Garden Pest

We have them too .

 

I had them this winter too when they seem to be most active. They usually disappear during spring and through summer.

 

Yes we find that too @Sheal , so we just let them be.

 

I think I only have one at the moment as a couple of mounds appear just on my side of the boundary fence with my neighbour. A thought I had last year was that the vibration from the lawnmower might drive them away. There doesn't seem to be any activity from about the time I start mowing the lawns.

 

Do moles feed above ground, I thought of a trap with food in to catch them rather than kill them but they would have to be encouraged to surface.

 

No they don't feed above ground theyeat worms etc that fall into the tunnels. They have poor eysight and a good sense of smell and whiskers so are more adapted to life in a tunnel than the fresh air.
You could try a humane mole trap like https://www.primrose.co.uk › humane-mole-trap
Although you then have to rehome the mole this is mentioned here Moles

 

When we moved in 2000 we landscaped the garden, the part in question was covered over and stone chippings were laid to a large area at the bottom of the steps, it was to represent a beach with a boat on the shore line, I have been here by myself since 2007 during which time the whole place including the garden has suffered from lack of maintenance, after I had cut down all the overgrown brambles, two years ago, I found all the stone chippings had sunk into the ground or got covered up, that is why there are so many stones just below or on the surface of the ground.

 

It seems that I have to kill them or rehome them.