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This page gives a detailed description of the Mole Catching Kit

Some facts!

  • I am a mole catcher, with over 40 years of experience. 
  • The Mole Trap most commonly sold in the UK, the scissor type, is the least suitable for the inexperienced user. 
  • Many of the cheap imported traps are so bad that moles can be nipped and are then are very shy of a trap. 
  • One of the most commonly sold Tunnel Traps has a design flaw that allows moles to escape. 

This page and the Trap Review page will hopefully assist you to purchase good equipment and give you every chance of becoming a successful mole catcher.

If you ring and ask for advice (you are welcome to do so) I will tell you that if you want to catch moles then your best bet is to buy THE MOLE CATCHING KIT. Less than the cost of one visit from a mole catcher! The most common question I am asked is how many traps are required.

You need enough traps initially to clear an area of moles. It is no use thinking that you are going to clear a heavily infested garden with one trap.  Once an area is cleared then you need far fewer traps to keep it clear. It is difficult to advise on how many traps are needed without actually visiting a site.  As a rough guide, a small garden 1 to 2 traps, a medium 3 to 4, and a large one 4 to 5.  Alternatively work a section of the garden at a time, but I would recommend that you have a minimum of three traps, but that you set them all within a 30ft diameter circle. 

Summary of the basic Mole Kit

 3 Tunnel Traps, each one individually tested and adjusted by me. 
  • 1 Mole Run Probe. An essential tool for locating runs. You can do it with a stick, but this tool makes it much easier. 
  • A CD Rom. Goes in your computer CD Drive. A step by step guide to mole catching. This is the heart of the system. Nobody who has studied the first fifteen pages of this document has failed to catch moles. There are also 5 short videos to clarify matters. 
  • Run Clearance Tool. A grand name for a piece of bent fencing wire. Essential in light sandy soils. Of less use on heavier soils. 


The Mole Kit plus contains the above, but with one tunnel trap replaced by a Talpex Trap.  The Talpex is used for the odd "tricky" mole that will not push through a normal tunnel or scissor trap. No mole can evade you with the Mole Kit plus, but under normal circumstances you would be unlucky to get a tricky mole. They are fairly rare.

Numbers of traps in The Mole Kit can be adjusted according to choice when you go to On-line Shop 

The only other items you need are a border spade, that is to say one with a blade the same width as a tunnel trap, approximately 5½ inches or 14cm. These can be bought quite cheaply in a local market for about £8.  You will also need a marker stick. A bamboo cane will do. Occasionally a trowel will be needed.

 Mole Catching Kit

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ITEM DETAILS

1. CD Rom Mole Trapping with the Tunnel Trap (also available as 20 A4 page printout at extra cost) 

Most books on the subject of mole catching dwell on the breeding cycle, feeding habits or history of the mole, and sometimes of the author.  I have yet to find one that contains step by step details of trapping technique
This CD contains those step by step details, with over 40 colour photos.  Pure catching technique. Also has 5 short video clips. These are to assist in understanding how it works but are not a replacement for the written guide.


This CD only covers catching with the Tunnel Trap.   Yes I know that thousands of moles are caught each year in Scissor Traps, but I find the Tunnel Trap vastly  superior to the Scissor, but only when it has been fine tuned.  An unadjusted one will probably give you worse results than a scissor trap. 

CD-ROM is pdf format, requires Adobe Reader to open file. Most modern computers already have this.

 CD Rom s

 

 

 

 

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2. Mole Run Probe.

Makes finding the mole run simpler. Made of mild steel rod. The tip is of larger diameter than the shaft of the rod. When you push the rod through the ground, it creates a larger hole than the shaft. This means that when you hit a mole run, you feel the distinct ‘drop’ as the shaft of the tool  is not being gripped by the soil. Painted orange to make it highly visible.

The CD Rom describes how to make your own but you will need access to a welder and bench grinder.

  probe tip

 3. Tunnel or Duffus Trap. English made high quality Tunnel Traps.  Each one has been fine tuned by me so that you will not need to do it yourself.  If you want untuned traps then contact me for a quote.

