are moles a pest?

[littlebabybird]

i have moles, the kids thought it was great watching the soil move today but....

are they damaging anythig?

why have i got them when there are none on the plot both sides of me?
lbb

[littlebabybird]

[Columbus]

Hi little babybird,  :)

Some people on my site catch them in traps, because the mole hills come up in their seed beds. I wouldn`t have a trap on one of my plots, I`d rather take the damage, things get pushed up but they still grow, more or less. I think they probably do a good job aereating the soil.

I think that they are very territorial and have huge ranges so a single mole may be all over our site but when they kill it another one will move in.

so, No, I don`t think they are a pest but some people do.

Col

[tonybloke]

in the air, a hawk is the top predator, is this a pest?
in the soil, a mole is the top predator,..................
the reason they are on your plot is 'cos you must have more worms than your neighbours!

;)

[Digeroo]

My next door neighbour used to have a cat with a mole fixation.  We were always having the little beasts.  It would catch them and then while it climbed the fence drop them.

They can cause enormous damage in a remarkably short time.  I am very tolerant of wild life but not at all keen on moles.  When whole rows of carefully nurtured seedling simply disappear down holes it is very upsetting.  Though they seemed to do a good job with the carrots and carefully dug down the rows between the carrots, and the weeds were the ones which dropped down the holes.  Meanwhile other plants suddenly die and when you investigate there is a huge hole underneath and the poor plant died from lack of water.

You can get vibrating devises which are supposed to deter them. 

Also worms do a good job in the soil and the mole will systematically eat them all.

Luckily new cat much too fat and lazy to catch a mole.

[OllieC]

We have one on our plot. He's called Eric, he was there before me, he does very little damage and I wouldn't want him to move on. Rats, mice, squirrels, they are on my death list... but not Eric!

[Unwashed]

They're very active on my plot but they don't do much damage.  I love them.  Live and let live.

[littlebabybird]

brilliant every one,
thankyou  so much,
lbb

[asbean]

They push up all over the place, especially in my new asparagus bed  ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)

[staris]

i've got one, the only damage it has done was to push up my seed potato's , i suppose damage is the wrong word as it did'nt harm them i just had to push them down again, ive been offered a trap but i don't see the need i will just leave him alone  ;D

[OllieC]

They push up all over the place, especially in my new asparagus bed  ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)

I think my soft, cuddly approach would change pretty rapidly if this happened!