How do ya get rid of moles

cperky · Apr 27, 2004

Mole are making a mess of my lawn anybody got a trick to get them to go away??

fivestring · Apr 27, 2004

Snakes will eventually help you decrease the mole population!
I've seen hawks try to help out, also.

My parents have the same problem. They also now have some king, black and garter snakes.
They have killed some copperheads, though.
Last summer I watched a hawk pick a mole off of the ground. The mole probably never knew what got him!

Molerj · Apr 27, 2004

Get rid of the worms/insects that the moles are feeding off of. Diazinon or some other granular insect killer. That is what I did.

CTyler · Apr 27, 2004

Yep that works but may take a while.

I used to have a mole problem years ago in our rental property. However to get rid of them right now you'll have to set traps and/or use poison pellts, smoke bombs etc..

Mrwurm · Apr 27, 2004

When moles move into my yard, I hitch up my lawn roller and flatten their tunnels. I do this about three days in a row and they give up and go away. Sometimes, I just use the tractor tires to collapse their tunnels.

Bob_Skurka · Apr 27, 2004

Long term solution is to get rid of the food they eat, which is easily accomplished with a ground applied insect killer, as previously mentioned, but it does take a week or so.

I think getting rid of pests is generally pretty easy. Now if you want to get rid of something that you really really like, move your mother in law in for a while.

fivestring · Apr 27, 2004

/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

CTyler · Apr 27, 2004

( Sometimes, I just use the tractor tires to collapse their tunnels. )

I did the manual method a couple times(aka foot tamper). Grab some beer and start watching around sunset. You'll see them pushing thier way through. If you listem real close you can hear all thier four letter words /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. Grab your favorite tool, pitchfork, shovel etc.. and jab the bump.

Hey...I was bored at the time. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

TWINKLE_TOES · Apr 27, 2004

This thread may help, Mossroad made some very good posts.

Mole Man

MF1455v · Apr 27, 2004

We don't have much of a mole problem where I live in Texas, but growing up in NW Arkansas we had plenty.

By far the most fun is the 12 ga shotgun. We would mash down the runs as mentioned out place a water hose in the run and wait. The water would force the moles out on top of the ground.

A less noisy and time consuming method my Dad currently uses is getting hair for the barber shop. Place a clump of the hair in the run. Next time mole passes he eats the hair and cannot digest it, no more mole. Seems like a good organic method. Does it work? I don't know, but I very seldom see a mole run in his yard.

cperky · Apr 27, 2004

Sounds like I have plenty of methods to try. After reading all the suggestions,in this and the other threads referenced I think I will use a combination of the ideas. I think I will take a lawn chair ,shovel , beer and shot gun , get some night vision goggles and set out all night(or until the beer runs out) watch for movement in the tunnels dig em up with a shovel fling up in the air and take em out with my 12 gauge pump

Seriously guys, thanks for all the help

Chris

MossRoad · Apr 28, 2004

Trap them with a Victor Outa Sight mole trap. It is very humane. It kills them almost instantly. They can be purchased for under $12.00.

The primary food of moles is earthworms. They also eat grubs, but mostly earthworms.

As posted by others, The Molman is THE authority. Check out his site. http://www.themoleman.com/

I live on about 1 acre of land. In the last three years I have killed over 100. This year, I have not yet seen any activity, but I know they are out there, planning! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Think of the moles tunnels as roads. There are main highways and smaller county roads as well as lots of culdesacs. They use the main highways to get back and forth to the feeding areas. These are the best tunnels to trap. Stomp your heel across the tunnels and mark them with a stick(I've purchased those little wire markers with flags). Do this about every 10-20 feet along the tunnels. Then check the heel marks twice a day. If you see your marks get pushed back up, set the trap right there. While the traps are set, continue to monitor your other heel marks and make new ones as needed. The reason I do this is by checking the heel marks and the direction the mole was traveling when it gets caught in the trap, you can tell which direction the moles are coming from and sometime locate a deeper tunnel that cannot be seen on the surface. By doing this, I found real quick that my neighbor that claims he has no moles is one of my primary sources of mole entrance. He is one of those folks that rolls his lawn so much that his topsoil is rock hard and he cuts his grass to about 1 inch high. The moles never surface there, so he thinks he doesn't have them. But 90 percent of the moles I killed were traveling under his fence into my yard. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Anywho, eliminate them from your yard and then set up a perimeter defense strategy to keep them out.

On the bright side, Monday I went home for lunch and saw a yet to be identified raptor sitting in my front yard holding a grey furry animal in it's talons. I hope it was a mole! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SnowRidge · Apr 28, 2004

( .... a grey furry animal in it's talons. )

I resent that! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SnowRidge

1bush2hog · Apr 29, 2004

My Dad used to plant what he called a 'mole' plant. It was appx. 5-6ft high when mature and somewhat resembled one of the 'elephant ear' plants except the leaves had sharp points on them as opposed to smooth.

He would plant several around our 1/2 acre garden, and moles were never a problem. Whereas, in our yard all kinds of moles until he also planted several around the perimieter of our yard.

Maybe it was the plant, maybe cooincidence? Other folks in area also swore by them.

I am sorry I don't have the scientific or common name for this plant, but will try to find out for you.

MossRoad · Apr 30, 2004

Sorry, kitty cat /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

milkman · Apr 30, 2004

Would that be the old Castor bean plant, we used to call them mole beans

milkman · Apr 30, 2004

RICINUS COMMUNIS That's the official name, here's a pic.

MossRoad · Apr 30, 2004

Just remember that castor bean plants are highly deadly piosonous plants.

MossRoad · May 31, 2004

This year, I have not yet seen any activity, but I know they are out there, planning! 

Since this posting last month, I have taken 7 and one more is eluding my efforts. It has been raining so much that it is hard to find the active tunnels. Next week will be dry, so I expect more.

polecat · Jun 1, 2004

ok guys !!! u wanna know that if the raptors can gittem then i have the solution for all of all of yer moles....will ship and they all purr anywhere usa...see attached pic!!!!

TODD!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifand i don't have any moles..red squirrels or rat's and or mice anymore!!!!!!!killer jeans is what i think ..it's taught 2 them by their mom...the deadliest thing 2 anything smaller that a gray squirrel living!!!!murphy!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif