How to Get Rid of Moles

Although moles are relatively harmless, they are disruptive if they get to your garden or house. These pests can cause a lot of damage to your garden and lawns as they tear up green grass and uproot plants. It’s critical to learn how to get rid of moles in your yard before they do extensive damage.

Learn how to kill moles and how to identify them when they’re in your yard or attic.

>> See our list of the best mole traps

Identifying Moles

Moles are carnivorous creatures that feast on larvae, grubs, and worms. They have a body that is about six inches in length and a one-inch tail. You’ll notice soft black-grey fur on their cylindrical bodies that hide their tiny eyes.

Other features include a hairless, pink snout, broad shoulders, and spade-like feet. Moles can live for an average of two to three years, but some can survive for six years.

Are Moles and Pocket Voles Similar?

Although moles and voles resemble each other, they are different. Voles are brown, while moles have a grey to black color. Also, voles do have a nose instead of a snout, and their diet mainly consists of grasses, fruits, flowers, and other plants. Voles live in groups, while moles are solitary creatures.

Both moles and voles are destructive when it comes to vegetation. Moles create tunnels and burrows, while voles feed on plants.

Habits and Characteristics of Moles

Moles typically breed in the spring. They dig to build nests in which to raise their young ones and these pests can also dig to hunt.

Grubs and worms are the mole’s staple diet. Moles need to eat as they use so much energy while digging. Research shows that moles consume their body weight in insects daily.  They can dig at least 15ft of soil in an hour. You can find mole nests beneath the topsoil.

Moles are the most active during three times of the day, mainly 2-7 a.m., 11-4 p.m., and 8-11 p.m. Also, females are active around May and June as this is the time they nurse their little ones. Males are more active in February and March when they are searching for females. Note that the number of mounds doesn’t indicate the number of moles around.

All moles can swim, the reason you’ll find the star-nosed mole in low-lying areas where he can get its food underwater. Some of these tunnels exit into streams or ponds.

What Damage Do Moles Create?

Although moles are considered beneficial as they aerate the soil and increase the circulation of nutrients, they can also cause damage. These pests can disrupt in-ground sprinkler systems, leading to costly repairs.

Also, moles tend to create tunnels, which can affect the root systems of grasses and other plants. That can create dead brown patches on lawns. During the winter, these pests dig close to homes, something that can compromise the foundation. The holes created can create hazards for children and pets.

What’s more, moles can spread diseases like rabies. If you have seeds, nuts, and acorns in your garden, these pests will feed on the germinating plants, thus destroying them.

What are the Signs of a Mole Infestation?

You may have a mole infestation if you:

• Spot raised tunnels or twisting across your lawn
• Find molehills made from dirt on your lawn
• Notice damage on your grass or plants

How to Get Rid of Moles

While you may read on the ways on how to get rid of moles in yard home remedy, the truth is that it’s not easy to get rid of moles.

Below are some ways on how to get rid of moles in yard fast.

Inspect Your Property for the Presence of Moles

Walk around your property to check if you have mole tunnels. You can use a flashlight to identify the raised parts before alerting them of your presence. Most moles are solitary, and sometimes the presence of multiple tunnels could mean there’s only one mole.

You also need to check your garden and yard. Look at your vegetation. Any presence of plant damage and burrows could be a sign of a vole and not a mole. Moles only feed on insects, and they stay underground.

After positively identifying the pest, it’s time to determine the best cause of action to get rid of it.

Use a Trap

A quality mole trap can help you remove moles without causing injuries or suffering. Find simple to use and set traps that you can place in shallow or deep tunnels. Remember that moles have a strong sense of smell; you need to mask your scent to make sure that you attract moles to the trap. Cover the trap with soil to increase your success rate.

When trapping moles, it’s essential to find their tunnels. If unsure, you can cover the hole and check to see if it’s been dug out the next day. Place the trap near the tunnel, and make sure that it’s compact enough to prevent the moles from digging under it. Cover the trap area with soil or a plant pot.

Get a Mole Repellent

Repellents are an excellent way to get rid of moles in yard fast. You can opt for the liquid mole repellent or the granular mole repellent.

Granular mole repellent is in powder form. All you need is to distribute it over the soil using a drop spreader or hand.  There are different products in the market made from castor oil. The scent creates an unfavorable environment for these pests.

Remember to follow the package instructions on how to use the repellent. Note that the repellent doesn’t poison the moles, but it forces them to leave the area.

Liquid mole repellent based on castor oil is another excellent choice. You can also create your repellent using castor oil. Spread it using a hose-end sprayer. Ready-made repellents come with a hose-end sprayer on the bottle. Attach the repellent to the hose and spray the area.

Mole Bait

Another way on how to get rid of moles in yard, home remedy is to use mole baits. These baits use neurotoxins like Bromethalin that is toxic to moles.

You can find these baits shaped like grubs or earthworms to trick the mole into thinking they are food. Insert the bait into the active molehills or tunnels. Once the mole consumes it, the bait will kill the mole in two to three days.

Note that some states do not allow the poisoning of moles. Make sure that you do your research before using the mole bait method.

How to Prevent Moles from Accessing Your Yard

You can prevent moles from invading your yard by:

Using Natural Repellents

You can keep your yard mole-free by using natural repellents. Treat old burrows with repellents at regular intervals to create an environment that the moles can’t survive in. Natural ingredients like pure peppermint oil, cayenne powder, and granular castor oil work best in keeping these pests away.

Get Vibrating Stakes

The pest control market has introduced sonic wave-blasting devices. These tools lodge into the ground and vibrate the dirt.

These vibrations distress the mole and create a pulsating environment underground. You should note that you might require several spikes depending on the size of your yard to make this effective.

Create a Mole Barrier Around the Garden

Moles can be destructive; it’s essential to create a barrier that will prevent them from accessing your yard or garden. Get quality mole mesh and lay it vertically in the trench. Moles won’t dig through such hard surfaces, and they’ll be forced to change directions.

You can also create a barrier by digging a trench that’s about six inches wide and two feet wide. Fill the trench with rocks to prevent any burrowing or tunneling, which could lead the moles to your garden.

Get Ultrasonic Devices

Ultrasonic devices have recently become famous, and that’s because they produce penetrating underground sonic vibrations that drive the moles crazy. The noise doesn’t affect other pets, but moles find the noise irritating, and they would instead move to a quiet environment.

Treat the Lawn with Insecticides

Moles consume earthworms and grubs. You need to eliminate their food source to get rid of them and keep them away. Apply an insecticide in the form of granules during spring months, to ensure the method is effective.

However, be prepared for the moles to be more aggressive and cause more surface damage with increased tunneling.

Professional Yard Mole Removal

While moles do not pose any health risk to humans or pets, they can cause extensive damage through burrowing and tunneling. Although you may come across various home remedies that promise to get rid of moles, most of them aren’t effective.

You need the help of a professional to remove moles from your yard. Remember that these pests can multiply, which could lead to an infestation. They have a staff that is knowledgeable about effective mole trapping solutions that are humane and effective.