How To Rid Your Lawn Of Moles

How To Kill Moles In Lawn And Yard With Traps

If you prefer a more humane way of getting moles out of your yard or to get rid of chipmunks in your yard, try using traps as a form of control rather than a homemade mole killer for lawns. Using a trap makes it convenient for you to move them safely to another location.

Mole Traps

There are various mole traps on the market, so read the instructions for your particular type for proper directions for catching moles. First, locate the most traveled tunnels and dig around the hole to make it large enough to accommodate the traps size.

Insert the trap accordingly and check it frequently for activity. After the mole is trapped, remove it carefully and drive the mole, still in the trap, roughly five miles from your home before releasing it.

Of course, there are also traps that kill moles in your lawn rather than holding them until you can move them.

How To Get Rid Of Moles In Your Yard And Garden

by Jessica Walliser

Discovering small, volcano-shaped mounds of soil in your lawn may at first lead you to believe a massive colony of ants has set up shop in your yard. Or that your neighbors kid did a really poor job trying to bury his latest report card. But those hills of freshly dug dirt were likely made by moles. While moles are solitary creatures, they sure can cause a lot of damage with their molehills. Learning how to get rid of moles often comes with a huge amount frustration. Today, Id like to review how to properly ID these rodents and the damage they cause, and offer you some possible solutions.

The Dangers Of Yard Moles

Although moles generally stay deep underground, they can come closer to the surface, moving through shallow tunnels that cause brown patches of dead turf and incidental damage to landscape roots. These tunnels cause raised ridges that heave soil upward, often disfiguring lawns.

Moles very rarely come out of their tunnels, but even when they do, they pose no direct threat to people or pets. Those tunnels, on the other hand, can be trip and fall hazards, or if theyre close enough to the surface, a person or animal could put a foot in one and end up with a pretty nasty injury.

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How To Get Rid Of Moles And Keep Them Away

Moles are unwelcome guests on your land: These adorable pests can damage your lawn, your vegetable garden, and plant roots. The unsightly mounds of soil and raised ridges ruining your lawn may have you asking how to get rid of moles and keep them away.

Moles arent the only critters that dig or rip through manicured yards. Gophers, voles, and shrews could be burrowing tunnels that look like veins in an otherwise green landscape.

Heres how to tell youre dealing with a mole.

Use Poison Or Gas Their Tunnels

This is a lethal solution, but one that can be effective given the proper circumstances, or if your issue is persistent enough. Make sure before use that you can keep poison away from pets or children.

You can purchase poison mole bait at any hardware store or .

The standard poison baits are Zinc Phosphide. You could also use Talpirid Mole Bait. This product mimics a worm in size and texture. The mole will think the bait is food, then will be poisoned after it eats it.

You can also use carbon monoxide gas from a small engine or your car. Youll need to use a hose and cap the exhaust on either a car or a lawn mower. Then lead the hose into one of the mole hills. Block off or plug the other holes.

This technique will only be effective if the mole tunnels are sealed. Otherwise all of the gas will escape quickly and the gas will be ineffective.

Using pesticides as a means of killing insects will deter moles by cutting down on their food supply, and I recommend treating for grubs at the same time that you remove the moles so that the problem does not reoccur.

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Do Moles Carry Diseases

Its much more likely you would get a disease from the fleas that might be living in the moles fur. Moles are shy creatures that generally travel alone and like the dark and because they like to keep to themselves. Its never been recorded for a mole to transmit rabies. That said, if you are bitten, its important to wash the area and apply an antibiotic cream.

If youre experiencing problems with moles, out your local professionals from Pest Defence today. We have over 25 years of experience removing pests and are pleased to provide a first-rate service. Trust in us to take care of any situation when you call our team today. Give us a call and well be right on our way.

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Signs Of Mole Crickets

According to Wagner, three important signs indicate mole crickets have taken up residency in your yard. These need to be monitored to avoid a population explosion:

Wagner suggests a simple technique to confirm the presence of mole crickets. Add one to two ounces of dish soap to a gallon of water and saturate the suspected area, he says. This should quickly reveal both immature and adult mole crickets as they come to the surface.

Once you can confirm these pests are around, act fast to avoid a devastating infestation. You need to get rid of the destructive nymphs ASAP before damage is evident to the naked eye.

