1,081. Catching Mice on Chol HaMoed

Shvisas Yom Tov 8:4

If plants were not watered before yom tov, they may not be watered on chol hamoed because they will require a lot of water, so it will be a strenuous activity. One may redirect a river from one place to another and open a river that was dammed. When it comes to privately-owned wells, pits and grottos, if their owner needs them on chol hamoed, they may be cleaned and their cracks repaired but we may not dig new ones. One may direct water to flow into them even if they are unneeded. One may make a small pool of water on chol hamoed.

Shvisas Yom Tov 8:5

Mice that damage trees may be caught on chol hamoed. In an orchard, one may catch them in the usual weekday manner, such as by digging a hole and hanging a net. If an unplowed field is close to an orchard, one may catch the mice in the field in a manner different from the regular weekday fashion in order to keep them from entering the orchard and ruining it. An example of an unusual manner would be putting a pole in the ground, striking it with an axe, then removing it, leaving a hole.