Perhaps, your favorite plant is often eaten by moles. Perhaps, your yard was attacked by it many times, while the neighboring land was not touched at all. If you've had it before and want to make sure it doesn't happen again, here are some tried and tested ways to get rid of moles.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Use of Nonlethal Methods
Step 1. Spread your pet's litter
Instead of throwing your cat or dog litter in the trash, put it in a mole tunnel. You don't need to prepare too much, just a lump or two is enough. Cats and mice are predators of moles. If a mole smells their poop, their instincts will tell them that a predator is nearby.
Step 2. Use a scent that moles don't like
The mole's nose is very sensitive. If his sense of smell picks up on something he doesn't like, the mole will leave. Here are some examples of scents that can repel moles:
- Fish. When you go fishing, keep some parts of the fish's body (such as fins) and place them near or next to mole holes.
- Castor oil. Dilute castor oil with water and then spray it into the mole's hole. You can also try dropping some castor oil capsules into the hole.
- Coffee grounds. After boiling a cup of coffee, sprinkle the pulp into the hole and cover it with soil. You can also mix coffee grounds in your yard to repel moles and fertilize plants.
- Dryer sheet. Take some dryer sheets and stuff them into the holes. Its strong aroma will repel moles.
- Camphor. Drop some mothballs into the hole and cover his mouth with plastic. Mothballs don't like the smell of naphthalene in mothballs.
- Tabasco sauce. Mix a few drops of essential oil, one teaspoon of Tabasco sauce, half a cup (120 ml) of castor oil, one cup (240 ml) of water. Soak cotton balls in the mixture, then drop them into the mole hole.
Step 3. Plant a clump of earthen figs
This plant, also known as Euphorbia lathyris, is a well-known mole repellent plant. Buy this plant from a local nursery and plant it in your yard. Focus on planting in areas affected by moles.
- Examples of other plants that moles don't like are castor beans, daffodils, and marigolds.
- The oleander plant is also known as an effective mole repellent. Try growing oleander around your yard.
Step 4. Create a noisy environment
Like most animals, moles do not like noise. If you find moles in your yard, try installing sources of noise, such as:
- Portable radio. Look for an inexpensive portable radio. Turn it on and put it in a plastic bag that can be opened and closed. Stuff the bag into the mole tunnel. The plastic bag will prevent the radio from getting wet.
- Wind chimes. They are beautiful in appearance and can produce a soft chime sound that moles don't like.
Step 5. Use a vibration peg
Most vibration stakes can be plunged deep into the ground. Moreover, the effect is completely invisible above ground. Usually, the power source is the battery. You can also purchase a vibration peg that is powered by the wind. Vibration stakes can be purchased online, at some plant nurseries, and at home improvement stores. Here's how to install the vibration pegs:
- Dig a hole in the ground. Make sure the hole is deep enough for the vibration peg.
- Insert the peg into the hole.
- Fill the hole with soil.
- Do not push or hit the stake with a hammer into the ground as you can damage it by doing so.
Step 6. Install the mole trap
Fill up the mole holes; leave one or two of them. The two holes selected should be the entrance and exit to the main tunnel. Wash the trap with warm water and unscented soap. Put on latex gloves, then place the trap at the mouth of the hole with the open end facing into the tunnel. After you set the trap, cover the area with a sheet of black plastic or burlap to prevent light from entering the hole.
- Usually, the main tunnel is located 15-30 cm underground. You can find this by poking around the mound on the same side as the part of the yard that looks like it was just dug up. Use a weeder or a wooden spoon. Prick repeatedly until you find a piece of soil that feels softer.
- Scrubbing the trap with fresh rosemary oil can help hide human odors.
- After you trap the mole, call animal control or release it into the wild.
Step 7. Use a waste-based fertilizer
Whenever the soil gets wet, the chemicals in the fertilizer will seep out and repel moles. Avoid using this type of fertilizer if you have pets, children, or valuable fruit and vegetable crops. To use, put on a pair of latex gloves and follow these steps:
- Dig a ditch approximately 7.5 cm wide and 30 cm deep around the area you wish to protect.
