it is best to catch moles along ditches and streams, as well as on trails used by people and livestock for travel. In such places the soil is not so hot, so moles will be found here most often. During the rainy season, it is best to place mole traps directly on the surface, where the prey will crawl out of the water-filled holes.

Permanent and feeding passages are quite often located in close proximity to each other, forming a complex interweaving between them. In order to determine the type of burrows, do not hesitate to dig up the ground and examine them from the inside. If you find a feeding ground, then be sure that there will be a permanent passage nearby. Remember that setting traps in feeding holes is a waste of time.

Options for catching a mole using a homemade mole trap

Several important features

At the end of summer, it is recommended to install mole traps in large numbers and check them more often for the presence of prey, since at this time the animals begin to break up into pairs and actively reproduce. On one turn, you can catch two moles at once, and then move the traps with bait to another place.

It is worth noting that you should not install mole traps on every move found, since in this case you may simply not have enough traps. It is best to find a hole that has the smoothest and most compacted walls. We install several mole traps in it, and trample down the remaining passages. This will force the animals to use the path in which your traps are located.

To install mole traps, it is recommended to use areas that intersect with dense soil, for example, paths, roads, and so on. In these places, several animals use the passages at once, and not just one. Why is that? The fact is that in dry weather it is quite difficult for moles to break through compacted soil, and they somehow need to move from one place to another. That is why near the roads there are most of the discarded heaps of earth that other moles left here.

It is worth noting that if you decide to install a mole trap near a road where heavy vehicles and tractors often pass, then be prepared for the fact that the traps may slam shut due to vibrations. To prevent this situation, you need to add a little earth to the trigger. Or you can use ordinary plastic mole traps made from bottles, which do not have a complex mechanism.

In places where livestock graze, it is necessary to install 2-3 sticks or perches above the traps. This way, the animals will step over obstacles and the traps will remain intact. Also, do not forget to put mole bait, otherwise you will not get much results from the hunt.

Additional tips and tricks

Combinatoriality is important in catching moles. A combination of different types of traps will give maximum results.

If you want to catch an animal alive and unharmed, it is extremely important to use hard gloves when working. They bite hard. It's painful and unsafe. It is better for the catcher to take his trophy away from home, at a distance of at least two km. In this case, he will not find his old moves.

If there are a lot of moles in the region, then it makes sense to spend time and money, but solve the problem radically:

In any bad news there can be good moments. Experts say that moles are picky and will not settle on infertile land. So, if “guests” appear at the dacha, it means that the earth is full of vitamins and minerals. All that remains is to send out the uninvited comrades and start planting seeds for the future harvest.

Source

Habitat specifics of moles

A mole is an insectivorous, mammal that lives underground, a harmless animal. It is found in loose soil, which is constantly dug up and moistened. Does not like clay and crushed stone. It moves forward and backward, helping itself with strong shovel-shaped forelimbs. Due to small ears and blind eyes, it orients itself in space using the sense of touch and smell, thanks to which it avoids set traps.

He constantly moves in search of a good area with a large population of worms and insects. His lair is located in the center of a system of complex passages. Their mole digs very quickly, and pushes the undermined soil to the surface. During this process, the shrew unintentionally damages the roots of plants and crops planted in the garden or lawn. He makes his personal space soft, comfortable and lives not alone, but always with his family. The animal's diet consists of mice, frogs, woodlice, earthworms, insect larvae and other pests living in the soil. He is not interested in plants, neither the roots nor the above-ground parts.

The mole is intelligent, cautious, an excellent swimmer, and, sensing danger, can get around it in advance. To drink, he has to dig a hole vertically. In winter, the animal does not hibernate, but goes deep into the ground. If it senses danger, it defends itself with bites and scratches.

The underground “worker” checks his progress hourly, and immediately repairs the damage with an additional tunnel from below. The speed of movement is up to six kilometers per hour, it almost never appears outside. He also has enemies, a raccoon dog and a fox.

Moles are not the only inhabitants of our land; similar mounds can be dug by field mice or gophers. You can determine who is infested on the site by the shape of the dug up earth. Hills that look like volcanoes are left by moles, voles leave slightly visible piles of earth with many small traces and remains of grass stems. The mounds of gophers look like a horseshoe.

Harm of moles to plants

In general, moles are useful animals; they destroy pests, their larvae and field mice.
But, while digging their tunnels, they often damage the root system of plants. If there are a lot of moles, they can easily destroy half the crop. In addition, their favorite delicacy is earthworms, which loosen the soil and make it more fertile. Moles avoid wetlands; they live in places with dry, loose soil rich in worms, caterpillars, and insect larvae. That's why they usually settle in gardens and summer cottages. The first sign that moles have chosen your garden is the appearance of fresh earthen mounds on the surface of the beds.

