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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