Well now that the snow is all melted I can see the damage that has been hiding under the snow all winter. I saw the tunnels and burrows through the snow all winter long. Now that it's melted it looks like mole ( I think moles) mazes all over the yard and lots of destroyed grass. How can I remedy this and prevent it from happening in the future? Right now I put mouse traps next to thier holes by the foundation and I've got two so far. Do the granules work? Will they eat mouse poison? I have many large spots all over the 1 acre yard
Help I've got moles destroying my yard!
- Thread starter mc1984ss
- Start date
PWC Repair
Well-known member
I've heard of the gum trick. You can buy a mole trap, you smash a section of the tunnel and set the trap over it, when they come back through and dig it springs the trap and they get impaled with spikes. Also, lots of small dogs will dig them out and kill them.
Here is a method that not only allowed me to annihilate the Mole population on my lawn, and my neighbors lawn, it also provided me with the immense satisfaction, of personally, and with great violence, killing the pesky little creatures , above ground in the light of day
The month of March and early April is the perfect time and all you need is 2 or 3 metal garden pails [ plastic won't work because it allows light to pass] Place the pails ,upside down near the Mole paths, preferably where they will get the most sunlight,then just leave them alone for a week or 2 . After a couple of weeks on a warm sunny afternoon it will be time to literally play Wack -A -Mole
The Moles will find the pails because the pails will be the warmest places on the lawn , and they will come to the surface in the darkness under the pails , sometimes in large numbers [had 9 of them under one of my pails] You'll need a weapon, my weapon of choice was a flat back shovel and you'll have to be quick , you'll have about 3 or 4 seconds before the Moles react. Those little buggers are fast and they will scatter in all directions
I know it might seem heartless to experience satisfaction in killing one of God's creatures, but given the level of damage , frustration and expense that one Mole can cause [let alone a dozen or more ] I'm fairly sure I'll be forgiven
The month of March and early April is the perfect time and all you need is 2 or 3 metal garden pails [ plastic won't work because it allows light to pass] Place the pails ,upside down near the Mole paths, preferably where they will get the most sunlight,then just leave them alone for a week or 2 . After a couple of weeks on a warm sunny afternoon it will be time to literally play Wack -A -Mole
The Moles will find the pails because the pails will be the warmest places on the lawn , and they will come to the surface in the darkness under the pails , sometimes in large numbers [had 9 of them under one of my pails] You'll need a weapon, my weapon of choice was a flat back shovel and you'll have to be quick , you'll have about 3 or 4 seconds before the Moles react. Those little buggers are fast and they will scatter in all directions
I know it might seem heartless to experience satisfaction in killing one of God's creatures, but given the level of damage , frustration and expense that one Mole can cause [let alone a dozen or more ] I'm fairly sure I'll be forgiven
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
jeffmattero76
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2018
- Messages
- 115
If they are moles, you may wish to consider an application of Grub-X. I believe moles feed on grubs (Japanese beetle larvae), and getting rid of the grubs removes the food source, and the moles leave.
Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk
Notgrownup
Well-known member
Get rid of the food source...Bifentrin I sprayed the **** out of my yard and they went away, I did use something else as well but I use Bifentrin religiously, it also does a great job with fleas and ticks.
The grub X I think was the other stuff I used but I bought it at a chemical store that farmers use...the Bifen just keeps them away , not sure why but it does.
The grub X I think was the other stuff I used but I bought it at a chemical store that farmers use...the Bifen just keeps them away , not sure why but it does.
Last edited:
Reg1952
Well-known member
I had a problem last year. My Mother told me to try the Juicy Fruit trick.I dont know if it worked for sure but I put a bunch in the tunnels and they disappeared. Cant say it work for sure but there gone. I got some grub killer while I was visiting the USA last fall to also get rid of skunk digging as well.
Bent Handle
Well-known member
Previous poster is correct, that’s vole damage, not mole damage. The tunnel around under the snow. Typically the grass fills back in pretty well once it stars growing. Otherwise it can be seeded in the spring if you skip the premergent in that small area.
Ign
Well-known member
Yeah I've got voles, too. Never really tried to do much w them. They only annoy me around the shop when they create fresh mounds of soil that cover something up like a walkway. Plus the fresh soil mound is ripe for mud.
My cat tries to hunt them, not sure if she's very successful
I had once heard of straw soaked in ethylene glycol placed over their holes, but that's too risky for dogs IMO.
My cat tries to hunt them, not sure if she's very successful
I had once heard of straw soaked in ethylene glycol placed over their holes, but that's too risky for dogs IMO.
Dentaltec
Well-known member
Scrivyscriv
Member
I used the rural king mole trap 1001.
Once the mole tunnels started getting active again this year I caught two moles a day apart. Squishes em and kills them
Once the mole tunnels started getting active again this year I caught two moles a day apart. Squishes em and kills them
BajaScout
Well-known member
I will loan you my German Shepherd.
