The Art of Mole Trapping - The Mole

If you would like to improve your chances, and graduate from the basic methodology of ‘stick a trap down and wait’, then we need to think more carefully.  
 
The way in which you approach catching your mole will depend upon a number of factors and also require an understanding of how moles live and the structure of their underground burrows.
 
Firstly, in this section we will look at how the mole lives, his patterns of activity, and the reasons behind his habits. In the next section we will then look at the structure of a burrow.
 
Solitary Creatures

Each mole lives alone in his burrow. He will vigorously defend his territory and fight off any invading neighbours. Having said this, burrows do often overlap, and some may share tunnels or inter-link.  
 
Moles will avoid encountering neighbours by monitoring scent trails left in the tunnels. Usually neighbouring moles will develop a daily pattern, operating in different sections of the tunnel at a particular time of the day.  
 
Feeding
 
The mole feeds primarily upon worms, but also on insects, grubs, and larvae. Worms are the moles favourite food, and the mole will usually concentrate its activity where ever the most worms are.  
 
The location of worms is dependent on a number of factors including: the pH, the temperature, and the moisture content of the soil.  
 
They prefer a pH of 7 (neutral), a cool climate around 8 -12 degrees Celsius (46 – 54 degrees Fahrenheit), and soft, moist, but not water-logged, soil. Fortunately for the worm, each of these factors varies through the soil column, so they will migrate to find the best conditions.  
 
This variation in depth is the reason why mole runs can often extend in depth up to 1.5m. At different times of the year, depending upon rainfall and temperatures, they will work at different depths.
 
 
 
Activity Cycles
 
Throughout the day, the mole is active in 8 hour cycles, with approximately 4 hours sleeping followed by 4 hours of activity; either foraging, or digging.  
 
The timings of these cycles will vary depending on the time of year and location but they will roughly be timed so that the first active period ends just after dawn, a second is midday or early afternoon, and the third starts about the time of dusk.  
 
The reason for these cycles is two-fold.  Firstly, the mole is a small creature with a high metabolism. It must feed regularly in order to maintain its energy levels, and it must also rest frequently as it must work hard to gather enough food / complete its excavations.  
 
Secondly, the dusk and dawn periods are the times of most rapid temperature change and when prey is migrating through the soil column; therefore they are more likely to intrude into the feeding tunnels.
 
Reproduction
 
Moles mate in the spring, toward the end of March, although this may vary by a couple of weeks either way depending upon the weather.   
 
At this time, the male (or boar) will leave his burrow and dig long tunnels out from his territory in hope of encountering the tunnel system of a neighbouring female.  
 
If he finds one, then they will mate and the male will return to his own burrow. This is often the cause of a single line of new mole hills across an area or field at this time of year.  
 
The female (or sow) gestates for about 35 days, and gives birth to between 2 – 6 ‘pups’. They will remain with the mother for up to 40 days before they are kicked out to find their own territories.  
 
In mid to late June this may give rise to new digging sprees as they excavate their new homes or make repairs to a vacant existing tunnel system.