Here are some of the questions I'm most often asked.  If there's something else you'd specifically like to know, please use my contact form.

I'm infested! How many moles have I got?

Every case is different, but in an average garden, the answer is usually (but not always), one.  Although they can share main runs, moles are solitary animals, living in their own territory, and if two moles meet they will fight to the death. If you have a larger area then there could well be more than one mole. But just one mole can cause an awful lot of damage!

Can I get rid of the mole myself? Are there any effective deterrents?

Of course I'm going to say no, but consider the options. You can stick a hose down and fill the tunnels with water; there are sonic or vibrating repellents which you push into molehills; some people use toy windmills because the noise and vibration "will scare the mole". I've seen many other attempts ranging from the bizarre, through dangerous, to downright illegal!

The problem is quite simply that the mole will go where the food is, and they mostly eat worms and underground grubs. Any angler knows that soaking the ground brings the worms up, so when the water from your hose runs out of the tunnels, the mole will be back thinking it's Christmas! Food galore! As for vibration, many birds stamp on the ground to bring worms up.... guess what happens next! And noise doesn't work either; have you ever seen molehills along the side of a road? Imagine the noise and vibration there; the moles don't care!

You've been coming here every day for a week - how much is this going to cost?

I have simple, fixed, charges, which I will explain before I start.  It doesn't matter how long it takes to catch the mole, I only invoice you when I catch it, and I only charge for the moles I catch; not how long it takes. Sometimes I'll catch the mole overnight, others may take a lot longer. In every case, no mole = no charge.

You caught my mole - and now it's come back!

No it hasn't, because I caught it! Other moles in the area will quickly become aware that a tunnel network is now vacant. A mole will often come in and “explore” the vacated tunnels, possibly creating more molehills in the process. This second mole can be more difficult to catch, because it's not living in the vacated tunnels, but just visiting occasionally. In these cases, perseverance usually pays off.

I wasn't there, so how do I know you've caught my mole?

I always photograph every capture against a background which you will recognise.  Now, I could carry a few dead moles around with me, but what would be the point? Quite apart from the stench, if I claimed to have caught your mole, but clearly didn't, then you're not going to use me again, and you will quite rightly tell everyone about it. On my part, this would be very short-sighted, completely dishonest, and totally counter productive.

My business is based on honesty and integrity.  I believe that good feedback and word-of-mouth recommendation is the best advertising anyone can get, and I will do nothing to risk my reputation. I am also registered with, and follow the Code Of Practice of, The Guild Of British Molecatchers.

Do you have to kill the mole? Can't you catch it alive and release it somewhere else?

No, because releasing a wild animal onto other land is illegal. Moles are very highly-strung, extremely nervous animals. Catching one alive is extremely cruel as the animal will be terrified, hungry, thirsty, and very tired. Releasing a mole in this condition is cruelty of the highest order, as it won't stand a chance against predators, and if it does meet another mole it will be torn apart. “Instant kill” traps are the only humane way.