Many gardeners believe that these animals gnaw the root system of trees and plants, which leads to their death. But this opinion is wrong; the animals are not rodents and do not feed on crop roots. They simply create a complex system of holes and passages, and the roots that fall into it become exposed and dry out. The more moles there are on a site, the faster they can spoil the green plantings growing on it.

The land in the long-term habitat of these animals becomes infertile after some time. This is due to the destruction of earthworms and the movement of the lower layer of soil depleted in nutrients to the top. In addition, moles are considered carriers of some pathogenic bacteria and parasites. And also their presence on the site negatively affects its landscape design.

Habits of moles in nature

A novice hunter should know all the behavioral features of moles in natural habitats, which can be used in hunting this animal. For example, a mole prefers to settle in rich soil, which is rich in insect larvae and earthworms, but at the same time tries to stay away from the lairs of large animals.

As practice shows, in our area moles are most often found in alder forests. If you decide to hunt in the fields, then you need to look for prey along the boundaries, but if in the forest, then near streams, as well as near paths and roads. The most important thing is to be able to distinguish the mole's feeding galleries from the deep-lying permanent entrances leading to the nests. You will definitely find several animals in the nesting chambers.

Where do moles live?

In our country you can find 4 species of moles, but they hunt exclusively for the common mole. It is found throughout almost the entire territory of Russia - from the Don steppes to Arkhangelsk and from Transbaikalia to the western borders.

A mole can settle almost anywhere, but it prefers copses and forests. Small concentrations of this animal can be found in deciduous forests, but it has nothing to do in swampy areas. Moles are also often found in gardens and summer cottages. This pest loves to eat the young roots of bushes and garden crops, so people try to get rid of it in every possible way.

Stern passages

Based on practice, we can say that most feeding passages are located in the surface layer of soil, at a depth not exceeding 5 centimeters. Such passages have poorly insulated walls, since it would be foolish to spend a large amount of resources on insulating passages that would then not be used. They are often found in forests and appear as furrows of slightly raised earth. It is noteworthy that moles rarely use these moves a second time.

What are the benefits and harms

The attitude towards animals is twofold. There are ardent defenders of the animal, but there are no fewer opponents. In nature, it is a useful animal that improves the structure of the soil. Thanks to the large number of moves made by the animal, the soil breathes and moisture penetrates into the deep layers. The special smell that moles have attracts numerous worms and other underground insects. The mole eats them in huge quantities, in addition, destroys harmful insects and their larvae, and fertilizes the soil with excrement.

If a mole appears at the dacha, you can forget about the previous merits of the land reclamation worker, since its natural need to search for food leads to the destruction of part of the crop or damage to the lawn. Not everyone can withstand such a neighborhood, so many ways have been invented to get rid of moles in a summer cottage.

Mole at the dacha

Another dangerous thing about moles that appear on a personal plot is that they are carriers of tularemia, suffer from piroplasmosis, and are affected by ticks and other parasites. Therefore, you should not pick up the animal.

Krotolovka

Have you thought about how to get rid of moles in your garden? A standard mole trap is perfect for this purpose. Just a few decades ago they were quite primitive, but with the development of technology these devices have improved significantly, becoming even more effective. You can buy such a thing at most hardware stores that sell mousetraps. By the way, these two designs are quite similar in appearance and functionality, however, the mole trap is slightly larger in size.

Looking for a way to get rid of moles? Self-made traps can help you with this. To do this, you don’t have to resort to various tricks, and the material you can use is ordinary wire, which just needs to be twisted correctly. An analogue is a plastic trap, which is made from an ordinary bottle:

First, we make the “body” of the pipe by cutting off the bottom and top of the bottle.
The other two containers will require the tops to be cut off.
The neck itself must also be cut off.
In the remaining part we cut ribbons that are tightly driven into the pipe.

Such a mole trap is installed in holes through which animals move. Crawling through such a trap, the animal will easily push the ribbons apart, but will not be able to get back out.

Wearing a mole trap

It is recommended to wear mole traps in a bent ring made of thin wire. This is much more convenient than using some kind of bag where they will constantly cling to each other. In addition, you will have your hands free if you hang the wire, for example, from a belt. In this way, you can set traps and at the same time remove prey from old mole traps.

Additional equipment

To install mole traps, a regular hunting knife is best suited. It should have a long and wide blade, as well as a wooden handle and a rounded end. Such equipment is perfect not only for cutting out excess vegetation, but also for digging the ground. A wooden handle will serve you well for pressing installed mole traps into the soil.

Best time to hunt

You can start hunting moles as early as June 20, when the young animals have grown a little and begin to go hunting. The season ends in late autumn, when the first night frosts strike and the animal goes into hibernation. You can resume hunting immediately after snow falls, but most moles appear in the summer.

During the entire hunting season, you will need to place a large number of traps over a fairly large area, which must be divided into small areas. After the moles stop falling into traps, you can safely move to another place.