Got a call today to do a mole job. It is cold, standing water is freezing. It warms up if the sun
shines. There is snow in some places. The chance of catching a mole has to be close to zero. This person said the mole have been mounding for the last couple of days. I will be up front with this guy!
What do you think?
Ev.

Hey Everett
I am not an expert at all but I have caught a few moles. Don't they still have to eat?

I trap until the ground freezes hard. I also get calls for a few weeks after a snow melt softens the soil, generally in January. We had a mild winter last year and I trapped consistantly as the mating season started early.

The best way to keep out o sites working all winter is the same way you keep coyote sets working all winter. Remove the wet dirt that will freeze around your trap and replace it with dried peat moss or buck wheat hulls...either one will keep you trapping moles when most guys have given up for the winter.

RIck
That answered my question... thanks.

Moles like to follow home foundations. Foundations are warm and the ground doesn't freeze there as quick

What about gophers and cold weather?

Will they keep making mounds?

And when I say cold, I mean low 50's for highs and just below freezing at night. I know, I know.....not very cold for a lot of you guys.

Man, I don't want all the fun to be over 'til spring!

with those temps, you should have all sorts of critters in traps....

I'm still catching moles and gophers right now. Just didnt know if it would stop.

It's slower, but definitely still active. I love Arkansas weather.

This is my first winter catching gophers, so didnt know what to expect with them. Glad to know the party will continue!

The tip from Travis is not only a cold weather tip, but all season moile trapping tip. For the past couple years I've used nothing but peat moss for covering mole sets. I carry 2 buckets, one with traps and flags, the other with peat moss. The peat bucket has a lid.

I have had great luck using the peat moss in rainy conditions, as it eliminates the "blob" of mud that forms if you use the dirt from the excavated hole. I used to cover the sets with heavy leaves if rain was predicted, but now use the peat all year. I can honestly say I feel the moles are actually attracted to the smell of the peat moss and it improves the catch rate. Think about it.... where are the moles when people have peat and mulch around their flower beds and foundations?

Here's a couple pics from today. Set up yesterday in 40 degree temps with a winter blast kicking in. Within 2 hours of setting, temps dropped into the 20's and rain, sleet, and snow covered everything. However, the traps worked perfectly and I caught both moles working the property, one on each side of the home. So weird, as I also caught muskrats from a pond on the same property and had to break them out of the thin ice. Moles and muskrats.... what a strange combo!

In our freezing weather,63 and sunny, they still are moving. Heck I caught a 4' rattler and a 6' gopher snake yesterday.