Ridding yard of moles

[fbaurley]

What is the best way to get rid of moles. They have started to overtake my yard especially this winter. There activity has stopped the last couple of weeks due to the ground being frozen and the snow( at least I think it has) any ideas

 

[paccool]

I tried poison and traps but they were too smart for that. The way I finally got them was to watch for them working an area and smash the tunnel closed on each end of them. Get the water hose out and flood the tunnel. Stand there with a shovel in hand(or shotgun depending on how ****** you are at them! ) and wait for them the stick their head out to get a breath of air. You can guess what comes next!



Got three of them a few years ago and have not had much problem since then.



Stan

 

[Dane]

I've tried -



Flares

Water hose

Mole bombs

Real bombs (M80)

Castor oil

Poison (2 types)

22 rifle

Traps

Cigar butts

Pee



And the winner is - Traps, but only one kind.



There is one brand that has a square plate about 4"x4" with pincher prongs and a round trigger that extends from the plate about 8" These work great. Get the smallest diameter for moles. How you set it important. Lightly dig a surface tunnel/mound where it dissapears into the earth and inset the trap there with the plate sticking out in the air. I'll check the brand and repost tomorrow or so...

 

[lgibson]

This sounds crazy but it does work. Get some of those sunflower pinwheels. They vibrate the ground and this chases the critters off. Like I said, sounds crazy but it is a trick I learned a long time ago after losing a horse to a broken leg.



You can also watch "Caddyshack" and learn what not to do.

 

[KennyM]

I've been told if you have moles you have grubs. Get rid of the grubs you'll get rid of the moles.

 

[Leon R]

I have about 8 acres of hay field that I keep under control using poison grain. I do it in the spring and the fall just by treating new mounds by finding the tunnel with a prod (large screwdriver) and dropping a pinch of poison into the tunnel near where they are active. If I could only get my neighbours to look after their pastures I wouldn't have as much of a problem.

 

[Hale on wheels]

Dynamite works rather well!

 

[muddyboots]

Moles big problem. Neighbor got cat. Moles no problem.

 

[illflem]

Are some of you confusing gophers for moles?

With moles you can see the whole tunnel system as an upraised route, they don't make mounds like gophers.

Moles only eat insects and won't damage your plants or lawn, gophers will. If you have a lot of them they're there because you have insect infestation. Like KennyM said get rid of the insects and the moles will leave. Otherwise just leave them alone, they're a beneficial animal.



Since moles feed heavily on grubworms, the elimination of the grubs will decrease mole activity in a lawn. Grubworms can be controlled either with chemicals or with milky spore disease, a relatively harmless biological control agent. Chemicals that may be used by the homeowner include: Diazinon, Dylox or Proxol, Oftanol, and Sevin (Carbaryl). After treatment with any of these insecticides, soak the lawn surface thoroughly.

 

[pathaymond]

I am in agreement with Ifflem. Our cats do like to dig them up though but the moles still seem to thrive. Dont have trouble from them. give the cats somthing to do!!

 

[Leon R]

Bill, the moles around here are like large mice with bigger front teeth, pouches in their cheeks for hauling dirt and long nails for digging. Their tunnels are just under the surface about two to three inches and they push the dirt up into mounds that can get fairly large and are good for dulling the sickle blades in the mower. Sometimes their tunnels end up going straight down some distance probably to a den. They eat more than grubs because we had one in our garden and they like carrots. Certainly not like the prairie gophers that I believe you are referring to. I used to shoot those by the dozen when I lived in Alberta. You have to have a pretty patient cat or dog to catch a mole as they have to be packing the dirt up to the surface for them to be easily caught.

 

[illflem]

Leon, it sounds like pocket gophers you've got. Big buck teeth, moles don't have easily visible teeth. I used a three point tunnel builder every fall that dropped poison every few feet for control. Grain poison won't work on moles since they only eat insects.



You also probably have meadow voles in your area. They are a large mouse with a shrort hairless tail that makes tunnels just under leafs or the surface of the ground. Many times right after the snow melts you will see where voles have been travelling though the snow right where it meets the soil. They are very troublesome can wipe out an orchard or stand of alfalfa in one winter. There are many types of poisons that you scatter on the surface for these in the fall.



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[illflem]

Meadow Vole



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[illflem]

Pocket gopher



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[Tim1]

catching moles

I went to a class on moles at the local feed store and learned a great deal about there lifestyle and how to catch them. If they stay in the forest next to me they live, but when they mound my yard, they have 2 days left, every time. I use the age old trap that had two jaws and a foot release in the center. Stomp the hills down first. Then see which one pops up, thats his main run. Dig open only enough for the trap, small shovel. Important, if its a intersection or 90 degree turn, don't use this hole,you will never catch him there. Put a small mound of dirt under the foot, but leave about 1\8" clearance. Leave the holes open because he does not like a draft and will come to close the open tunnel pushing dirt with his nose. Very important, rest a brick or something heavy on the top of the trap because the heavy spring pressure will actually lift the trap up as he goes under it if you don't. (the foot pressure of the release mechanism in the center of the trap) I catch them every time. If you have animals or small children, put a bucket over the trap to protect them from getting hurt. I always put them in a bucket of water for 10 minutes, then bury them back in there run, you will never have another mole in that run again. Sorry for the long post. Tim