Here are tips on how to identify and get rid of moles in the garden or yard.
What Are Moles?
Moles are ground–dwelling carnivores that prefer to eat insects instead of your garden plants. However, their underground tunnels can ruin your garden and lawn and make an easy access to your plants for other rodents.
If you have a significant invasion of moles or similar pests, it may be a sign of trouble. Moles are usually found where soil is rich in organic matter. Their presence in unusually large numbers might be due to a high population of soil pests. It therefore serves as a warning that all is not well with the soil life.
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So much nonsense.
Everyone here talking about "humanely" getting rid of moles on his or her property, listen up: it isn't possible.
Even if it *were* possible to deter moles from tunneling your lawn or garden by tarring corncobs, planting gum in the ground without touching it, or setting up pinwheel wind-farms—which it most definitely isn't—all you've done is solve your problem at the expense of introducing a problem for your neighbors. Which is a crappy thing to do to someone who lives next door to you.
So, the "humane" solution would be to trap and re-home the critters, right? Wrong.
The reason why moles do so much damage is because they have to _constantly_ be actively searching for prey. Moles must eat 60-100% of their body weight DAILY in order to survive. If you were to trap a live mole (good luck!) and then drive it to the woods to "re-home" it, you've more than likely already signed its death-warrant.
Moles dig those incredibly complex underground systems of tunnels for one reason: to maximize their chances of catching enough food to survive. If you take an established mole out of the ground and force it to start over in a new place without its existing tunnel system, it has to start completely over by digging a new tunnel system. The chances of the mole being able to sustain itself without its existing tunnels and the food they provide (mainly by way of earth worms) is just about zero.
So: you either 1) love moles enough to leave them alone, in which case they'll constantly dig up your yard/ruin your garden, or 2) you like your lawn/garden without mole tunnels and mounds MORE than you love moles, which means getting rid of the moles by either trapping/re-homing them (which, as I said, will kill them 99 times out of 100) or setting kill traps.
Those are your only options. If you love your yard/garden, suck it up and exterminate them yourself. If you can't bear the thought of killing a mole, then you'd better get used to having your yard tilled up at random by blind, subterranean rodents.
Minty Mole deterrent
I am having very good luck with dried peppermint or spearmint sprinkled over active areas. When it runs them farther into other areas, I follow with the mint. Water it in or do before rain. You'll see! I buy the mint from Penney.
Kathy
Neighbor has moles and now we do too
We started noticing that our neighbors had surface trails and mounds in their yard, Now, I am noticing that we are getting more and more mounds (but no surface trails). I'm assuming they are moles since the neighbor was talking about them. Does it make since to treat my yard for them if they don't (not sure if they will or won't, we just moved in)? Will they just come back to my yard?
moles
It might help to treat for moles in your yard, such as with repellent, to discourage them from crossing over, but likely you would need to repeat the treatment every so often as more set up shop or the treatment’s effectiveness fades. An underground barrier around the perimeter of your yard might be more effective, but might not be practical, depending on the size of your yard. Although the tunnels/mounds are unsightly, and occasionally mole tunneling can remove soil around the roots of plants, causing problems, the moles help to aerate the soil and eat grubs and other pests. If you can stand it, you might prefer to let them alone, or pack down the hills and tunnels as they appear. If your soil is moist, cut back on watering your lawn a bit, as the drier environment discourages moles.
moles
i was wondering how to do the gum thing do you put the gum down in the hole/ tunnel /.. and does it ruin the vegatables can you still eat the produce if the moles have been tunneling thru it?
Best and Easiest Way
Wrong. The best way to get rid of moles is to kill their food source. Treat your lawn with a full spectrum insect killer like Triazicide. Moles promptly move out. Plus it's good for your lawn too.
Be careful with Triazicide around pets, etc..
There have been instances where small dogs and other pets have been poisoned by Triazicide. It is also toxic to Bees and fish. Be careful of runoff to storm drains. I was going to try it but my wife alerted me to her findings on this product. I guess I will be trying the Juicy Fruit method.
moles
I have mole(s) and was told of the mixture using castor oil, and was told to use "scented" castor oil. No where was I able to find "scented" castor oil until a neighbor told me to try a beauty supply store. Low and behold they have all kinds of "scented" castor oil.
Best place to plant?
A kind person dropped off a few "mole plants" while we were away. I've discovered they are poisonous so I don't want them planted in the flower bed. A side walk is between the flower bed and the lawn anyway. I do want the moles gone! They need a new place to hang out other than my front and back yard. How far from the lawn do the plants need to be planted? Does Juicy Fruit gum actually work?
