Moles
The good news is that if you see a mole, he's probably the only one in your territory. They're not very sociable animals, so unless it's springtime and you've got a female with babies, the only thing making those tunnels on your lawn is one mole.
Getting rid of the mole:
Well -- to be honest, the only way is to remove the mole's food source -- meaning you get rid of all the earthworms and grubs in the lawn. Getting rid of the insect grubs and slugs might not be a bad idea, but most of you don't want to get rid of the earthworms. So you turn from the Nuclear Winter scenario to the other options... the ones that I call "Voodoo Mole Removal." I'm told they work sometimes.
1) Dropping chocolate ex-lax into their burrows. I think this one's myth. There's no evidence that moles consider chocolate as the perfect finish to a nice meal of earthworms and grubs. However, I've seen it recommended and it might work for someone. Maybe they're frightened by the smell of chocolate.
2) Putting smoke bombs in their burrows. I personally think you might get better results with a howitzer shell, but you might have other problems if you start using tank ammunition. The smell might get to them, however.
3) Chewing gum: There's been some published reports that say that moles may be attracted to rolled-up sticks of Juicy Fruit chewing gum. Apparently moles will sniff out the gum, chew it, and choke on it. This method is usually hotly debated wherever you get mole experts together. Heaven knows what would happen if they got their paws on bubble gum!
4) Alka Seltzer. There's all sorts of stories about moles getting this stuff and burping themselves to death. Count me dubious on this one, as well. I can't see an insect-eating critter going out of its way to gnaw on a giant mint-looking thing.
5) Flooding tunnels. Occasionally you get a mole with this method. But some moles (the star-nosed mole) like wetter environments and may feel you're just doing what you can to make them feel welcome.
6) Also recommended (and don't work, according to county agriculture agents): mothballing the tunnels, mousetraps baited with peanut butter, rosebush branches, urinating in their tunnels, used kitty litter, putting human/dog/cat hair in the tunnels, broken glass in tunnels, motor oil in tunnels. Some of these may chase moles off for awhile
Latest Articles