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It needs little emphasis that the very nature of subterranean mole trapping means that sooner or later the effective performance of any trap will be compromised by environmental conditions and in particular the effects of soil, dirt and the wet. In simple parlance with usage if a trap is not properly maintained it will not be effective.

Most traps are set in the ground and are covered in to block out the light from the mole run. Their springs and trigger parts come into close or direct contact with the soil. If they are not thoroughly cleaned after use by washing out in a bucket of water and rinsed then sooner or later they will not operate effectively and trigger instantly and powerfully.

The Beagle EasySet Mole Trap has one advantage over most mole traps in that the springs and trigger mechanism are contained in a tough plastic box and thus avoid direct contact with the soil. None the less, soil and damp can penetrate inside ,especially if pushed in by a mole blocking the trap with soil or left in the ground for some time. This can have the effect of a delayed or no discharge principally due to the trigger sticking inside the two guides either side of the trap body.

Although this is a rare occurrence, our strong recommendation is to wash the traps after use in a bucket of warm soapy water and then rinse. And then test by arming the trap and discharging by pressing on the trigger (use a stick if you haven’t got the courage to use your finger! They are a bit scary when they go off but won’t harm you provided that you don’t put your finger through the loop!!) Incidentally at this point we strongly recommend testing the trap every time in this manner for instant discharge before placing it in the ground. If you encounter a more persistent problem then have no fear about taking the trap apart .Four screws and a Philips screwdriver does it, and you will be amazed how simple it all is; give it a thorough cleanse and reassemble it . It all packs in very neatly (not all fingers and thumbs trying to cram it all together with springs popping out!) Replace the four screws and tighten but don’t over tighten as this could compress the trigger in the guides.

Now there is one question to which in all honesty I don’t know the answer and that is the use of lubricants oil or silicones. It is well known that moles have an aversion to strange smells: for example moth balls are used as deterrents by some people. I have drizzled a little three in one on springs and trigger guides and it has had no demonstrable effect on the ability to trap moles. But a client of Beagle from Wisconsin advises against the use of lubricants because after a period of time the residue tends to become sticky and attract dirt and grime creating a bigger problem of cleansing rather than a quick soapy wash and rinse.

Your views on this subject would be very welcome.

Need more help? See our help section on the EasySet Mole Trap product page.

I was visiting a lovely country property the other day just after the awful flooding. The owners obviously took pride in their well laid out garden, but oh dear! the state of the terracing and outdoor hardwood furniture after a destructive winter was depressing.

The paved terrace black and slippery, the barbecue left out and rusting, the well made and expensive hardwood outdoor dining furniture deteriorating fast – Black, green and filthy from the winter elements. You certainly wouldn’t welcome planting your backsides on the seats or eating from the tables, when just for a little more effort and expenditure you could present and preserve something much more attractive! I talk of the properties of liquid bleach. A mild dilution with water in a bucket and then brushed on to a terrace and left (not rinsed off) can do wonders to reviving its appearance in the springtime.. For hardwood furniture try brushing the same dilution on before you put it away for winter. Ah! I hear you say, I haven’t got the space to put it away so I have to leave it out.

Ok, I hear you and this is where Bosmere come in. Take a look at their products for the garden and outdoor life: www.bosmere.com/products

I have been a fan of theirs for many years and they have really got their act together. The design, materials and range of products to protect outdoor furniture and equipment is outstanding.

So if you want to keep up appearances and protect your investment. Cover up!

In 1990, before I invented the EasySet Mole Trap, I came up with a brilliant idea…If you put a ball in a tube trap, the mole would enter the trap and push the ball to the other end against the flap, and therefore it couldn’t get at the flap to try and lift it and escape.
Problem solved I thought…The success rate as compared with a straight tube without an obturator (a device that closes or blocks up an opening) improved and it had the added advantage of being able to hear a live mole pushing the ball against the flap.

I even applied for, and secured a worldwide patent. I had a couple of hundred made and thought that a fortune was just around the corner. But I didn’t exploit it and in any event I still encountered the old problem that ultimately moles don’t like foreign bodies in their runs and they continued to block them and push them out of the ground.

