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Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 05 9:15 pm Post subject: Moles

Yes, Moles have just reared their ugly head on my runner bean plot.

I was happily weeding the main veg patch when something caught my eye ove near the beans. Soil being pushed up by the dreaded mole. The neighbours (who only come out here about twice a year) have just been to cut the lawn and have obviousely put down a little poison to keep the moles off it. Last week we had no moles at all and the neighbours had hundreds. This week they have none and we have our first (of many - I hope not!).

Any advise on organic controll of the buggers would be most appreciated. Oh, and I ain't playing music to them, before anyone suggests it!

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 05 9:29 pm Post subject:
Lion poo is quite popular around these parts (Don't ask!!!!)

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 05 9:33 pm Post subject:
Thanks Nettie, But I'm all out of Lions at the mo'

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 05 9:38 pm Post subject:

nettie wrote:

Lion poo is quite popular around these parts (Don't ask!!!!)

I thought that was for scaring cats, or deer. How would a mole know what a lion is?
Sticking windmills into the hills is supposed to work, because they don't like the vibrations. Or burying bottles so that the wind blows across their necks.
Neither sounds completely convincing.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 05 9:41 pm Post subject:
Thanks Sean. I heard about the bottles idea but not convinced either. The winmills may be worth a try tho'. Do I use the "kiddies" play windmill type???

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 05 9:42 pm Post subject:
I think that's the idea. I've never done it but IIRC that was what was suggested.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 05 9:43 pm Post subject:
Oh, and how hard do you have to thrust the windmill stick in so as to skewer the ruddy mole???

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 05 9:59 pm Post subject:

The lion poo thing came from a previous thread, where a friend of mine had suggested dog, ferret or cat poo down the mole holes, the idea being that moles would be scared off by the scent of the predators.

Of course things got rather silly (what, here??) with people suggesting mouse poo to scare off the elephants who would scare off the lions who would scare off the wolves that would scare off the dogs etc (you get the picture)

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 05 10:22 pm Post subject:
Simon, have you tried the smoking things?....I'm not suggesting killing them by creating a nicotine addiction, but you used to be able to buy cartridge type thingies that you lit and placed in the mole's tunnel. High pitched sound is also meant to be a deterrent.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 05 6:29 am Post subject:
I've seen the smoking things in the DIY centre. Have you tried them. They are increadibly expensive so I wouldn't want to get 'em unless they really work. Not as expensive as losing all my veg I suppose. Cigars for moles heh? Now who thought that one up?

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 05 8:38 am Post subject:

My OH uses the "wait until you see the soil move and then whack it as hard as you can with a spade" method. As far as we know, this has never worked yet, but it makes him feel better and I find it very entertaining!

Or you can just wait it out - the worst of the mole courting season is over. The activity will lessen as the year goes on.

Or buy a mole trap. If you fit them properly, they are very effective.

Jb

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 7761
Location: 91� N

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 05 8:58 am Post subject:

Judith wrote:

I've seen this work with a lawnmower (albeit I think it was luck rather than the guy was actually hunting the things). Petrol driven lawnmower over a mole hill at just the right (or wrong depending on your point of view) time producing a brief spurt of red from the lawnmower and a neat cross section of molehill and half a mole.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 05 9:01 am Post subject:

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18415

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 05 12:43 pm Post subject: moles and legumes

interesting - (moles in Simon's runner bean plot). yesterday I noticed new molehills in my legume plot - well, round the edges, particularly near the french beans.

do moles have a predilection for all, or only some legumes ? could they account for the non-appearance of my first sowing of peas this year ?

I find my cat kills moles by sitting waiting for them to exit from their hills - they must die of fright, as they seem uninjured. Keeps the cat happy though - she's very proud of her little dead black gentlemen.

cheers
g

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 05 12:54 pm Post subject:
Perhaps you should hire out your cat. Does she travel well?

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