 

 

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  Tunnel trap

 4. Run Clearance Tool. Simply a 1ft long piece of fencing wire. Comes free with order over £10.  A wire coat hangar will do but is not really thick enough. On light soils can be used to find tunnel entrance and clear runs. Not much use on medium to heavy soils.

 

  run clearance tool

 5. Talpex Trap. Very occasionally you come across a mole that will not push the trigger on a conventional trap, be it tunnel or scissor. This trap is triggered by the mole clearing a blocked tunnel. Most people will never encounter these tricky moles, so my basic kit does not include a Talpex. They are a bit trickier to set and like other scissor type traps are prone to being jammed by stones. However with one of these in your bag, there is no mole that cannot be caught. There are many copies around, and some of them are truly terrible. I only sell the genuine article, stamped with the makers name.

 

 

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  Talpex Trap

Preview of CD-ROM  Mole Trapping with the Tunnel Trap
A sample from the CD is given below
I have picked just five photos with accompanying text.  There are over 40 photographs on the CD. 
The CD  is divided into two parts. Part One is in effect a QUICKSTART for those who have bought a pre-tuned Tunnel Trap from me, or who have done their own. With no deviations or distractions it goes through the procedure that I follow each time I set a trap.  Each step is explained, and alongside is a colour photograph of the action being carried out.

Part Two goes into more detail on various points of mole trapping. It includes basic details such as how to FINE TUNE a tunnel trap, how to make a Mole Run Probe, and advanced stuff such as how to make a very cheap molehill harrow to tow behind an ATV or tractor.

SAMPLE FROM CD Rom 
NOTE Except for the first & last photo, TEXT HAS BEEN REMOVED , so it will not make sense!!

SETTING THE TRAP
Hold one end of trap against your stomach, spring side up. Make sure the retaining hook is dangling vertically downwards. Place index and forefingers of both hands just under the tinplate rim furthest away from you
With both thumbs, press down on spring furthest away from you, pushing down through plate
  setting 01

 With one of your fingers, bring up XXXXXXXX  text removed
 Bring over the top and XXXXXXXXXXtext removed
text removed
 to be hooked into the trigger. xxxtext removed
You now come to HAIR TRIGGER. The key to success with a Tunnel Trap. Keeping xxxxtext removed

 

  setting
 TUNING THE TRIGGER LOOP. The trigger loop itself will need bending into the correct position, i.e. XXXXXXXtext removed
XXXXXtext removed
XXXXXtext removed
 A mole may bend the trigger loop, so check each time you set the trap that the loop is correctly positioned.
  tuning trap
 Run location with a mole run probe. (If you have not used a probe before then read PART TWO/ Mole Run Probe )Where to probe: The classic scenario is that a line of molehills appears. Take your probe and push into the soil in a xxxtext removed
 from 1 inch to nearly a couple of feet deep, or more, but generally, if they are not surface runs, you will locate them xxxxxtext removed
 If you do not hit the tunnel first time, probe xxxtext removed
If you are still having no success, then to give you an idea of where the tunnel is likely to run, xxxtext removed
 go down at any angle from vertical to nearly horizontal. Keep probing until you reach the bottom, xxxx
.Use xxx text removed
xxxxx  feeling the tunnel as you go. Try and get at least a couple xxx   text removed from the molehill, more if possible..
  run location
 How long does a trap last, or is it any good in the first place? It depends how long it is set for and how often you use it. If it spends most of the time in the shed with springs released, then a lifetime. If used a lot, or even permanently set, as some of mine are, then eventually the spring will weaken. A good test is to allow the catching loop to gently "catch" your index finger. If it is very painful or impossible to pull your finger out then the trap is fine. Alternatively leave your finger in and if it cuts off the blood supply and becomes painful then the trap is good! If you can pull your finger out, then reject trap. This test will also reveal some of the cheaper imported traps with weak springs, which will allow you to pull your finger out from new. One of the most common brands available, sold under the name Big Cheese, is one such, although they have improved hugely as of August 2010  finger test

 

How many traps do I need?