Mole Plants
Hi, Laura. Unfortunately, mole plants have not been proven to definitely deter moles. Their odor is what supposedly keeps the moles away, but you would have to plant them throughout your lawn and flower bed to effectively get rid of the moles (most people don’t love to do this because of the poisonous plant qualities). Juicy Fruit gum has been an effective method, but keep in mind that it will kill the moles, and others will probably come back. Consider trying some of our organic methods above, especially trying to lower the number of grubs in your lawn. If the moles don’t have anything to eat, they won’t come back. Good luck!
Armadillo's
Why are they so distructive to my yard? Each morning I wake up to deep holes and small holes and my carpet grass ripped out. What can I do to get rid of them? HELP.
No powdered red pepper
Please don't advocate using powdered red pepper to deter rodents. If you've ever seen a squirrel scratch it's eyes out from the pain of red pepper, you would think twice before using it. There are much more effective and humane ways to deal with rodents.
How to kill a mole
I had a mole issue, and used every conceivable method to try and kill them. I finally found an article online that said to stick a piece of Juicy Fruit gum in the hole and cover it up. Sure enough, no more mole. Moles eat the gum but cannot digest it, leading to their death. Cost...25 cents!!!
How to Kill a Mole
Tell me, after 14 months after using the J F gum, are the moles still GONE? I have tried several 'cures' and not working so far.
BTW what state are you in? I am in FL. Seems certain methods work in one part of the county & not the other. Tks
Great article - I was having
Great article - I was having problems with a mole in my garden for many years, and tried various methods of getting rid but with no such luck! So a neighbour recommended that I used a traditional mole catcher, and called this guy www.lancashiremolecatcher.com
Couldnt recommend him enough!
Don't forget mole crickets.
Don't forget mole crickets. Very destructive to gardens and a real problem in Florida..even the pythons won't touch them (lol).
last year I had something
last year I had something eating my cantaloupe , for every 6 it got I got 2 not good odds there. I thought it was a mole because there is a hole in the garden box (fenced in) and inside of the fence are 3 12x12 garden boxes . there are what I had always been told are mole trails through the yard kind of a country setting with creek down over the hill. But I see you say they primarily eat insects and grubs so what would be eating my cantaloupe ? If it didn't eat so many I wouldn't mind oh tomatoes too, but the ratio me to them is not even close to fair, and what ever it is has to go. what do you suggest is eating everything and what should I do? also could it be rabbits and the mole trails are just coincidental?
What animal it might be will
What animal it might be will depend on your location. It is likely not a mole, because of its diet. Voles (similar to mice) dig shallow tunnels that run along the lawn, as moles do; these rodents can be destructive in the garden. Other small rodents, such as mice might be a possibility as well. Chipmunks also dig tunnels, although you might not see the tunnels running along the surface. Gophers leave mounds of dirt at tunnel entrances, but not tunnels along the grass. Large holes could be a woodchuck, but they don't have shallow tunnels. Rabbits, crows, raccoons, squirrels, coyotes, deer . . . just about any animal that eats fruit as part of its diet will take advantage of a melon. Raccoons like melons (and corn) especially. What animal it is will affect how you protect the fruit. Good luck!
What do I have that is making
What do I have that is making large mounds of dirt all over my yard. I have been told they are not moles so what are they. There are tunnels for one to the next by not surface tunnels. They seem to be everywhere but no one can tell me what they are or how to get rid of them.
Why not moles? They are the
Why not moles? They are the big tunnel-makers. The eastern mole is the mole that creates surface tunnels all over the place, but the star-nosed mole is the mole that forms the big piles or volcanoes of soil on the surface. Castor oil based products are widely available. Other tips are on this page.
I had a mole tunneling under
I had a mole tunneling under my flowers and read a web site on how to get rid of moles...didn't want to go the poison route so I set a mouse trap with salami and got him that night..was so surprised and pleased that it was that easy...try it if u have moles
I also got a mole in one day
I also got a mole in one day using a mouse trap, but I used peanut butter.
I'm trying to find out if
I'm trying to find out if Moles and get inside the walls of your house and make their way to your attic? It's the dead do winter and I've been hearing something in my wall that moved from the corner of my home inward about 5ft then the noise went up toward my ceiling. It's been driving me crazy so I called my insurance company asking about termites. They tell me termites, bees etc normally are dormant during the winter. Now I'm freaked out...please help!
Thanks,
Linda
Moles are underground animals
Moles are underground animals and probably not the source of your attic troubles. If it feels like a bigger critter scurrying around, we would guess squirrels. See our tips on controlling squirrels here: http://www.almanac.com/content...
