Recommendations
- One to two traps per burrow are sufficient. Check traps frequently, to see if the mechanism has been set off.
- For voles and moles no bait is needed, while field voles are caught more quickly in baited traps: attach a piece of carrot or apple to the upper trigger.
- If a trap is often filled with earth, it might be worth cleaning it and replacing it in the same spot. Clean
the tunnel beforehand and make sure that neither light nor air penetrates into the tunnel.
Check the postion of the triggers once the trap is activated: they should be in line with the
rocker. Reposition the triggers if necessary.
- If permitted by law, the trap can also be used to catch moles. Check beforehand with the
local authorities! Moles are difficult to catch, because they live individually and their
tunnels are more extensive (100 – 250 m) than those of voles. Thus the mole passes through
the same spot in the tunnel more seldom. In the feeding areas, the mole continuously digs for food.
Traps positioned here are often filled with earth. Main runways, on the other hand, are visited more often,
the mole moves faster in these tunnels and can be caught more easily. Patience is needed.
- Voles and moles are sensitive to odours. While the smell of humans does not repel them,
the strong odour of dissolvents, dung or perfume does. Traps with such odours are often filled with earth
and need to be washed thoroughly with warm water. Store traps in an open container in an odour neutral area.
- Trapping can be optimised if catches are protocolled and the following is observed:
- Voles live in family groups: a male, a female (possibly a second female) and in summer 4 to 5 offspring.
- Field mice live in larger groups. Catching more than 10 mice in the same spot is not unusual.
- Moles are solitary except during the mating season.