I am diggin' these things. Got number four tonight. 2 from my lawn, one for my next door neighbor(5 feet from the property line), and the one tonight for a friend up the road.

These are modified with a piece of wood that further restricts the tunnel and puts the trigger more in the way of the mole. They are less likely to go around.

All kills have occured within 6 hours of setting the traps. Fresh, straight runs are critical to success.

1/2 the battle is learning where to set them. The other 1/2 is the right trap, and these definitely fit the bill.

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Oh, and I have to give credit to my jack russell, Turbo, for a kill(bringing us to 5 total for those keeping score at home). He also likes to shake the dead, trapped ones for good measure. Just to be sure. Can't be too careful with evil moles. They'll come back like the bad guys in movies, so thinketh the terrier.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Those traps are pretty much the gold standard of mole traps--especially with the wood block modification. However, I have had much greater success with Trapline mole traps, which are nice also because you can't see them. My moles are lazy and tend to use well established runs. I have two going to each neighbors yard and then one going from front bed to front bed. These trapline traps are nice and distinguish themselves because the trigger takes very little effort on the moles part. Sometimes when the soil is moist, the Out-o-sight trap will allow the mole to push the trap up and not set.

Anyways, this year I have had unbelievable success. I have no mole infestation in my front yard at all and the back, I just keep trapping more and more. I just need to keep it up until the ground turns hard.

I did try a Jerry Baker caster oil recipe in the spring that Ohio2112 was kind enough to send me. Not sure if that has kept the moles from my front yard. I looked at the old MSU study on it and it seemed very equivocal (not enough test sites, proximity to cold season). I could not find any other study that replicated the results and it seems like an entire industry of castor oil-based repellents are being offered simply based on that one study!

Would these work on voles too? I'm assuming I have voles and not moles...the tunnels look a little too small for moles. Thanks.

Although I have caught one vole that must have been running in a mole tunnel, neither trap will do the job. Once it starts to get a little colder, but before it snows, I usually put out a few mouse traps baited with peanut butter. That really minimizes the vole damage over the winter. I have no idea whether or not the poison pellets or blocks work, but I've tried those in the past.

I've got some of the trapline sets, too. Haven't tried them out on a good, fresh tunnel yet. Finally figured out where to set these things, and now I'm kinda superstitious towards these victors.