More about Moles and their control
The only member of the genus Talpa in the British Isles, the mole has some fascinating common names, including ‘Mouldiwarp’ (literally ’earth thrower’) and ‘umpty-tumpt’. In welsh, it is known as ‘twrch daear’ which means ‘earth hog’.
The mole’s short, black, velvety fur and broad, spade-like forelimbs make it instantly recognisable. Although it has no obvious ears and minute eyes, it is neither deaf nor blind. Moles are usually between 11 & 16cm long, with a short tail and weigh between 70 & 130g; males are generally larger.
Being an insectivore a mole’s diet entirely consists of invertebrates, usually collected from their tunnels, especially earthworms and insect larvae. This includes pest species such as leatherjackets, cockchafers and carrot flies. They will also eat slugs if they come across them.
Adult moles are active day and night, alternating 3-4 hour bursts of activity with similar periods of rest; mature males may leave their nests for days at a time, sleeping in the tunnel system. Lactating females return to their nests 4 to 6 times in 24 hours to feed their 3-4 young, which are born in the spring. At birth, moles are naked and weigh as little as 3.5g. By 5-6 weeks of age they disperse above ground to establish their own territories.
Relations with man
Moles were once highly prized for their fur, which can lay in any direction and is waterproof. By the turn of the 20th Century more than 1 million skins were being sold each year in London. 12 million were also exported each year to the US!
Now moles are generally considered an agricultural pest species. Contamination of the grass crop by soil may lead to poor quality silage and there is also a risk of damage to machinery and stock health. Mole runs may disturb roots and adversely affect plant growth and molehills can also degrade pasture by providing ideal seed beds for vigorous weed species. In gardens and amenity areas, molehills and tunnels can be a nuisance.
Mole Control
The use of strychnine to kill moles was banned in August 2006, due to the risk of killing non-target species which also feed on earthworms. A 2007 study found that the most popular method of mole control was kill-trapping. Control efforts peak in spring, a time at which breeding males were more likely to be caught. Where control is necessary, it could therefore be more effectively targeted for population control. The most effective time to control mole numbers is from October to April, when they are most actively digging new tunnels and before the breeding season.
Contact me for help with mole control.
