FAST FACTS – MOLES
The latin name is Talpa europaea and they are mammals. The male mole is referred to as a “boar”, the female is a “sow” and a group is called a “labour”. Moles are capable of digging through up to 15 metres of soil an hour! Most of a moles’ life is spent underground. The first signs of mole activity or mole digging are molehills, which is the excavated soil from their tunnels. The mole has poor eyesight and no ears, relying on extreme senses of smell and touch. Moles are carnivores. The saliva of a mole can paralyze worms! Continuous tunnelling by moles can undermine plant roots causing...
Read MoreMidsummer Madness!
We are now over half way through the summer and with record breaking temperatures and even flooding, the environment is certainly changing. Already this year we have seen vast numbers of flying ants on several occasions, with numbers so large that great swarms even appeared on weather radars giving the false impressions of rain clouds! Birds were in the news when licences for culling were suspended (and indeed are still in doubt) giving the chance for some species numbers to swell rapidly, which could have a dramatic effect in the future. Nesting birds can also cause problems, not only with...
Read MoreMOLES – Talpa Europaea
If someone asks you if you have ever seen a mole, the answer would most likely be no! If asked the same question about molehills, then the answer would probably be a resounding yes! Many gardeners fear finding these tell-tale signs of mole activity as it can only mean that damage and distress will follow. Molehills are caused by a mole, or moles, digging feeding tunnels to catch food. The digging of these tunnels can affect many areas including gardens, lawns, flower beds, vegetable plots and surrounding areas damaging roots and plants in the process. The mole activity can last all year...
Read MoreNEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS AND PEST CONTROL
We all know about and some people try and make New Year resolutions, but do we actually carry them out? If just a few of the following are carried out it could save money and distress in the future year ahead! 1. Avoid excess – We are all guilty of building up general stuff and storing unnecessary items, both indoors and outdoors. Take a moment and have a general check to see if anything can be got rid of. It might be harbouring pests. 2. Organise cupboards so they are easily cleaned, especially where foodstuffs are involved. Get rid of any out of date products, they could be a home for...
Read MoreWelcome to Autumn!
The trees are changing in colour and the temperatures are starting to fall, autumn is here! As the leaves fall and the outside environment changes, many animals will be changing their respective routines to prepare for the on-coming colder period. Birds that have not migrated will be looking to establish safe and warm roosting areas and if any properties have the necessary defects, they will quickly become home. Rodents are already taking advantage of properties in many areas, with mice and rats having moved in and set up ever growing colonies. Squirrels are masters of invasion, managing to...
Read MoreMOLES AND THAT HOT SUMMER
What a summer! The weather has been very hot to say the least and many people have enjoyed the sun and reaped its benefits. Nature has had to adapt to the very dry conditions to preserve valuable moisture, none more so than the mole. A very hard-working animal that few have ever seen, but its results are everywhere – MOLEHILLS! As the ground dried out, these industrious creatures were forced to new areas to feed on their primary source of food, worms. Molehills started to appear everywhere very soon in the season as the heatwave took hold and the ground became parched. It is generally...
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