A moment of sudden panic sets in when you walk out to your yard and spot a series of raised mounds zigzagging through your grass. What once was a perfect lawn is now riddled with annoying critters and underground tunnels. A mole infestation isn’t the most severe problem that homeowners face, but they are still an unwelcome nuisance that leaves you scouring the internet for mole control tips.
Finding ways to stop moles is possible if you’re willing to put in a little bit of work. Moles, voles, gophers, and other rodents destroy flower beds by digging up plant roots and leave the land looking a mess.
Although their raised ridges don’t look appealing, you have to remember that there are sometimes benefits to these small animals.
Moles help aerate our yards and eat some of the harmful insects that intend to destroy flower beds. Despite the few advantages of moles, we don’t blame you for wanting to get rid of them and seeking out humane ways to keep them out of your yard for good.
Identifying Moles
Moles are ground-dwelling animals that use burrowing for shelter and finding food. These insectivores feed on grubs, larvae, earthworms, and other insects that hang out underground.
Their mole tunnels often leave yards, gardens, and flower beds damaged and make clear pathways for various other pests and rodents to find their way into the yard.
Moles are small mammals that are about seven inches in length with brown fur. They have tiny eyes, potato-shaped bodies, and pointed snouts.
They use their large front feet as flippers to push aside the soil and swim underground. Moles thrive in moist and loamy soil and are most often spotted in the early mornings or evenings during the spring and fall seasons.
Mole Control Tips
If you have a mole infestation, it might signal that something is going on with your soil. After all, these animals wouldn’t be there if they didn’t have good reason to be.
There are plenty of ways to stop moles from tearing up your yard. Start by identifying the moles and then work on prevention and damage control to take back ownership of your property.
With these helpful tips, you’ll soon be free from molehills and all the damage that comes with them.
Spotting Mole Damage
It’s easy to know if there is mole activity happening around your house because you see mounds of dirt piled up all over your land. Their tunnels typically go at least ten inches underground, but they leave volcano-shaped dirt mounds where the openings are.
Moles feed on beneficial insects, and if one is present, it may be doing severe damage to your soil quality. It is essential to take care of the mole problem as soon as you spot several signs of moles.
Handling a Mole Problem with Traps
Using mole traps is one of the best mole control tips out there. Most people don’t want to kill moles if they don’t have to. There are dozens of humane traps on the market that are easy to use.
The easiest way to catch a mole is to properly set the trap up and fill it with mole bait. As the mole enters the trap, a door closes behind it so it won’t escape.
Once you catch your mole, take the animal at least five miles away from your home to an open field or another safe place to release them. With luck, the mole won’t make his way back, and he will have plenty of free space for tunneling, digging, and eating.
How to Handle a Mole Infestation
If you don’t want to call pest control, one of the most effective ways to stop moles is to eliminate their food source. Pesticides and insecticides that target their favorite bugs kill off a lot of their food supply.
Although this isn’t great for our soil, the mole soon learns that there is no food to be had and encourages him to move elsewhere.
After some time, the beneficial bugs come back. Ensure you put other preventative measures in place so that you don’t welcome the rodents back with open arms.
Natural Ways to Stop Moles
Home remedies aren’t always the most effective, but some work better than others. Castor oil is an excellent product for a mole infestation.
The oil won’t kill the animals, but it does upset their digestive tracts and makes your lawn far less appealing than others nearby.
To make this castor oil recipe for moles, use an old container to stir three parts oil and one-part dish soap together. Add a gallon of water to a lawn or garden sprayer, and then stir in about four tablespoons of the oil and soap mixture into the sprayer.
Walk around your property and soak the mounds of soil and other areas where activity occurs.
Natural Mole Repellents
If you have a mole problem, try eliminating ground moles with natural remedies first before switching to more harmful products. Mothballs, cayenne pepper, and tea tree oil are some simple items to try before calling pest control.
Place mothballs inside the openings of the mole tunnels and then use a shovel to close the entryways. If you don’t have mothballs on hand, mix water with either cayenne pepper or tea tree oil and put the solution in a sprayer.
Spray all the areas around your home with the mixture and thoroughly soak all the molehills. Don’t forget to fill the openings back in so it’s easy to see if they are still active.
Plants to Deter Moles
Mole control isn’t always easy. These rodents don’t mind digging up plants as they tunnel through flower beds, but some plants emit unpleasant odors that moles hate.
Daffodils, marigolds, and plants from the allium family are some of the flowers that moles loathe. Plant these flowers in a barrier around your home to keep them away from your property line.
Most of these species are safe for both children and pets, and they also give yards vibrant pops of color. Even though the moles don’t enjoy the smell, we humans appreciate the pleasant aromas of these dynamic and hardy flowers.
Using Mole-Repellent Granules
Non-lethal ways to stop moles are always better to try first before taking more severe action. These rodent-repelling granules work on a variety of pests and are easy to apply to an entire yard.
To get rid of ground moles, start by spreading the small pellets over the regions of the property that have the most mole damage. Move the moles away from your yard to create a larger barrier.
Water the granules with a hose or sprinkler for at least 20 minutes on a light shower setting. The water helps the repellent absorb into the soil better than if you didn’t dampen it.
After about 24 hours, spread more granules further past the area where you initially applied them. Your goal is to keep moving them further and further away from your home, and each watering helps the repellent penetrate the ground.
After another full day, apply another round to an even further third zone and water all three areas once more. Repeat this step a final time on a fourth area until all the moles get pushed out of your property line.
Last-Resort Methods for a Mole Infestation
Bromethalin is a chemical that was developed in 1985 when there was a global problem with rodents. Bromethalin is an active ingredient in rodenticides and is extremely potent and lethal after ingested.
This ingredient is an odorless, pale, solid compound that interferes with the animal’s nervous system. You must use extreme caution and safety measures if you plan to use a rodenticide with bromethalin in it.
Dogs and cats may get extremely ill if ingested, and it may become lethal if they take in too much.
While not a homemade mole killer for lawns, these products aren’t only used for moles. They kill mice, squirrels, porcupines, beavers, voles, chipmunks, and woodchucks. While some are lethal after one dose, you may have to set out several doses over a few days.
Rodenticides come in bait blocks, pellets, liquids, and pouches. The baits often attract the moles to them. The moles ingest the bromethalin and it poisons them.
Although this isn’t the most humane method, it works well as a last resort. If you’ve tried every possible home remedy for rodents and nothing has worked, it’s ultimately your decision to call pest control or use these lethal products instead.
A mole infestation isn’t going to cause permanent damage to your home or its structure, but it does leave your yard and soil in lousy shape.
These animals aren’t always fun to deal with, and finding mole control methods that are effective might take a lot of time and energy.
The most important thing to remember is that your patience and dedication pay off eventually if you continue to search for ways to keep these critters away from your home.
If a mole infestation has left your property looking a mess, share these quick mole control tips on Facebook and Pinterest.