Title: Moles Management Guidelines--UC IPM
Headings: 
How to Manage Pests
Pests in Gardens and Landscapes
Moles
IDENTIFICATION AND BIOLOGY
LEGAL STATUS
MANAGEMENT
REFERENCES
PUBLICATION INFORMATION

Content: In California, two major types of mole traps are most commonly used. These are the harpoon type and the scissor-jaw type. Moles have sometimes been caught with certain pincer-type gopher traps set in mole runways, but these are rarely as effective as the harpoon or scissor-jaw mole traps. Trap manufacturers often provide detailed instructions, which should be followed carefully. Set the scissor-jaw trap in the mole's main underground tunnel, which is usually 8 to 12 inches below the surface. Using a garden trowel or small shovel, remove a section of soil slightly larger than the trap width, about 6 inches. Build a plug of soil in the center of the opened runway for the trigger pan to rest on. Moist soil from the opened tunnel or from a nearby fresh mound can be squeezed together to build the plug. With the safety catch in place, set the trap and wedge it firmly into the opened burrow with the trigger placed snugly against the top of the soil plug. Next, scatter loose soil onto the set trap to about the level of the top of the tunnel.