Mole Control Mole Prevention
Mole Control Mole Prevention
Mole Control and Mole Prevention
Moles create slightly raised areas along the top of the ground as they tunnel in search of food and shelter.
How moles tunnel
They tunnel by pushing soil up and to the side, as opposed to gophers which actually mine the dirt and remove it from the tunnel in those familiar horse shoe shaped mounds. Moles can create mounds, but they are not normally as large as those created by the pocket gopher.
What moles eat
Moles can be omnivores. They will sometimes eat anything that happens to crawl across their path. They prefer a diet of grubs and worms, and if you have moles in your yard, this is what they are after. Moles will eat earthworms, but by far, their favorite food is white grubs. Moles in your lawn usually mean that white grubs are present. Grubs are the larval stage of beetles, and in the U.S. that beetle is likely to be the June beetle, or June bug commonly seen buzzing around outdoor lighting in the summer. This is significant when it comes to mole prevention efforts.
Methods of mole control
Mole control trapping
Trapping moles is notoriously difficult.There are a number of different types of mole traps available, but honestly, none of them seem to work very well. I will not make any specific recommendations, other than to say, that I recommend using other methods of getting rid of moles!
Other mole control methods
Some methods of mole control can range from the silly to the absurd. Old wives tales abound. Some of the methods are so superstitious as to be just slightly short of voodoo, some simply don’t work. Some are even more of a danger to the homeowner than to the mole. Other methods I believe to be designed by practical joking friends or neighbors for the purpose of making other friends and neighbors look just plain silly!
Chemical mole control
There are mole baits available that will work. However, there are many factors involved which may limit their effectiveness for mole control. When using such products, be sure to follow the label directions perfectly, it is both the law, and the only hope you have of success when using them. There are chemical available which will offer protection from moles, although they are not made for targeting moles. Let me explain.
Mole prevention
By far, the best method for a mole free lawn is mole prevention. Mole prevention, like any other type of pest prevention involves depriving the pest of what it wants, and what it needs to survive. Pests need cover, food, and water to survive. If you can remove one or more of these factors, they will go away. Since water is an element, it would be hard to remove it from the great outdoors, and a moles cover is the ground, which also cannot be removed, we are left with the food supply. Get rid of that, and you get rid of the mole.
Mole control eliminating the food supply
Since mole are attracted by grubs, and grubs are the larvae of June bugs, and June bugs like outdoor lights, then it would be logical that mole prevention, would would involve getting rid of, or changing something about the lights. A little change in the direction of outdoor lighting can make a big difference. A change in the color of the lighting can make an even bigger difference. That is what needs to be done. The lighting should be oriented away from lawns where June bugs want to lay eggs. Lights with a yellow color do not attract June bugs, so, yellow is the color of choice. In some cases, a complete retooling of the outdoor lighting may be needed.
Exclusion
Another tool for mole prevention is exclusion. See: Gopher exclusion for more details on mole prevention by exclusion.
Grub control for mole prevention and mole control
There are ways to practice mole control with chemicals, and although it is an indirect method, it will work. The proper use of grub control chemicals will eliminate the grubs, and keep moles at bay. There are some newer products on the market that will give season long control, when used in conjunction with other chemicals in the early spring, and fall. Check with your local farm and ranch supply, or your home and garden supplier for details, and again, always follow the label directions!
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