Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-04-15
CLASS STARTED IN
TRAPPING OF MOLES

To successfully trap moles the first
requisite is a knowledge of the life
habits of the rodent, according to
Prof. Thomas H. Scheffer, of the De-
partment of Agriculture, who is
spending the present week in Douglas
county, visiting the schools and in
structing the boys and girls in the
art of trapping, skinning and prepar-
ing for market the skins of these
more or less destructive pests, says
the Roseburg Review. Mole fur has
come to have an acknowledged value
in the fur trade and at present first
grade pelts are quoted at from 40 to
60 cents each by several of the lead
ing fur dealers of the country.
Getting the moles is an industry
that serves two-fold purpose. The
gardens and fields are relieved of his
destructive burrowing, and his hide
can be sold and converted into war
savings stamps by the boys and girls,
which will mean resources laid up
for a rainy day. To quote Professor
Scheffer: "Ycu can paste the mole
skin in your stamp book, and at the
same time help win the war and con-
serve the food resources. The fur
is used largely in trimming the col
lars, cuffs and pockets of spring
wraps, the fur being much priced on
account of its fineness and short
ness, and the tough quality of the
skin is also a factor which makes 1t
desirable as a material for decora-
tive tailoring.
rrof. Scheffer has studied the mole
for a long period of years. His
habits are we'll established and it is
due to this fact that trapping him Is
fairly simpel proposition after an
understanding of his daily life is
gained. A mole established his feed
ing grounds by making permanent
dunway at a depth of several inches
below the surface. This he keeps
open at all times and traverses back
and forth through 1t, where most of
his food is gathered Ninety-five per
cent of the food Of the mole is COM
posed of worms, grubs and insects
which he catches alive, according to
the scientists. The one great staple
of his menu is angleworms. Now an
gle worms are looked upon by those
who study soil conditions as distinct
benefit, in that they perforate the
ground. allowing air and water to cir
culate more freely. On the other
hand the moles capture and destroy
hordes of insects and bugs which are
detriment to the grower.
The destructiyeness of the mole in
what he eats Is about an even break
for good or bad, according to Profess
sor Scheffer. The worst thing he
does is to construct the tunnels in the
ground, which are invariably popu-
lated by numerous meadow mice and
gophers, which do the greater part
of the damage usually attributed to
the mole himself. However, there
are few who do not recall the damage
that some mole has done in his gar
den by his burrowing.
The successful mole traps are built
in two styles. One has jaws, which
grab the mole and hold him when the
twigger is sprung. The other has
loop which is about his body when
the thing goes off, and clamps him
firmly against the frame. In each
case the trigger is located between
the jaws or the loops, so that it mat
ters not whether he is coming or go
ing, 1t gets him. The traps of har-
poon style which have been used some
for moles have lost their virtue since
the marketing of the skins has been
brought into commercial Importance,
as puncturing the hide ruins 1t for
sale
The proper way to trap mole is
to dig down from one of his volcanic
like mounds, follow the hole he has
used to throw out the surplus dirt
from his permanent tunnel, and place
your trap in this main passageway.
The dirt is then packed about the
trap Mr.. Mole is quite familiar with
having earth packed into his runway,
and to free the passage from a little
new dirt is part of his daily exer-