You have a mole problem when you notice raised ridges that are three to five inches long on your lawn, interspersed with little soil volcanoes. Due to their ability to tunnel under everything, these little creatures can quickly inflict harm on any vegetation in their path. Their tunnels quickly turn brown because when they burrow through the ground, they uproot roots. Moles have the advantage of aerating the soil and eating harmful insects in the process. Find out how to keep moles away from your yard and get rid of them before they cause significant harm.
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What Are Moles?
Moles are insectivores that burrow. Since moles typically live alone, the multi-tunneled pattern in your yard probably houses just one mole, with the exception of the mating season in the early spring.
Moles may not use the same feeding tunnel twice and are continuously creating new ones. The mole may have pushed up entry and exit mounds in the shape of a volcano; they are typically circular and symmetrical. Usually filled with dirt, the hole is still apparent. The main runways are connected to the mounds. The runways are normally invisible since they are 12–18 inches below the surface.
Moles eat insects and their larvae, but they particularly like white grubs, which are a common nuisance on lawns. Mole populations prefer damp sandy loam soils to arid clay soils when given the option.
How to Identify Moles
Moles have a large, hairless nose and black or gray fur. Their eyes are so tiny and covered with fur that they hardly stand out. Large, hairless claws on their front are intended for digging. You cannot see their ears.
Difference Between Moles, Voles, and Pocket Gophers
Sometimes, homeowners confuse tunnels dug by moles for those dug by pocket gophers or voles, two other small rodents that also dig subterranean tunnels. Voles leave little to no trace of their tunnels in the landscape, if any, but moles leave noticeable ridges above their tunnels in your grass, topped off with characteristic volcano-shaped earth mounds.
However, the soil feels softer underfoot due to their tunnels’ softening effect, and their tunnels’ tiny, round, flat entrance holes are far less obvious than moles’.
As they go, pocket gophers don’t leave behind noticeable elevated ridges. Rather than that, they consume the roots of grass and other plants, dragging them into subterranean burrows that cause the earth to move to one side. With fan-shaped or semicircular mounds, their tunnels resemble flattened earth formations more than mole tunnels. Though earth clumps can conceal the hole, each mound may have a noticeable hole in it. You may be able to recognize one of these animals by its size if you happen to see one.
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How to Get Rid of Moles
Since moles are most active in the spring and fall when the ground is not frozen, these seasons are ideal for getting rid of them. Because moles don’t dwell in groups, you probably only have one or two moles to trap in order to remedy the issue.
Humane Solutions
Take out the food source. Using helpful nematodes that feed on the grubs that make up a large portion of a mole’s diet is the most humane method of eliminating moles. When their preferred food supply is gone, moles usually move on. It is safe to apply this organic pesticide near pets and children.
Set a live trap outside: To set up the trap, you’ll need to locate an active tunnel. Stepping on a tunnel to make it flatten is a good technique to determine if it is active. If it isn’t flat the next day, it has likely been passed by a mole. Put the live trap in place. observing the product’s instructions. If you don’t check the trap every day, the animal may perish in its confines. Release it after removing it from your yard.
Apply a repellent: Castor oil is a common ingredient in safe liquid repellents; it disrupts moles’ normal eating cycles and drives them away. Castor oil and granular repellent function in the same way.
Lethal Solutions
Because moles dwell underground, figuring out how to get rid of them might be challenging. While fumigants and poisons are choices, you should stay away from them if you have children or pets that could be exposed.
Using a mole-specific trap designed to kill the animal is the only reliable approach to get rid of a mole. Both above- and below-ground traps are available in a variety of designs to suit the purpose. To improve your chances of getting rid of the mole, reposition the tunnel traps every day while you can still see activity, and follow the instructions on the package for precise placement.
How to Keep Moles Away
Use one or more of these techniques to repel moles once you’ve removed them.
Plant flowers moles hate:
Planting marigolds, daffodils, and alliums in a garden bed deters moles while adding color to your yard because moles don’t enjoy the fragrances of these plants.
Go techy with ultrasound:
Install mole-repelling ultrasonic equipment. Without using any pesticides, the ultrasonic radiation from these devices drives away moles. They are safe to use around humans and pets and require little upkeep (some are solar-powered).
Spread a deterrent:
Apply a granular repellent that is safe for kids and pets all over your yard to turn it into an unwelcoming space.
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