Method and device for halting more teaching activity

Abstract

This invention is directed to a device that blocks a mole tunnel and to a method of halting mole tunneling activity and preventing or interfering with further such activity by blocking the tunnel at point(s) along the tunnel.

1 . A device comprising a body and a penetrating end;
 wherein the body has a first facing surface and a second facing surface, each surface facing away from the other and having a width of about 1.75 inches to about 5 inches and a height of about 1.75 inches to about 5 inches; and   wherein the penetrating end is attached to the body; and   wherein the first facing surface comprises at least 1 spiked projection that projects away from the first facing surface.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first facing surface comprises from 4 to 200 spiked projections. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the second facing surface comprises from 4 to 200 spiked projections. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the first facing surface, the second facing surface, or both facing surfaces, comprise from 5 to 30 spiked projections. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , the body further comprising a top surface comprising a handle and/or a flag, wherein said handle and/or flag are optionally removable. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein each spiked projection projects away from the first or second facing surface at an angle of about 70 to 110 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said angle is about 80 to 100 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said penetrating end is shaped into a point or a stake and optionally tapers in thickness toward said point or stake and/or is serrated. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said body and penetrating end are made of wood, a hard metal, a hard metal alloy, plastic, biodegradable plastic, hard particle board, soft particle board, a composite material that simulates natural rock, cement or pebbles adhered together. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein said spiked projections are made of plastic, a metal or a metal alloy. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10  wherein said spiked projections are made with a tack, nail, double-pointed nail or staple. 
     
     
         12 . A device comprising a body and a penetrating end, wherein the body has a height and a width sufficient to block a mole tunnel and at least 1 spiked projection projecting away from a facing surface of the body. 
     
     
         13 . A method of halting mole tunneling activity comprising the steps of:
 (a) identifying a mole tunnel; and   (b) blocking the tunnel with a blockade so that a mole cannot pass the blockade.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said blockade is a device according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said blocking step (b) comprises positioning and inserting at least two devices in different portions of a mole tunnel. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 ,
 wherein said identifying step (a) further comprises identifying one or more ends of a mole tunnel, and   said blocking step (b) further comprises positioning and inserting a device according to  claim 1  to block each identified tunnel end, and positioning and inserting additional devices according to  claim 1  at regular intervals of about 5 to 15 feet between tunnel ends.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said device is inserted every 6 to 8 feet along the identified mole tunnel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said identifying step comprises identifying mole tunnels in a given area on a first day, a second day, and a third day, and positioning and inserting devices into areas of new activity as needed on each day. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a mole den and associated tunnels are identified in identifying step (a), and step (b) comprises positioning and inserting a device into each tunnel leading into the den so that spiked projections on the device project into the den. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a step after step (a) of compressing the dirt on the identified tunnels.