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-Short Attention Span Theater-

Man electrocuted by do-it-yourself mole-killer

2007-01-12

A German retiree who wired up a high-voltage cable to try to wipe out the moles digging up his garden killed himself instead, police said Thursday.

Uwe Werner, police spokesman in Stralsund north of Berlin, said the 63-year-old retired construction foreman was found dead in the garden of his weekend house in Zingst next to a 380-volt cable and metal spikes rammed into the ground.

"The moles survived," Werner said, noting the voltage was enough to run a cement mixer or heavy-duty power saw. "It was in any event an unorthodox method to try to get rid of moles."

Posted by:Fred

#10 Hand ? I thought it was a foot pedal.

Posted by: wxjames 2007-01-12 19:45

#9 Simplest most effective method I've found: Attach one of those flexible metal tubes to the exhaust of a lawnmower (looks like the spiral armor you would put on electrical wiring). You have to figure out a way to weld it to a pipe that will thread into the exhaust port. Park that baby near the fresh mole hill, insert tube into said mole hill, close dirt over tube, start the lawnmower, and let it run for an hour or so. The little buggers sometimes close down tunnels, but not always, so repeat as necessary.

Caution: That tube will burn the crap out of your hand if you don't use gloves. Don't burn your mouse hand, whatever you do! :-)

Posted by: gorb 2007-01-12 13:50

#8 RD, try not to win a Darwin for your efforts.

Posted by: wxjames 2007-01-12 13:17

#7 Moles

file, varmit control. a few years ago I hot rod'ed a 9000 volt neon generator that zaps the hell out of shit bird pigeons. and a couple of years before that, I slapped together a WMD gas pump that kills even the Greater Pacifica Bull Gophers in the back yard.

well check this out; Fire in the hole Who wants to try one of these? I can't wait to make one!

Posted by: RD 2007-01-12 09:26

#6 Germany.

380-volts is their '3-phase commercial' power component (similar to our 208-volts). They use 220-volts as "standard household" and up to 600-volts for "industrial". Less 'line-loss' as you raise the voltages and more efficiency. More dangerous too, but why tamper with 'efficiency'? After all, we're Germans.

Posted by: Mullah Richard 2007-01-12 08:58

#5 probably a Paleo residence nearby....not moles

Posted by: Frank G 2007-01-12 08:30

#4 How the hell do you get 380 volts? Does he mean 480 volts?

Posted by: bigjim-ky 2007-01-12 08:10

#3 ~~Man electrocuted by do-it-yourself mole-killer~~

note to self: don't ever fu&k with the mole people

Posted by: RD 2007-01-12 07:32

#2 A common mistake is not to use enough traps ~~or too much electricity~~. If you have three active tunnels in the yard, use three traps. Traps are usually cheaper in the long run than most ineffective mole chemicals, poisons or noisy contraptions. When you're dealing with moles keep the grass short and well manicured. This will make spotting new mole tunnels a lot easier. Putting sod or top soil over mole tunnels can be a big mistake. It will add another dimension to the tunnel system and make spotting tunnels impossible. A great way to spot new mole activity and tunnels is to walk the lawn with the sun in your face. Mole tunnels will usually cast a distinct shadow through the lawn. They will also show up better if you look the day after the grass has been mowed. You might even get lucky and catch a mole working or adding on to a new tunnel. (The new tunnel will stick up higher than the surrounding cut grass.) If you choose to dig the mole out, be careful! They have sharp teeth and can bite!

Posted by: Besoeker 2007-01-12 07:31

#1 Moles probably didn't even know anything happened. Hint: That's why they call it "GROUND".

Posted by: gorb 2007-01-12 02:14

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