The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-12-01
prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agrfculture-)

ment OF AgrfcuIture-)
The trapping of moles for their pelts
should be found profitable in the Unit.
ed States as it has been in Europe
especially since some species OF Amer
lean mOles are larger and have finer
peIts than the European animals
which furnish the bulk OF the worlds
supply of moleskins. Moles are al
ready trapped in many places in the
United States for the purpose of rid
ding the community OF their destruc-
tive practices; and since the skins
are of considerable value, they may
well be saved and marketed or used.
In this way an industry may be devel-
oped which will result in the produc-
ton of beautiful and valuable gar
ments or articles of adOrnment.
To catch the mole requires the use
of specially designed traps, and TO
capture it for its fur requires the use
of a trap that will not injure the pelt.
It may be taken as easily as any other
small mammal and the pelt secured
may be made to more than repay the
trouble and time expended in Kidding
a lawn, garden or field of nuisance.
moIeskins in the Trade.
Moleskfn garments have been fash
fonable in this country, particularly
in the larger eastern cities, for several
years, and fur dealers consider 1t
probable that undressed mole pelts
will continue indefinitely to have q
market value, the value fiuctuating,
Of course, with the demands of fash
ion. In England, Scotland, and some
of the continental coast countries
moles are trapped extensively both
for their peIts and for the private
bounties paid for their determination
on certain estates. The sole source of
supply of moIeskins for use by manu-
featuring furriers of this country
hitherto has been the pelts of the Eu-
ropean mole, obtained through impor-
tations from London. In a period
when mOIeskin garments are in fashion
the volume of business in furs of this
class will reach two or three million
dollars annually.
American MoIes.
The biological survey has found that
the skins of certain American moles
are of much greater value for the fur
rier's purposes than those of the Eu-
ropean species. They should there
fore be classed by themselves. This
applies particularly to the skins of
the common large mole of western
Washington and Oregon, which are
larger and have better texture and fur
than those of Europe.
Where to Trap.
The mole is not an adept at conceal
ing evidences of its presence in lawns,
gardens or fields. TelItaIe ridges or
conspicuous mounds of earth plainly
indicate the runways. The ridges
show the direction and course of the
animals hunting paths. which are so
close to the surface that the sod or
the soil crust is appraised. The mounds
indicate deeper tunneling; for they
are formed by earth pushed up from
lower workings, where the soil is too
compact to be simply crowded aside.
Such mounds thickly dot the mole-in-
tested areas of the Pacific coast coun-
try, but are Of much rarer occurrence
in the habitat Of the eastern mole
Many of the deeper runs of the mole
are highways of common traffic, used
often by a number of individuals and
frequented also by shrews and certain
species of field mice. Good catches
usually may be expected from contin-
ued use of the trap in these highways,
which commonly follow fences, hedges,
walks, plant rows and the ridges Of
open fields. Such situations are the
more freQuented by the mole because
they offer some eonceaIment or shelter
and are less often disturbed by the
activities of man. 1t is especially de-
sirable to trap in such places when
one wishes to avoid, in the operation,
the Disagreement of lawns and gar
den beds infested by moles that have
come in from the main runways.
1t will pay to set traps on ridges
over temporary hunting paths only
when these have been constructed re-
Gently in damp soil, or, at least, have
not become so dry that the mole no
longer finds profit in following them
in search Of food. Since the ridges
usually have many turns and windings,
1t is well to set the traps on a part of
the path that takes a straight course.
It is seldom worth while TO set mole
traps in a dry place. The animal de-
lights to work in a moist, rich soil,
for there the digging is easy and there
its food abounds. Then, too, a salts
factory adjustment of the working
parts of trap cannot be made in dry
dirt. The more recent the signs of
mole activity at any particular spot
the better the chances for successful
1t VIII pay to run the traps
twice a day. morning and evening.
when to Trap.
Trapping mvIes in the Pacific coast
country may be followed successfully
at any season OF the year and at any
time when weather conditions will per
nit In the eastern states the work