No bird, mole, fly, possum or skunk makes it out of my backyard alive.
Except for killing skunks I am proud of her accomplishments.
Honestly she took care of the mole issue.
No bird, mole, fly, possum or skunk makes it out of my backyard alive.
Except for killing skunks I am proud of her accomplishments.
Honestly she took care of the mole issue.
38Chevy454
Well-known member
I had an old female lab/rottweiler mix that would get the moles, and also leave a torn up yard where she dug them out. So the traps are a less total work solution, although less fun for the dog.
BajaScout
Well-known member
I had an old female lab/rottweiler mix that would get the moles, and also leave a torn up yard where she dug them out. So the traps are a less total work solution, although less fun for the dog.
My dog waits for them to come out. Her and the other dog (small terrier) corner them and pretty much scare them to death. Neither dig holes in the yard.
My only complaint is the large pile of dung that German Shepherd can produce. She is a big girl to begin with.
This topic comes up from time to time. This is from last year:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=382690
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=382690
Attachments
gemniii
Well-known member
My Dad had a way I liked. He'd go out in the yard with a pocketful of small firecrackers. Drop a lit one in a mole hole, put his booted foot over the hole. "Thump".
Apparently they don't like sudden loud sounds.
Don't do this in thin sandals.
Apparently they don't like sudden loud sounds.
Don't do this in thin sandals.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
My friend had a Sheppard. When he was picking up after his dog, he would pull the mole mound open and dump the dog poop in the cavity. I don't know if he was trying to get rid of the moles or using their digging to his advantage. I have not seen him in a year or so. If I remember I will ask how the mole "treats" are doing.
I had rats move into the drain tile around my older shop. I used one of those flex exhaust hoses to direct the exhaust from a 1932 Fairbanks Kerosene 503 cubic inch engine into the drain tile. I thought it looked comical to see exhaust smoke rising out of the down-spouts at the eaves.
I have another friend in the Okanagan. He saw video on You Tube where propane was being let into the underground tunnels. After a time, the propane was "sparked". He tried this and said the ground lifted a few centimeters above the tunneling. His rodent situation was solved, for now.
I had rats move into the drain tile around my older shop. I used one of those flex exhaust hoses to direct the exhaust from a 1932 Fairbanks Kerosene 503 cubic inch engine into the drain tile. I thought it looked comical to see exhaust smoke rising out of the down-spouts at the eaves.
I have another friend in the Okanagan. He saw video on You Tube where propane was being let into the underground tunnels. After a time, the propane was "sparked". He tried this and said the ground lifted a few centimeters above the tunneling. His rodent situation was solved, for now.
Last edited:
BajaScout
Well-known member
Awesome! Never thought of that. Ingenious solution to two problems.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
I would bet a bear banger would have a bigger impact.
About 40 yrs ago i had a new lawn and it was coming in nicely. I used to get out of my truck and crawl to the door pulling weeds. I was into it. One day I got home from work and there were m/vole trails throughout my lawn. Outraged and enough in the bag to do it, I went up, got my big Oxy/ACt rig with the big rosebud tip, got the fire just right, buried it in the hole, went into the house for a fuse material and another beer. Ran a fuse of Bullseye, my 45 powder, and hit it will a striker. I had fire coming out of a number of places and blew that yard into the next county. But, I got the moles. No ones house burned down. Fortunately my wife wasn't home. I filled in the trenches and said to hell with the yard.
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Getting rid of moles IS NOT rocket science. Forget the traps. Juicy Fruit gum doesn't work. Tiny windmills won't work......YOU HAVE GRUBS.
Now either you need to fertilize to kill grubs or not, depending on how you feel about chemicals. BUT.....take some time, stomp their run down, then watch where they are working. Jam a water hose in the run, and watch them pop up.
Stab with a pitchfork.
Now either you need to fertilize to kill grubs or not, depending on how you feel about chemicals. BUT.....take some time, stomp their run down, then watch where they are working. Jam a water hose in the run, and watch them pop up.
Stab with a pitchfork.
PassnThru
Well-known member
It was my understanding that Grub control also equals earthworm control. Earthworms are very beneficial to your lawn so I've never done the Grub control.
I have fields behind my house - many moles live there. I have a shovel and patience. From the first appearance of a mole tunnel that I notice I am maintaining a kill rate of about 90% in 24 hours. When I first initiated my war against moles, I was killing them at a rate of about 20 per year. Currently, I kill about 2 per year.
If you have never handled a mole before they have the softest fur and it is absolutely clean. They live underground but when you pop one out their fur looks like it has never seen dirt before.
That is totally awesome but they still have to die.
I have fields behind my house - many moles live there. I have a shovel and patience. From the first appearance of a mole tunnel that I notice I am maintaining a kill rate of about 90% in 24 hours. When I first initiated my war against moles, I was killing them at a rate of about 20 per year. Currently, I kill about 2 per year.