One further problem was that the trap was longer than the traditional tube traps without a ball and we all know that a mole doesn’t progress in a straight line, so lining up both entrances with the line of the tunnel was more difficult but it is vitally important to successful trapping.

An interesting point to add is that moles have strong teeth and do bite! They can and have taken great chunks out of the wooden balls that I used as obturators! So please keep your fingers clear if you are handling a live one!

There is no doubt about it that moles do not like encountering foreign bodies obstructing their tunnel runs!

The more the obstruction, the more determined they are either to avoid it, by diverting around it or blocking it up with earth and maybe even pushing it upwards out of the ground.

So the less the obstruction and the clearer the tunnel run, the better the chances of catching a mole.

The careful excavation and preparation of the trap hole and the proper alignment and placing of the trap is the key to success. It is important to ensure that all light is eliminated and at the same time making sure that no earth is falling into the tunnel, thus preserving a clear approach to the trigger mechanism.

So many people express their frustration at their lack of success in mole catching and I am certain that in most cases this is due to lack of care in preparation and placing, and ultimately the loss of patience!

My advice: Talk to friends who are successful, get a good book on the subject, and follow the instructions. Unlike most animal trapping skills you have to work at it and get down on your hands and knees.

Remember – there are no short cuts!

Google “MOLE” and it will come up with bodily imperfections or a furry subterranean invader. In west Coast America it even will come up with a popular edible dish.

However, put in the word “TRAP” and the scene changes. There is a proliferation of information, advice, videos and promotions flogging antediluvian contraptions for eliminating talpa europaea, or the common mole to you and I.

So how do you choose the best and most effective trap?

Most of these traps were designed over a century ago and there has been very little change since. So when you come up with the exciting new design, the EasySet Mole Trap, that is amazingly effective, designed and made in Britain, how do you get the message across?

The answer is With Difficulty!

Over the past twelve months we have invested in very limited advertising (it’s expensive, particularly for a start up company!). We took a stand at the Malvern Spring Show which was a great success and we did the same across the country at Burghley Horse Trials. Again a great success (thank you customers).

But can you persuade journalists to review the product and get you some valuable editorial? Can you hell! Yes, they all love the product but when push comes to shove they all fight shy of the “fluffy animal brigade” and the ensuing “hate mail”.

So how are we getting the message across? Well, it’s all down to you. Our fabulous customers. Good old fashioned “word of mouth.”

And if you want to make the right choice then just take a look at the reviews on our web site. They say it all, from Austria to the USA, Cornwall to Scotland. Then purchase a couple of Beagle EasySet Mole Traps and become another satisfied customer.

But more especially keep the reviews coming. We value your continuing support and please tell a friend!

So technically it is still winter and you may be thinking that you don’t need to start worrying about your lawn until the start of spring… However with a little care and attention now your lawn will be in good shape for the coming spring.

Firstly, use a light rake or brush to keep the lawn free of leaves and debris.

Then aerate consolidated areas of the lawn with a fork or with a spiking machine. This will relieve compaction, improve drainage and allow more air into the root system leading to a healthier lawn.

Remember worms improve the nutrient content of soil and are beneficial to the soil structure. (another good reason to keep your lawn mole free, as they eat the worms!) Worm casts are best left to dry and then swept or brushed away with a stiff brush.

And of course there is the ‘when to start mowing?’ debate…

Our friends at The Lawn Company http://www.lawn.co.uk/ have some great advise. They say that if and when we get some finer spring like weather, then this would be an ideal time to mow the lawn and the effect of mowing the lawn will stimulate additional growth. Check out their blog for more excellent lawn care tips http://www.grassclippings.co.uk/.

As always we welcome any lawn care tips and advise you may have, just leave us a comment below!

We are currently being inundated by customer enquiries from mainland Europe and the USA, and are inviting enquiries from distributors who might be able to help us to more easily sell our products in these overseas markets.

Please address any enquires of this nature to Sonja Beasley at .

We look forward to hearing from you!