Mole Catcher, a Renaissance
It may come as a surprise to learn that many folks make their living catching moles, but rest assured we are for real. Many years ago the mole trapper was just part of the local community; most villages had one. But as with all things, times change, and the younger generation seek exciting high paying jobs in busy cities. Therefore the traditional mole catching role started to die out. But over recent years (especially since the withdrawal of strychnine) the mole trapper profession has gone through a transformation as some people realise that working in busy cities can be stressful and there is a slower, more relaxed way to make a living. Having said this mole catching is hard work, often in terrible weather conditions and the monetary rewards are low.
There are two main methods which the professional mole catcher uses to catch or get rid of moles this includes the use of traps which is the first and preferred method.
Where traps cannot be used, for example on public land, play parks etc, a second method is employed which involves the use of toxic gas pellets which are inserted directly into the mole runs. Upon contact with the damp soil, these toxic pellets gradually emit gas into the run and when the mole breaths this gas he will succumb. The disadvantage of this method is: neither the mole catcher nor the customer can be 100% sure that the mole has been done away with. With trapping the mole is dead and removed from the premises in a timely fashion.
What is the best mole trap?
The answer to this question is simple; the best mole trap is the one that catches and kills the mole humanely.
When trapping any creature with a spring trap, we have a responsibility to make sure that every trap we use is capable of killing the target animal humanely.
Cheap imported traps are typically made from inferior materials and have poor quality springs (hence the price) which are not powerful enough for the job intended.
The most widely available mole trap is without a doubt the scissor type trap which you can find in most garden centres and agriculture suppliers, eBay and other mass outlets, these traps are sold to the general public who are uneducated about mole traps.
The companies that sell such traps will not tell you that this type of trap is probably the most unreliable. They are often zinc plated and seize up if not used regularly. Professional mole catchers do not use this type of trap.
There are many mole traps available on the market; some are very well made and will last a long time catching many moles throughout the life of the trap.
There are some mole traps, mostly made in the Far East which are poor quality copies, made from an inferior metal and have weak springs. We advise anyone buying mole traps to avoid these cheaper copies. They are not humane and will not last. The most popular mole trap used by professional mole catchers is the half barrel "Duffus" type trap... In our opinion, the two best half barrel type traps currently available are Bethel Rhodes and Flat Pack. The one to watch out for is "The Big Cheese" mole trap, DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY.
A good half barrel trap will cost between £4.00 - £5.00
The second type of mole trap used by professional mole catchers is the Talpex type trap. These are great traps and operate differently from the half barrel trap. The two best Talpex type traps currently available are the original Talpex and the Talpa.
An original Talpex trap mole trap will cost around £7.00 and a Talpa between £5.00 - £6.00. Beware cheaper imports; they are made from inferior metal with weak springs.
The third type of trap used by professional mole catchers is the Fenn mole trap. These traps are only made by Fenn and we have not seen any cheap copies of this type of trap yet.
A Fenn mole trap will cost around £5.00 - £6.00
There are various other types of mole trap available, but we only use the types listed above.