Stubborn Mole Problem Cancel The title field is required!

1. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   2/25/2014 8:02 AM

   We have a very persistent mole (or moles?) near and on one of our greens.
   
   We've employed Talipraid worms, even the peanuts (they were on the shelf from years ago), and even harpoon traps, which the little ba#$% just tunneled under.
   
   The guys have been out watching it as well, waiting with pitch forks.
   
   We tried a smoke bomb this morning but it didn't work, (Must have been old, the guys had found that laying around too).
   
   Any other suggestions? We thought about water, but the irrigation is shut down right now and a cold front is hitting tonight anyway.
   
   Thanks!
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
2. Joel Fielder

   

   0 posts
   
   2/25/2014 8:02 AM

   I've found that the "Tomcat" Traps by Motomco work the best as far as traps go. They are more of a scissor trap rather than a harpoon.
   
   http://www.gemplers.com/product/170995/ ... -Mole-Trap

   
   
   
   
3. Thomas Sontheimer

   

   2 posts
   
   2/25/2014 9:02 AM

   Look in Gemplers catalog and get the mole eliminator trap they work awesome.

   
   
   
   
4. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   2/25/2014 10:02 AM

   Moles are a constant problem here as well. We have used everything and by far the best trap we have found is the Nash Choker Loop. http://www.amazon.com/Nash-Choker-Loop-Mole-Trap/dp/B000P9CNT2
   
   If you aren't sure which run is active, tamp down the runs in the morning and come back later to see what is active and then sent a trap or 2.

   
   
   
   
5. Peterson David T

   
   2/25/2014 10:02 AM

   Trapline mole traps are the only way to go. Get a couple sets of them then take 2, tie them together with 3' of of string and put them in the runs. Use a stake to hold the string down and for a marker where you have buried the traps. I have used most traps out there and these work the best by far. Once you catch a mole, bury him right where you caught him in the run. I usually push him back down in the run a few inches. I have been tracking where I catch moles and since I have started burying them in their own runs they RARELY EVER come back.
   
   I had a very similar problem with a mole in a greenside bunker. He had about 10 different runs around the bunker but after alot of digging and tracking I found he had 2 enterances out of the native line by the bunker. After about 2 months of setting up to 6 traps in the area and never getting him, I decided to catch a mole from another location. bring him to this moles 2 tunnels from the native and buried him in one of them. I set 1 trapline trap in his 2nd entrance and the next day....Boom. Dead. Buried him in the tunnel I caught him in and have yet to have one return in that area.
   
   Always bury them where you caught them. Atleast it works for me up in the Seattle Area

   
   
   
   
6. John Plantholt

   

   0 posts
   
   2/25/2014 11:02 AM

   I have had a lot of success with Aluminum Sulfide pellets. I drop a pellet in about every 5 feet in a run without disturbing the tunnel and usually get them the first time. The pellets are activated by the moisture in the ground and produce a toxic gas. The downside is it does require a respirator to apply and it will discolor the turf on a green along the tunnel.

   
   
   
   
7. Kerry Ohlwine

   

   0 posts
   
   2/27/2014 8:02 AM

   Hi Mel
   
   I never had a mole problem at my last course but they love my new course. I use the scissor type trap. If they set off the trap you will kill the mole 90% of the time. Killing moles has become my favorite hobby! Here is what I have been using http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/easy-mole-traptrade%3B. My record is 3 moles with one trap in one day! Happy trapping !!!!!!
   
   Good Luck
   Kerry Ohlwine
   Chestnut Hills GC

   
   
   
   
8. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   2/27/2014 9:02 AM

   Thanks all,
   
   Keith we went with the Nash trap since they were already available at our local BWI store.
   
   I think we have a pretty smart mole, the guys installed one in the run next to the green on both sides, and it was the easiest place to install without a lot of rocks. He hasn't gone across the green since, yet he hasn't tripped one of the traps either. Or maybe one of the talipraid worms finally got him?
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
9. Dale Fender

   

   0 posts
   
   2/28/2014 1:02 AM

   Talprid works. Just keep trying. I've had great success with that product.

   
   
   
   
10. Virgil Range

    

    0 posts
    
    2/28/2014 4:02 AM

    On the Talprid, Make sure when you handle the worms you are useing gloves. Oils from your fingers get on the worms and the moles wont eat them. Use gloves and your success will improve.

    
    
    
    
11. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    2/28/2014 7:02 AM

    Thanks on the Talipraid,
    
    We have learned about the gloves, and have had really decent success with it. Although I think sometimes my guys break them in two and wonder if there is enough poison when they do that.
    
    If it wasn't cutting across the green being the issue and then some pressure from the golf shop....we would have stuck to just the Talipraid.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
12. Jeffre Vercautren

    

    0 posts
    
    2/28/2014 9:02 AM

    We get close to 100 moles a year. When the guys are watching the run don't use the pitch forks, use a digging spade. Press down all the runs. Once you see it work jab the shovel in behind the mole, pry up and pop it out. Repair as needed. When using Talprid where gloves. If you get the spring traps get the double spring. the single spring will not penetrate the ground real well. As you set the spring traps snap them in the set spot to give them free travel. If you are getting mole runs with high mounds and not a true run try a hose and drowned them out. Just some ideas to improve on some common methods. Hope you get them.

    
    
    
    
13. Bill Warnick

    

    0 posts
    
    3/4/2014 10:03 AM

    I came to a newly seeded course to do the grow-in and we had several hundred moles working away. I found the Victor out-of-sight Mole trap to be the best. Good trap, cool name.

    
    
    
    
14. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    3/6/2014 3:03 PM

    The guys got the big bas%^&* yesterday. Was able to block him in the tunnel and pitch fork him out.
    
    He was going under the traps, and did have one of them spring shut but didn't get him.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO