Getting rid of Moles/Voles

[mikefromnh]

Help me out here guys. I know that folks from different parts of the country have different names for the same critter so- WHAT THE HECK IS A VOLE?
Anything like a gopher?

Around here voles make a mess of vegetable gardens, but people think they have a mole problem.
We tell people that "vegetarian moles" (voles) are there real problem and they just look at us funny, until we explain that moles mostly eat worms and such.

Here is an article explaining the difference.

Vole Control | Field Mice | Moles | Meadow Voles

 

[Hill Farmer]

OK, moles I got, and have a few suggestions.

1. Flatten down the tunnels, then see where they are popped back up a few ours or a day later. This lets you know where the little rascal is. Now the fun part. Stick the water hose into the tunnel on the uphill side of the fresh area. Be ready with your shovel and watch for him to pop his nose up for air. When he does, scoop him out and whack him.

2. Put out pesticide to kill the bugs and grubs in your yard. Once the food is gone the moles will go somewhere else. Diazanon works well if you can still get it.

3. Never tried this one, but I have heard from several folks that sticking a few wads of Juicy Fruit gum into the runs will get rid of them.

4. They make spring loaded mole traps you can set out.

 

[polo1665]

OK, moles I got, and have a few suggestions.


2. Put out pesticide to kill the bugs and grubs in your yard. Once the food is gone the moles will go somewhere else. Diazanon works well if you can still get it.

I've gotta agree with this one. Around here the rule is "get rid of the grubs and you get rid of the moles". They say it is the only sure way to be rid of them. Hard to tell by my field though

Mark

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

I posted out way over in the Rural Living,

My wife takes a stick to find the tunnel, she digs it out and takes a spoon that is on a small stick. She takes a stick of gum (Juicy Fruit) and puts it down as far as she can. This is the important part, you take a little grass to cover the hole and then put dirt over it sealing up the tunnel again but not covering up the gum.

They are supposed to die because they can't digest the gum when they eat it, something about Juicy Fruit they like the smell or something draws them to it.

 

[shutt40]

I use the spring loaded mole box traps they work great. You just set it at a fresh hole and the next day you have one less mole. The only problem I've had is sometimes I have to go looking for my trap if a predator comes along and drags away the mole and trap. I don't like to use poison because you don't know what you will kill.
Black Box Gopher Trap - PestDetour
You can buy them at most farm stores and some country hardware stores
Frank

 

[shutt40]

Alltoys
I see you are in Alberta. Most likely you have pocket gophers same as I do. You can get the black box traps at UFA
Frank

 

[Thumper & Buttercup]

Hey Shutt40,

So you knock down the mound and then dig out the end of the tunnel and then cover the trap up?? Looks like a good trap.

 

[charlz]

I use the spring loaded mole box traps they work great.

I tried those on pocket gophers... got some young ones but the older ones were 'trap smart'.

 

[RonMar]

I posted out way over in the Rural Living,

My wife takes a stick to find the tunnel, she digs it out and takes a spoon that is on a small stick. She takes a stick of gum (Juicy Fruit) and puts it down as far as she can. This is the important part, you take a little grass to cover the hole and then put dirt over it sealing up the tunnel again but not covering up the gum.

They are supposed to die because they can't digest the gum when they eat it, something about Juicy Fruit they like the smell or something draws them to it.

I found a good way to access the tunnels once found with a thin probe rod, is a minature auger. I saw some adds on TV a while back for a small auger that you use on a cordless drill for planting bulbs and tilling soil in flowerbeds. I came across one in my local farm/hardware store for a few bucks. It has a single auger plate and will bore a neat hole into a tunnel about 3" in diameter. It works great...

 

[srjones]

I haven't tried the Juicy Fruit thing, but it sounds simple and easy. Not much luck with the traps. Better luck with the 'gasser' smoke bombs.

I've also flooded the tunnels with a lot of water.

I know of an old timer that keeps a poorly tuned lawnmower engine for the sole purpose of blowing exhaust gas into the tunnels.

The ultimate tool has to be the Rodex 4000 or the Rodenator which I haven't tried. (pretty spendy) I wish they were plans for making one of those...

YouTube - Rodex 4000 Kelly
YouTube - Boom-Boom (bye-bye moles) #4