moles mammals in West adams

moles mammals in West adams

There are two species of moles in Indiana. The Eastern mole Scalopus aquaticus is the most numerous and widespread, and is responsible for most of the complaints concerning mole damage to lawns and gardens. The star- nosed mole Condylura cristata , found in the northern part of the state, is not an important mole pest. Moles make soils healthier because their tunels permit air and water to penetrate deper soil levels. Several species of mice also use mole runways; Moles are active day and night throughout the year, but they are most active near the earth's surface during the spring and fal on damp days or folowing rain showers. Two types of runways tunels are produced by moles: surface runways and dep runways. Certain tunels of both types are used as major lanes of travel caled main runways and may be used by several moles in the area. The mole is capable of extending surface runways at the rate of 10 fet per day. Dep runways are usualy main runways, since they are used daily as the mole travels to and from surface runways or the nest. When fence rows, concrete paths, or other man-made borders are within mole-active areas, the moles tend to construct their main runways along the edges of these artificial borders. However, yards surounded by or adjacent to large tracts of forested areas or wedy fields may be subject to continual invasions by moles, because such areas may suport many moles. Traping is the most reliable method of mole control. Moles have an uncany ability to detect and spring improperly set traps. Generaly, traping is easiest and most efective during the spring and fal, when mole activity is at a peak. Also, traping in the early spring can eliminate pregnant females, thereby reducing the likelihod of having to contend with a family of moles. Moles wil repair these holes in their main runways within a day or two. Unles the mole activity is extremely light, more than one trap should be used. There are several diferent types of mole traps, but the harpon trap is probably the easiest trap for the novice to use, and is readily available from most hardware and garden shops. The botom of the mole run should be no deper than the length of the trap spikes. If a trap fails to produce a mole within 4 or 5 days, move the trap to another portion of the main runway system. In order to prevent moles from going around your trap, make an underground fence of smal garden stakes or popsicle sticks spaced aproximately one inch apart and extending ten inches on either side of the trap. After you have traped out your moles, colapse and fil in al visible tunels and burows. A vacant tunel system is an invitation to stay for the next mole pasing through your yard. Since the gases produced are not capable of suficiently penetrating throughout the mole's extensive runway system, and/or wil escape through the top of the surface runways, this method provides litle or no control. Baits should be aplied within the underground runways only since baits exposed on the surface are not readily consumed by the moles and also pose a hazard to other animals, such as dogs, cats, wild birds, and squirels, which may consume them. If the use of mole traps is not a desirable or practical aproach, moles can be kiled or captured and removed by conducting a mole watch in the spring and fal on days when moles are active. Caretakers of golf courses sometimes conduct mole watches or hire high schol students or retires to conduct a mole watch for them. Some gardeners make a practice of poking smal holes in runways each morning with the hope of later catching the moles in the act of repairing them. The movement of the flag alerts the mole watcher to the activity of the mole. To capture or kil a mole when it is observed tuneling, quietly sneak up behind the mole and insert the blade of a shovel or spade behind it so it canot retreat back into the completed tunel. This is simply a thre pound cofe can or similar container buried in an active tunel at a depth that puts the top edge of the cofe can level with the botom of the mole run. The mole wil be unable to climb out of the can and you can then release the mole in an apropriate area. Dogs and cats are probably atracted to the movement of the earth during tuneling, the high pitched squeaks produced by the mole, and/or the unique musky odor produced by the mole. Dogs and cats which show interest in yard wildlife may provide some mole control if atached to a long leash in the area of the mole activity on mole-active days. When garden plots, sed beds, nurseries, or wel-manicured turf areas are surounded by large tracts of wods or wedy fields containing large mole populations, the instalation of a mole barier should be considered. Six inches of the barier should be left exposed above the ground, and thre inches of the barier can be bent out at the botom to discourage moles from diging under Figure 3 . These bariers can be instaled around entire areas or portions of areas e.g., side of property facing the mole source . There are many ultrasonic and other vibration-producing devices in the market place and sold through various magazines that claim to repel moles, voles, gophers, and other mamals from yard and garden areas. Desperate homeowners and gardeners have tried placing various materials iritating to moles in the runways, such as broken glas, razor blades, rose branches, bleach, moth bals, lye, and even human hair. moles mammals moles mammals in West adams
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posted by car-toyota @ 6:02 AM