- Try digging some additional ditches and meeting the ends in the middle of the area you want to protect.
- Fill the gutters with fertilizer.
- Fill the ditch with soil to a depth of 2.5 cm.
Method 2 of 3: Using the Lethal Method
Step 1. Use a burrow blaster or mole explosive to smoke the tunnel
They are also known as mole beacons and can fill mole tunnels with a mixture of propane and oxygen. Both ingredients will kill moles. Buy some burrow blasters or mole explosives and read the instructions for use (because each brand may have slightly different user manuals). Insert the beacon into the hole, then wait a while.
A burrow blaster or explosive will also work well on ferrets, groundhogs, ground squirrels, moles, miniature moles, prairie dogs, mice, and other burrowing animals
Step 2. Smoke the mole using the car exhaust
Close the mole holes, but leave one of them open. Get the hose ready, then attach one end to your car's exhaust and the other end to an unfilled hole. Start your car and let it sit for 15-30 minutes. The hose will channel toxic carbon monoxide fumes into the mole hole.
Step 3. Use poison with care, especially if you have pets
When a mole eats poison, its body stores the poison. If your cat or dog eats the mole, the poison will transfer. Therefore, you should avoid poisons that contain strychnine. Instead, choose a poison that contains an anticoagulant. The poison will cause internal bleeding in moles without making the carcass toxic.
- Keep all poisons away from children and other animals.
- Try another method if you have pets at home.
- Always wash your hands after touching poison.
- To use poison pellets or Warfarin-type bait, pierce a fresh mound of dirt to find a tunnel. Open the hole slowly, pour some pellets into it, then close it again without breaking the tunnel.
Step 4. Try using a hose to flood the mole tunnel
Although the chances of success are small, if you have tried other methods and failed, do this. Keep in mind that, depending on how deep the tunnels the moles have made, your yard may become very muddy. Cover most of the mole holes, then thread the end of the hose into the tunnel. Turn on the water and let it sit for thirty minutes. Kill or catch moles trying to escape.
Make sure that the animals that invade your yard are real moles. Moles love humidity. If the pests in your yard turn out to be moles and you've flooded the tunnels, your yard will become even more inviting to them
Step 5. Try dropping fruit-flavored gum or soft candy into the mole's tunnel
Based on the experience of many homeowners, the Juicy Fruit brand provides quite effective results although there is no scientific research that explains the cause. Wear a pair of latex gloves to keep your body odor from sticking to the candy. Unwrap it and drop it into the hole. The mole will eat it and die from it.
Step 6. Release the predatory animal
You can simply release your cat or dog in the yard. However, keep in mind that the effectiveness of this method will depend on your pet's hunting skills and instincts.
- Not all cats and dogs will catch moles. The ability to smell alone is sometimes not enough. You need a dedicated and highly capable cat or dog. If you have a cat that can catch and kill moles, you're in luck. On the other hand, dogs are often very good at hunting moles. However, if you want to adopt a dog that will actually hunt moles, look for two Jack Russell Terriers (both can be neutered first to prevent unwanted puppies). The two of them will work together to hunt moles by waiting at the two ends of the hole. Once a mole appears, one of the two will catch it. If you have a friend who has a Jack Russell Terrier and your yard is fenced off so the dog can't escape, try borrowing one.
- Place an owl box in the trees of your yard to invite it. Owls will prey on moles. However, don't do this if you also have a cat or small dog.
- Buy some non-venomous snakes and put them in your yard. Keep in mind that the snakes will take up to a month or so to clean your lawn. If there are too many moles, look for two snakes.
- Look for the mole hunting snake carefully. Although mole snakes are not poisonous, small cats or dogs can be injured too.
Step 7. Find a professional exterminator
A professional exterminator will be able to use aluminum phosphide which reacts with moisture in the air and soil to produce phosphide gas which is highly toxic and has a rapid effect. You will not find any residual poison or secondary poisoning. If your pet digs up and eats the carcass of a mole, the poison will not transfer to it. While this is the most expensive option, most extermination companies will offer a warranty.
