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Way To "Blast" Underground Rodents
The MOLECAT« is the result of Vernon Reitenbaugh's personal war on the moles wreaking havoc in his wife's rose garden. Standard traps weren't working so he experimented with a different approach using blank cartridges filled with flash powder. What he ended up with is a trap that releases a controlled blast of hot gas and sends a shockwave directly into pests such as moles, gophers, voles, rats and snakes.
  "It's an all-mechanical, spring-loaded system," Reitenbaugh says. "It takes 2 oz. of trigger pressure to set it off, and it sounds like an M-100 firecracker when fired above ground, but is muffled when fired in a tunnel."
  The percussion blast can cause burns, Reitenbaugh says, so he included two safeties in the design to protect the user.
  To prepare for the MOLECAT, locate an exit hole and clear the opening to allow air space around the device. Follow the directions about twisting the knob, setting the safeties and loading the extermination cartridge (see video on website). Then you place the MOLECAT into a clear plastic scent-free bag, and then secure it halfway into the exit hole with the supplied anchor. Then remove both safeties as instructed, and cover it with a bucket or something similar, so pets won't disturb it.
  Reitenbaugh notes that there are two main things to remember. There must be airflow from a gap under the bucket. When the moles feel air coming into their tunnel they instinctively come to plug the hole and activate the MOLECAT. Secondly, and very importantly, avoid leaving human scent. He recommends turning the scent-free bag provided inside out and rubbing the trigger end into the soil. Or the bag can be baited for moles with worm scent or by adding peanut butter for rats, gophers and squirrels.
  MOLECAT (with 20 bags, 20 cartridges and anchor) sells for $99.95 and is patent-pending. It's made in the U.S. and has a 1-year warranty. MOLECAT is available through the website and at some farm and hardware stores. Dealer inquiries are welcome.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, MOLECAT, 11243 S. Beutel Rd., Oregon City, Ore. 97045 (ph 877 665-3228; www.molecat.com).
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2011 - Volume #35, Issue #1