If you have never handled a mole before they have the softest fur and it is absolutely clean. They live underground but when you pop one out their fur looks like it has never seen dirt before.
That is totally awesome but they still have to die.
LifeLongWNYer
Well-known member
The mole solutions are always good for a laugh. I think I'll start a list of them. Every year, new ideas are brought forward.
.
.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
ALL: I think I agree with getting rid of the grubs cause if you don't get moles you get raccoons and skunks that can do this to your yard and i'm having to repair mine for maybe the 4th or 5th time in the last 2 years here.
I talked to the guy at Seattle's big GARDEN & FLOWER SHOW last month and he's selling a unit that fires a shot (think ramset 22 shell) into the hole that kills the mole when they touch the trigger and set it off. He said the company has been in business for 11 years and sold over 60,000 of them.
sorry i don't have his card handy and I didn't buy one cause it cost a benjamin, but i still might order one if the raccoons and moles aren't gone this year.
here's what the raccoons did from about 3-4am one night. about the only way I can stop them is to put chain link fencing on the yard and hold it down with something which did help a little, but I didn't have enough chain link fencing for my little yard.
I talked to the guy at Seattle's big GARDEN & FLOWER SHOW last month and he's selling a unit that fires a shot (think ramset 22 shell) into the hole that kills the mole when they touch the trigger and set it off. He said the company has been in business for 11 years and sold over 60,000 of them.
sorry i don't have his card handy and I didn't buy one cause it cost a benjamin, but i still might order one if the raccoons and moles aren't gone this year.
here's what the raccoons did from about 3-4am one night. about the only way I can stop them is to put chain link fencing on the yard and hold it down with something which did help a little, but I didn't have enough chain link fencing for my little yard.
Attachments
Thanks for the help everyone, you are correct they are definitely voles not moles. I have fields on two sides of my property so I am afraid this battle will be on going. In the past two days I got three in traps and two with a shovel. I just wish I knew if I had ten in my yard or a hundred. Theyare also digging next to the foundation and chewing on the foam. I appreciate the offer to borrow the German Shepard and I know my kids would love it but it looks like you are a little far from me. Drivesitfar that is a beautiful yard sorry what the racoons did to it
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
And these stories are very inspirational too -- I'm not very much into nature and didn't grow up hunting or fishing or anything like that, but any time I have to deal with some loathesome creature in my house or yard I psych myself up w/ this mantra: "I am an apex predator, I am an apex predator, I am an apex predator...."
As far as I know I don't have moles or voles (thank god), but I do have fire ants; they just appeared in the last year or two, so I think the previous residents must have dumped enough chemicals on the lawn to keep them away for 10 years but now they're back. (The fire ants, not the previous residents.) I need to go get some fire ant poison, but I wish I could do the ultimate apex predator ***-kicking to those little bastards:
I don't think this method would work for voles tho, you'd probably have to melt an airplane!
TriumphFan
Well-known member
This is all very helpful. I've been dealing with these little bastards for years. I used to have a beautiful Zoysia lawn but since the moles showed up it's mostly weeds. I am on 5 acres so it's expensive to treat that much so I am in for-all-of-the-above.
The Molecat looks interesting but I don't see exit tunnels very often.
The Molecat looks interesting but I don't see exit tunnels very often.
BajaScout
Well-known member
I wonder if one of these electronic dog fences would keep raccoons out?
Probably, but how are you going to get the **** to keep the collar on?
BajaScout
Well-known member
I thought they emitted an audio signal that was annoying to animals but we could not hear.
None that I've seen (for dogs). Most have a 2 pronged collar and an electrical shock. Mine does a couple warning beeps, a light shock and then heavy if the dog still hasn't backed away.
Need to get back to training him, but most dogs figure out the beep is the edge of the yard after only a few corrections.
If you can get the **** to sit still so you can collar him sure it may work, but calling him in for battery changes out to be interesting.
BajaScout
Well-known member
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
I use this (I have a dog so I don't use poison):
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...chPreview-_-DidYouMean-_-Product&cm_vc=-10005
I have a little square of plywood that I place under the plunger to make it more sensitive and also raise the whole trap closer to the surface since the mole tunnels around here tend to be pretty shallow (very hard soil).
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...chPreview-_-DidYouMean-_-Product&cm_vc=-10005
I have a little square of plywood that I place under the plunger to make it more sensitive and also raise the whole trap closer to the surface since the mole tunnels around here tend to be pretty shallow (very hard soil).
4 FN 27
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yep. That is what I am using. And it counts towards my "Barrel Index".
Believe it or not, they are protected and it is illegal to kill them in Germany. Same with wasps. They are everywhere. Gotta love European bureaucracy. They love to leave mounds in my back yard. The neighborhood cat got one or two but there are fields behind my house that are loaded with the bastards. They also don't leave tunnels here, just the mounds. They tunnel deeper so they aren't visible on the surface. Kill traps are illegal and all I have found are special mole peppermint moth balls and sonic devices which haven't worked at all.