Identify adult activity in spring to suss out where eggs may be. Although treating your lawn for adults during the early spring can reduce tunneling and egg laying, follow up with nymph treatments in the late spring and early summer when the insects are newly hatched and vulnerable. This is essential to avoid a recurrence later in the year.

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Alternative Methods To Prevent Moles From Digging In Your Garden:

If you cant try the methods above, then go ahead and give these a whirl. You may find that these methods work better for your situation .

Spray Cayenne Pepper in Molehills

If you see molehills, another way of getting rid of the moles inside is to spray a small amount of cayenne pepper and water into the entrance.

Moles dislike cayenne pepper because of how spicy it is. Its a good alternative solution if you dont want to try the steps above.

Improve Your Gardens Water Drainage to Deter Moles

Since moles dont like dry soil, you can try to improve your gardens drainage to reduce moisture.

The best way to do this is to watering less frequently or to go with a raised garden bed, as I talked about above.

Moles dont like dry soil because its harder to dig through. Additionally, fewer grubs are likely to appear as a result of the dry soil, further discouraging moles from coming to your garden.

The downside to this method is pretty glaring, as youll need to water your plants less. If you currently have a mole problem, make sure that you are not overwatering your plants. Otherwise, this solution may not be for you.

Lastly, Moles are Still Active in Winter

Even if you dont see it, moles are still digging during the winter because they dont hibernate. They actually cant store fat, so they have to eat constantly and cannot hibernate.

References

Rudge, A. J. B. . Catching and keeping live moles. Journal of Zoology, 149, 42-45.

Spray The Ground With Repellent

To eliminate moles, you can always try spraying the ground near molehills and surface tunnels with a repellent, such as castor oil. According to the Home Depot, castor oil wont kill the moles but will instead upset their stomachs, making your lawn a less appealing place to nest. The home improvement store recommends a homemade remedy of three parts castor oil and one part dish soap. Add four tablespoons of the mixture to a gallon of water. Once youve finished concocting the repellent, pour or spray it onto the tunnels and molehills. Other liquid repellents commonly used against moles include these here.

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Do Coffee Grounds Repel Moles

Coffee grounds, as we know it, arent that pleasant to sniff .

Because of the strong odor they give off, moles will avoid it because they despise the smell. You can buy a can of coffee grounds and literally just sprinkle them around the yard.

Toss them in key areas such as:

• Directly into mole tunnels
• Around the perimeter of your garden

Some plants may react to coffee grounds, so youll want to be careful to make sure youre not harming your plants.

Use the grounds on just a few plants first. You can use used coffee grounds from your morning brew.

Just throw them directly where you suspect ground moles to be present. They act as a natural repellent thats safe for most plants and your family.

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How To Eliminate Moles

Unfortunately, moles arent easily dealt with. Unless your yard is really showing damage, the best approach is to leave moles alone. Theyll usually move on once theyve eliminated their food source. You can keep your lawn in shape by flattening the runways with your feet or a lawn roller, or by raking out the tunnels.

If you do have damage from moles, here are some tips on mole control:

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How To Use Essential Oils To Protect Your Lawn

Learning how to get rid of moles is manageable when you use all-natural deterrents like essential oils. Essential oils release a strong scent that moles and other pests do not like.

Another advantage of using essential oils to repel moles is that the smell also deters harmful insects, skunks, raccoons, and voles.

To get rid of moles in your grass, soak three to four cotton balls in the essential oil of your choice and set it inside the mole tunnel opening.

For the best yard protection, continue to put essential oil-soaked cotton balls in the mole tunnels once a week until you have confirmed your lawn is mole-free.

A clean yard is what every homeowner strives for. Unfortunately, various pests attempt to wreak havoc on your lawn and garden areas.

Moles are one of several unwanted pests that kill your grass and eat the plant bulbs in a garden by digging tunnels just below the surface. Since some snakes eat moles, among other things, getting rid of moles may keep snakes away from your house, too.

As moles dig, they leave behind raised ridges and tiny dirt hills. Several easy-to-find solvents repel moles and other unwanted critters from your lawn.

