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: Set traps at least 18 inches from a mound and only in those runways moles use frequently. You can locate deeper tunnels by probing between or next to a fresh mound with a pointed stick, slender metal rod, or gopher probe. When the earth suddenly gives way, the probe has probably broken through the burrow. Mole traps are fairly expensive, so most people tend to buy only one. Although one trap may solve the problem, increasing the number of traps will increase the speed and overall success of the trapping program. 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.