Download DESCRIPTION MOLES The cylindrical body is 12

DESCRIPTION
MOLES
The cylindrical body is 12-16 cm long from nose
to tip of tail and weighs 70-110 gms. There is
very little external difference between the sexes.
The mole is covered with black velvety hair which
can set in any direction. It is well adapted for
burrowing with large spade-like forefeet turned
permanently outwards for digging. The eyes are
very small and hidden among the fur, but well
capable of detecting light. There are no external
earflaps. The senses of touch and hearing is well
developed but smell and sight are less important.
HABITAT
The mole is abundant throughout mainland Britain
but is absent from Ireland. It is found wherever
there are suitable soils for tunnelling, but it tends
to avoid shallow or stony soil, waterlogged or very
acid soil. It is most abundant in permanent
grassland and deciduous woodland, but can be
found in playing fields, parks, cemeteries, golf
courses and private gardens. The most obvious
sign of the presence of moles is the appearance
of molehills on the surface of the ground. The
main way to check whether moles are still in the
area, is to level the hills and check after 2 or 3
days for the formation of new hills. This indicates
the area where control action should be
concentrated.
IMPORTANCE
The most important type of damage is due to
molehills, which are not only unsightly on amenity
and sporting grassland but result in unevenness
of the surface and deterioration by providing a
seed bed for weeds.
They are particularly
unwelcome on the expensive turf of golf greens
and bowling greens. In agriculture the inclusion
of soil from molehills in silage grass can result in
spoilt, unpalatable silage and it is a possible
source of the disease Listeriosis in sheep fed on
silage. Damage also occurs where moles burrow
under seedlings and plants, resulting in wilting
and death. Molehills can also cause damage to
moving machinery.
LIFE CYCLE
Moles are solitary in their habits and live almost
entirely underground in a tunnel system which
may cover an area of 400-2000 sq metres. They
feed mainly on earthworms, but also on other
invertebrates including slugs and insect larvae.
Much of the prey is caught when it falls into the
tunnel system, which thus acts as a kind of pitfall
trap. The mole patrols the tunnel system almost
continuously, with activity periods of 4 hrs 30 mins
alternating with 3 hrs 30 mins rest. One of the
periods of activity are just after sunrise and
another just before sunset. The breeding season
lasts from February to June and there is usually
one litter a year. After a 4 week gestation period
the young are born blind and without fur. They
develop rapidly and leave the nest when they are
5 weeks old.
CONTROL
Moles do not transmit disease or infection and the
damage they cause is mainly aesthetic. It is
therefore recommended that control measures
only be taken if absolutely necessary. Because
moles feed on earthworms, killing the worms in an
area of turf will make it unattractive to moles.
However, the turf will require additional
maintenance, e.g. aeration by spiking to replace
the beneficial effects of earthworms and keep it in
a healthy condition. Only products approved
specifically for use as a lumbricide (earthworm
killer) may be used for this purpose. Various
repellent devices are marketed from time to time
which are said to repel moles, e.g. by interfering
with the Earth's magnetic field. In general, little
confidence can be placed in their efficiency.
Similarly, there are a number of traditional
remedies, which are of equally doubtful
effectiveness.
LOCATING RUNS
There are 2 main methods of control - trapping
and poisoning. Both reply on finding well used,
deep runs. There runs are often located running
parallel to hedges, directly underneath fences and
alongside paths. They can also be found in the
open by probing the ground between two freshly
made molehills with a blunt stick or metal "mole
bar". When the run is pierced a sudden "give" is
felt.
TRAPPING
Once a well-used run has been located, a small
trowel should be used carefully to open up a hole
just large enough to accommodate the trap.
KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL TRAPPING ARE:
Careful bedding in of the traps, with loose soil
excluded from the run. The run must be disturbed
as little as possible. The soil is back-filled lightly
so as not to interfere with the action of the trap.
All light is excluded - moles are not used to
seeing light in their tunnels and become wary
when they do so. There are several makes of
trap available which are suitable for different soil
types. Read manufacturer's details to find out
which is most suitable for you. In areas where
stock or pets have access, it may be useful, and
once the traps are set, to cover them with a large
flower pot or buckets suitably weighted down to
prevent interference.
This has the added
advantage of ensuring the exclusion of light.
Alternatively, mole "smokes" are available for selftreatment in burrows. Mole traps and mole
"smokes" are available from some garden
centres; hardware shops; ironmongers and
agricultural suppliers.
SEDGEMOOR DISTRICT COUNCIL
PEST CONTROL SERVICE
Councils do not have a duty to provide a pest
control service. However, a pest service can be
obtained through the Councils preferred provider
SDK Environmental Ltd.
The service is for domestic premises and covers
rats, mice and other pests including wasps, fleas
and cockroaches, at competitive rates. To
arrange an appointment please call SDK
Environmental Ltd on the following number 08444
821342 or by clicking on the following link which
will take you to SDK Environmental Website:
http://www.dialapest.co.uk/council/council.php
The following free leaflets are available from
reception at Bridgwater House, King Square,
Bridgwater;
Rats
Mice
Wasps & Bees
Ants
Fleas
Cockroaches
Woodlice
Moles
Pigeons
Woodworm
House Dust Mites
Houseflies
Psocids (Booklice)
Squirrels
Badgers
Gulls
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
ADVICE ON PEST CONTROL
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information Sedgemoor District
Councils Pollution Control Team will attempt to
identify and provide advice on pests free of
charge, you can also provide us with a specimen.
Please contact us for more information at the
details below:
Environmental Health
Sedgemoor District Council
Bridgwater House
King Square
BRIDGWATER
Somerset
TA6 3AR
Tel: 0300 303 7806
Email: [email protected]
MOLES