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How To Get Rid Of Moles In Your Yard

Despite their small size, a burrowing mole can create big problems for lawns and gardens. This small, velvety-furred animal burrows into the ground, digging tunnels and mounds, which can wreak havoc on a homeowners yard. Moles spend the majority of their lives underground searching for earthworms, slugs, and other creepy-crawly food sources. According to Cardinal Lawns, the animals construct underground tunnels as a place to store their food. Unfortunately, these tunnels can completely destroy a lawns root system causing the grass, flowers and plants to die. Replacing this landscaping can be quite expensive, which is why its so important to prevent moles in the first place. However, if you already have moles in your yard, take comfort in knowing that you can and will get rid of them with the right treatments. Before making a mountain out of a molehill , read our tips below for how to get rid of moles in your yard.

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How To Trap Moles In Your Lawn

Before trapping them, you need to figure out where the active run is.

The active run is the tunnel that leads from the moles nest underground. Moles live entirely underground and only come out to mate.

How to Find the Active Mole Run

To determine the active run, flatten the mole tunnels and mark them. Check your lawn periodically throughout the day. A raised run is the active one and where youll set the trap.

Once youve found the active mole run, insert a trap into the active run. Moles become active in early spring, and its best to set the traps then, once you notice the tunnels starting to form. You can either use a humane trap to release them elsewhere, or a kill trap to get rid of them altogether.

If you decide on a humane trap, youll need to release the mole after catching it. Take it at least 5 miles from your home before setting it free. Let it out in a rural area, where the mole can thrive without causing damage.

Ive tried using a humane mole trap, but its frustrating and much more difficult than using a good kill trap like the one I mention below. Kill traps can be purchased at any hardware store, but some traps are safer than others .

What Are The Common Signs Of Moles In Yards

Moles are a common problem for many people. There is no one universal sign that moles have been in your yard, but there are a few signs to look out for. If you notice any of the following, theyve likely been around:

• Tunnels and Runs: These are only a few inches deep but you can see the trail from above ground.
• Overturned Soil

Though not always visible, if you see lots of wildlife such as rabbits and squirrels running about your yard, its a possible sign of moles. Moles are naturally attracted to areas with tall grass and other vegetation because they have no natural predators there .

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Dont Use Mothballs To Deter Moles

Mothballs are a solidified form of pesticide that have been used to deter moths for years. They work by deteriorating slowly and releasing pesticides in gas form.

Whilst these gases are not as harmful to moles as they are to moths, they will not completely remove the mole problem. Instead, they are more likely to force them to dig alternative tunnels. Due to moth balls’ toxic nature, they are also likely to harm the plants you are trying to protect.

What Is The Best Mole Deterrent

The products listed below are some of the best mole repellents available in each category.

• BEST OVERALL: VANZO Mole Repellent Ultrasonic.
• BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: T Box Solar Ultrasonic Mole Repellent.
• BEST NATURAL: Essential Depot Castor Oil.
• BEST ULTRASONIC: Fretech Solar Powered Ultrasonic Mole Repellent.

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Homemade Mole Killer For Lawns

This homemade mole killer for lawns is a safe alternative to store-bought chemicals. Moles hate castor oil and applying it to the soil, repels them from your yard and keeps them from returning.

• 1/4 cup of castor oil
• 2 tablespoons of dish detergent
• 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
• 1 gallon of water

To make this simple homemade mole repellent, combine the tablespoon of water, castor bean oil, dish soap, and cayenne pepper in a container and mix it well. Seal it with a cover and store it until youre ready to use it.

To get rid of moles, pour a gallon of water into a watering can and add two tablespoons of the repellent. Pour the liquid on areas of mole activity, such as mounds and raised ridges.

Add this mixture to a spray bottle and spritz the perimeter of the storage buildings on your property. It will effectively keep field mice out of sheds for a while.

What Is A Mole

You usually wouldnt see a mole scurrying about the yard as they are nocturnal and spend most of the time underground. Theyre especially fond of areas with soft, moist ground to dig in. These shy lawn pests are rarely seen, but youll know if its a mole when it has:

• Narrow nose, like a snout
• Tiny body, 4.4 to 6.25 inches in length

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How To Get Rid Of Moles In The Lawn And Garden

There are several repellents, baits and home remedies touted as effective mole control but the results are usually weak and inconsistent. The only sure-fire way to get rid of moles is eradication – physical removal of the problem animal. Physical removal can be accomplished by trapping – with live or kill traps – or catching the critter by hand.

PLEASE NOTE: Check with local and state laws before trapping or using poison baits for mole control. Some states require permits or it may be illegal to trap or use poison baits to kill animals. Catching, transporting and releasing wild animals is also illegal in some states.