Thank you for your help,
Thank you for your help, however these are not in my attic. They are in my wall and just moved toward my attic. The 'scratching sound' if you will, has stopped between my picture window and my ceiling..but from what I can tell it seems to still be coming from between the front wall of my home. I know..it's the craziest thing. Still no signs of critters or bugs in my home..thank God! :))
Animals can sometimes get
Animals can sometimes get stuck inside the walls, or set up residence there--anything from raccoons, opossums, and squirrels (including flying squirrels) on down to smaller animals such as mice, roof rats, chipmunks, etc., including baby animals. (Pets can also sometimes get stuck, if they fall through the attic flooring.) Sometimes birds and bats get into attics, but rarely walls. When you hear the noises, night or day, will help to ID it.
We'd recommend that you consult an animal pest control company. They can determine whether the animal is trapped in the wall or has entrance/exit sites on the outside of the house. They can also remove the animal safely (wild animals will be scared and may retaliate, and some may carry diseases), and determine if it is just one animal, or several, such as a mom with babies. During the process, they may need to cut a hole in the wall to gain access. Good luck!
I have ground moles in my
I have ground moles in my attic. I have caught them on my mouse traps so I know they are ground moles I have. How can I get rid of them in my attic...certainly no vegetation or dirt in my attic.
We would recommend using a
We would recommend using a havahart trap to remove the mole(s). To prevent any more moles from moving into your attic, try placing several jars filled with mothballs throughout the space. You can also try dipping cotton balls in mint or eucalyptus oil and spreading them throughout the attic.
Good luck!
We own a wildlife control
We own a wildlife control company in Georgia. I assure you that it is not mole in your attic that is making noises in the attic at night. Flying Squirrels and Rats are nocturnal and are most likely the problem.
I would call a professional to inspect your attic to determine the species and then come up with a plan.
Raccoons.
Raccoons.
I am finding my Mexican
I am finding my Mexican Feathergrass laying over and I can pick it up by the handful, no root system. I am also having problems with my autumn sage. Will moles eat the roots of these plants? I just had my flower bed landscaped this past March.
Mexican Feather Grass does
Mexican Feather Grass does lie down. If you don't like this affect, you can give it a haircut with a few inches of the top to prevent flopping. It probably looks best if cut once or twice during the season. Also, be sure to pull out dead foliage new foliage emerges. However, if everything is pulling out easily, then the plant didn't root well. Provide a well-drained soil (not too compact) and water regularly during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Reduce watering after establishment. In terms of the sage, we haven't heard of mole problems. Moles tend to eat grubs in lawns. Voles, however, love spring perennials. If you are concerned, we'd suggest raised garden beds or dig a trench around the area that you want protected.
My problem that I haven't
My problem that I haven't figured out yet is this:
I planted my garden 6 weeks ago. I put out corn, purple hull peas, bush beans, potatoes, tomatoes, sunflowers, squash, cucumbers, and beet. Approximately 1/3 of everything is coming up. I see these little trails of semi-broken ground that appear to follow my rows and then skip to the next. I thought moles at first but the tunnels seem too narrow being about 1/2" I have dug at the ends or beginnings of these trails and turn up nothing. I even replanted in the vacant areas only to have the same problem. Does anyone have any suggestions.
How about adding VOLES to the
How about adding VOLES to the list of garden Pests. I have one that has eaten everyone of my marigolds and chwews off one whole patch of Bee Balm. Now the beast is eating my tomatoes to get all of the seeds. Yes it is a vole because I have seen him or them scurrying in an around my planting beds. I have put out three live catch traps and all have remained empty. I put out glue boards up next to the foundation of the house and he kicked dirt all over them. I put out poison and it hasn't been touched in two weeks. These thinks are the bane of my summer gardening.
If you can have an outside
If you can have an outside cat, your vole problem will probably disappear.
Glue boards
Several years ago, i had a problem with something eating strawberries in my garden. I put out glue boards (2) to catch whatever it was, and caught 2 cardinals, both of which were killed by the glue boards. Not a pretty site....and i was devastated. I will never use glue boards again....and am always sure to plant enough for everyone/everything.....
The beneficial nematodes work
The beneficial nematodes work the best: plus there aren't any fleas, or ant piles in the yard. Just make sure you put enough out to cover the yard.
We had moles all over our
We had moles all over our lawn (2 acres) in FL. We were told to put 1/2 stick of juicy fruit gum in soil at the new end of the tunnel. So we went to Sams Club, bought alot of gum, "planted" it in the front of their tunnel. They were gone in no time. Note: don't touch the gum with your hands.
What kind or brand (juicy
What kind or brand (juicy fruit gum) did you buy?
my wife planted caster bean
my wife planted caster bean plants last summer about a couple of weeks after they came up the moles left our yard
That's good to know. Will
That's good to know. Will definitely give it a try. Thanks