Method 3 of 3: Reducing Food Supply
Step 1. Reduce the food supply so moles don't get it
The less food moles can get from your yard, the more likely they are to move elsewhere. You don't have to get rid of all the plants, vegetables, and flowers. Simply prevent moles from eating the tastiest plants in your yard. Here are some steps you can take:
Step 2. Use mole baskets to protect your plants
Plant vegetables and other susceptible plants in mole baskets. These baskets are made of wire that protects the roots of young plants until the structure is strong enough.
Step 3. Use mulch as a barrier between the soil that moles excavate and your plants
The mole does not like the smell and taste of mulch.
Step 4. Limit the number of plants you have in your yard
Try growing the plant in a rocky yard or watery garden. Water gardens can have a very pretty appearance and allow you to grow aquatic plants.
Step 5. Build a fence and make sure the bottom extends all the way to the ground
The mole, while skilled at digging, is difficult to climb. Purchase wire netting from your local nursery or home supply store. Place it around the page. Make sure the bottom is planted at least 30 cm into the soil. This will prevent moles from digging holes through the bottom.
- Make sure the fence is a few inches above the ground.
- Try bending the section of the fence that is in the soil so that it forms an L away from your plant. This will confuse the mole and prevent it from digging deeper under the fence.
Expert Tricks:
Instead of creating a whole new fence, you can simply cover the base of the plant mound with a 1cm thick tarpaulin. Use two layers of tarpaulin for extra strength. You can buy this fabric at your local home supply store.
Step 6. Make a garden tub
Prepare some gardening tubs and fill them with soil. You can plant all the plants in the tub. For added safety, install wire mesh at the bottom of the planting area to prevent moles from digging through the bottom of the container walls.
Tips
- If you can't find a tunnel after poking at the mound for thirty seconds, try another mound.
- If you flood the mole holes more than once and find the moles aren't dead, they will move to another part of your yard. If you flood that section as well, the moles will most likely leave completely.
- Areas that have been attacked are vulnerable to re-attack because the new moles tend to use the old tunnel network. Always be on the lookout for new mole holes and deal with them as quickly as possible.
- Put on latex gloves before touching anything you are going to put in a mole hole. All objects that smell of humans will be avoided by moles.
- Some methods take time before giving results. Wait a few days before trying other methods.
- You can use some thumper-breathing tools or instruments to produce a percussive sound on the ground near the mole hole. The sound will repel moles.
- Once the mole has been removed, continue to inspect your lawn regularly for signs of re-infestation. Remove weeds and dirt in the yard so that new mounds of soil can be found easily. If you find it, take immediate action to address it.
- If you are trying to use a trap, attach a wooden plank to cover the hole and top it with soil or rocks to ensure that the trap can be entered from both directions.
Warning
- Do not use poison bait if there is a chance that your pet will swallow it or eat a poisoned mole. If you use bait, always keep it away from children and pets and wash your hands afterward.
- Do not try to catch a mole alive and bring it into the house.
- Check the laws or regulations in your city, county, or country regarding the control of certain pests. Some methods of getting rid of moles may be illegal in the area where you live.
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Examples of poisons commonly used to kill moles (check the label for the ingredients for the mole bait you will be using): strychnine-The most common and effective poison. However, these toxins also have the most destructive impact on the ecosystem as a whole. Not only does it kill moles, strychnina will kill all animals that eat the poisoned mole carcass or any animal that eats it directly. Zinc phosphide, like strychnina, will kill any animal that eats it or eats the carcass of a mole. Chlorofacinone (RoZol) is an anticoagulant poison. The level of effectiveness is the least, but the damage it causes to the ecosystem is the lowest. The ratio of the amount of chlorophacinone needed to kill a mole compared to zinc phosphide or strychnine is 10:1. As with the other two poisons, chlorophacinone will kill all animals that eat it directly or eat the carcass of moles that die from it. Use these mole poisons very carefully.