You need enough traps initially to clear an area of moles. It is no use thinking that you are going to clear a heavily infested garden with one trap.  Once an area is cleared then you need far fewer traps to keep it clear. It is difficult to advise on how many traps are needed without actually visiting a site.  As a rough guide, a small garden one trap, a medium 3 to 4, and a large one 4 to 5.  Alternatively work a section of the garden at a time, but I would recommend that you have a minimum of three traps, but that you set them all within a 30ft diameter circle. 

LINKS

Stody Lodge Gardens.  Beautiful Rhododendron and Azalea gardens. Their gardeners trained by us. 

Mole Trap Suppliers

The Flat Pack Co.

By far and away the best, although their probe is not as good as mine!

More Testimonials

Chris,

Thanks for the quick delivery, both parcels arrived Saturday. I read the guidance and watched the videos and then got stuck in on Sunday. This morning was our first success. The runs are very shallow here but the tuned traps and advice has certainly put a smile on my sons face as I promised him £3 a mole...... 

Could be an expensive summer! Dave P.

Hi Chris,
 
Had really good success with the kit you supplied me with a couple of weeks ago. Cleared my garden and my neighbours.  
My three traps are now in the ground at a neighbour opposite, and I’ve been asked to tackle two more gardens – hence my second order!
The instructional stuff you supply is really very clear.

Thanks and kind regards
 
Nigel H

 Testimonials

Hi Chris  I bought a molekit from you earlier this year, followed by more traps, and I thought you might like to know how I am getting on.

I have so far caught 68 moles.  The total includes 31 on my own 30 acre farm and the rest were caught on land belonging to two of my neighbours.

To my great surprise I have been asked by two farmers who have trapped moles all their lives to give them mole catching lessons. Furthermore, it seems that everyone far and wide now seems to know who I am.

The crowning glory came a fortnight ago when a local pest controller appeared at my door, wanting to ask my advice. Whatever next?  Regards Richard Martin

Dear Chris, Well what can we say, your a bloody genius!!!

David put your system into action and caught six moles! he caught 2 at the same time, one either end of the trap, so well done to you and your system, thank you very much! It has been 2 weeks since the last appearance of any hills, so David removed the traps this morning, and fingers crossed, but of course if they re-appear we know what to do!

If you are ever in the area, we would be happy to cook dinner for you to express our gratitude! Kind regards for now, Nicky

Just to let you know that I have tried the kit after purchasing at Chatsworth. 
After a year of trying with various traps and methods I caught a mole the first night and another 2 days later with your kit and expert guidance 
many thanks 
 
Neil  

Hi Chris

I wanted to let you know how successful I've been in clearing our 8 acres of moles within 4 months and how happy we are, now that we can look out on and admire our clear fields and lawns!

Since I got your traps in June, I've caught 38 moles and for the past two weeks we have been completely mole hill free. My immediate neighbour even remarked to me how there'd been 'less mole activity' this year not realizing I was doing my best reduce it to zero, doing us both a favour!

Just received your CD Rom. Great communication skills. My wife, who is a teacher, says that you obviously realise you are trying to teach men who never read instructions!  Graeme 

At last a trapping method that works - thanks!!! Best Regards Roy

Chris,

  I think I owe you a little thanks??

  I have always classed myself as a mole catcher/pest controller and have
  trapped several hundred moles over time
   I have truely become a mole catcher :-)

  I thought it was beginners luck when I caught the first few, but no it
  keeps happening, in fact now I am disappointed if i check traps, it has
  sprung and no mole, I am expecting to and really do catch each and nearly
  every time.

  And instead of before placing 10 -15 claw traps all over I now put no more
  then 2 tunnel traps per mole.

  I have a new lease of life

  Thank you 

  Chris Sansom Pest Control 


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