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moles
Oct 7, 2015 7:45:20 GMT
Post by alf1951 on Oct 7, 2015 7:45:20 GMT
We lived mole free in our current home for almost 20 years then a couple of years ago evidence of mole activity appeared in the garden (and what a mess they make!) - a surprise as there was no similar evidence in neighbouring fields or gardens. After a particularly wet winter with both our garden and adjacent field waterlogged for weeks, there were no further signs and I assumed they (or it) had drowned. Then recently our neighbour, with similar signs of activity, called in a mole catcher - problem solved we thought. Until at first light this morning...
Possibly the work of one of a neighbours' cat but could have been dropped by an owl during the night. It had a single, nasty wound on its back but no other evidence that it had been chewed or pecked at. I've always wanted to see a mole - preferably alive and not in my garden! Talpa europaea, the European mole, this one was approx. 13cm long - a very solid and surprisingly heavy little animal.
Alf
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moles
Oct 7, 2015 11:08:27 GMT
Post by ayjay on Oct 7, 2015 11:08:27 GMT
After a particularly wet winter with both our garden and adjacent field waterlogged for weeks, there were no further signs and I assumed they (or it) had drowned.
It's unlikely that they drowned, to the best of my knowledge they are competent swimmers - I used to visit what is in effect a large island in the middle of the R.Avon, (Hampshire) the main river flows one way and a sidestream branches off towards Sopley, (grid ref SZ152967 puts you at the centre of the island). There were always plentiful molehills on the island, during wet winters the island floods completely, in really wet winters the river is about a half mile wide from Ringwood down to Christchurch. The molehills are always back again when the floods have gone, they must go somewhere but unless they are particularly prescient they must have to swim to escape initially.
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moles
Oct 7, 2015 16:52:32 GMT
Post by faith on Oct 7, 2015 16:52:32 GMT
Inexperienced cats do kill moles – and then discover how horrible they taste! But aren't moles beautiful with that velvety fur, tiny excuses for eyes and feet that you can just imagine tunnelling through almost any kind of ground! Having owned a number of inexperienced cats I have seen dead moles quite often, but the only time I have seen live ones has been in an exceptionally long spell of hot dry weather when, as far as I could judge, they were unable to dig and had to get about mainly on the surface.
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moles
Oct 8, 2015 8:16:43 GMT
Post by alf1951 on Oct 8, 2015 8:16:43 GMT
Having had a bit more time to examine the mole and check the garden for evidence of mole activity, I'm pretty sure it wasn't a cat that got this one. There's a stone wall between us and the field where there is evidence of moles. The wound didn't look like a cat bite but we do have tawny owls active at night and I suspect this wee fella has been picked up by one and dropped from a height onto our patio.
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moles
Oct 12, 2015 6:39:50 GMT
via mobile
Post by dogghound on Oct 12, 2015 6:39:50 GMT
After a particularly wet winter with both our garden and adjacent field waterlogged for weeks, there were no further signs and I assumed they (or it) had drowned.
It's unlikely that they drowned, to the best of my knowledge they are competent swimmers - I used to visit what is in effect a large island in the middle of the R.Avon, (Hampshire) the main river flows one way and a sidestream branches off towards Sopley, (grid ref SZ152967 puts you at the centre of the island). There were always plentiful molehills on the island, during wet winters the island floods completely, in really wet winters the river is about a half mile wide from Ringwood down to Christchurch. The molehills are always back again when the floods have gone, they must go somewhere but unless they are particularly prescient they must have to swim to escape initially. Interesting observations. Wet weather and water logging is actually a high cause (probably the key cause) of mortality in moles. Despite their ability to swim they can drown or become chilled when subterranean, plus they suffer food displacement/mortality too. In wet winters you tend to see a high rate of mole deaths, including very localised extinctions or changes in habitat use. As for which predator did it, it's very difficult to say (as is often the case :-)).
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moles
Feb 12, 2016 10:51:26 GMT
Post by alf1951 on Feb 12, 2016 10:51:26 GMT
Has anyone noticed an increase in mole activity lately? The number of molehills appearing in the adjacent field increase daily but what surprised me was a drive along the A69 yesterday. For several mile East of Carlisle the mole activity on either side of the road is phenominal and much more than I have seen in 25 years or so living in NE cumbria.
Alf
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