Moles Taking Over

[Tractor Seabee]

We have been fighting the moles for two years in our yard and garden. Tried everything from poison to vibrators. My daughter has a litle dog that we turned loose, all he did was till up the ground exposing tunnels, no moles. They have increased exponently rather than decrease. These are not gophers, there are none in the Puget Sound region. What have you had luck with? We will try anything once.

Ron

 

[NoTrespassing]

We have been fighting the moles for two years in our yard and garden. Tried everything from poison to vibrators. My daughter has a litle dog that we turned loose, all he did was till up the ground exposing tunnels, no moles. They have increased exponently rather than decrease. These are not gophers, there are none in the Puget Sound region. What have you had luck with? We will try anything once.

Ron

Our dog got a couple. I've poision a few with some expensive poison, Motomco Mole Killer. We cut the poison worms in half. They're still tearing up the yard. I'm pretty sure if I was a little more persistant with that poison we could keep them at bay but I seem to find better things to do with my time instead. My grandmother used to stand over a mole hill with a potato fork and kill them when she saw the dirt move. Talk about patience!

Kevin

 

[Cap-n-Cray]

Ron, sure they are not voles? On Bainbridge we have voles that come from the forest. The voles keep digging up my grass areas. I can see the mounds coming from the forested areas. They eat grubs, not plants. Are you using the right poison? I use a pellet poison that you put in their tunnels with some good results. I got from HD an inserting device that you just stick in the ground, turn a handle and it puts the pellets in the tunnel. I have not eliminated them, but can control them.

Cary

 

[wsp617]

I've had luck using a heavy dose of grub-killing insecticide. Normally a granular product. If you kill the grubs/worms in the ground, the moles will leave as you've eliminated the food source. The problem is I have to put it down every year (and sometimes more).

Years ago I used Diazinon. That can no longer be purchased so I buy what ever they have at the store.

I've also had some luck with the garden hose. If I discover a "new" tunnel and I can get to it with a garden hose, I'll stick the hose in the tunnel and let the water run. Twice I've had moles come to the surface to avoid drowning.....they didn't make it back under.

They can be a major pain. I'd give the insecticide a try and see if that helps.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Ron, sure they are not voles? On Bainbridge we have voles that come from the forest. The voles keep digging up my grass areas. I can see the mounds coming from the forested areas. They eat grubs, not plants. Are you using the right poison? I use a pellet poison that you put in their tunnels with some good results. I got from HD an inserting device that you just stick in the ground, turn a handle and it puts the pellets in the tunnel. I have not eliminated them, but can control them.

Cary

Cary, pretty sure as they are a lot smaller, we have them in the forest also. they usually live under logs and brush. They do not leave the huge mounds like moles. Sometimes the mounds are over 12" diameter. We use the tunnel worms, pine-sol, and the vibrators. They all work for awhile but they seem to get used to all them and keep on going. I'll look for the insert device. Thanks



Ron

 

[DwightD123]

I watched a program where a local mole trapper was telling some of his tricks of the trade. I was interested because he used the same steel spring stake traps I used but I could never get them with it. Once he explained the proper way to use it I have been successful more often than not. Now my neighbors have moles and I don't. I keep telling them what I learned but they seem bent on doing it their way.
The trick is in the trap set. It's not as simple as pushing the tunnel down, planting the trap and setting the trip. The key is in the dirt preparation. If you pack the dirt when you collapse the tunnel you are making the trap ineffective most of the time. The spears cannot get through the packed dirt with enough force to kill the mole. Instead take a garden trowel and scoop off the top of the tunnel. Take that dirt and crumble it so it is loose. Replace that dirt then set your trap where the trigger just touches the top of the loose dirt. I have gone from unsuccesful trapping to significant success with this method. Of course if you are retired with nothing better to do you can sit around with a spade or .410. Happy Trapping!

 

[Pete Judd]

I have a whole herd digging around now. A friend must have 5 traps out now, the worst year ever. The cats bring them to the front door all the time, as well as pocket gophers. The worst are under the fruit trees. I tried the garden hose thing, and I think that they like that as well. But boy they sure till the soil. However, if they are eating the grubs, and worms, it means that my lawn is healthy.

 

[Cap-n-Cray]

Ron,

There is one other way.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgztUzqaL3E&feature=related"]Rodenator[/ame]

:confused2:

 

[creekbend]

A neighbor of mine when we lived in Florida would attach a section of Smurf Pvc Pipe to the exhaust of his lawn tractor. He would funnel the exhaust into the tunnel openings. It worked. Just a thought.

 

[Bird]

I'm wondering why the big increase in the number and/or activity of the moles. I tried everything I could think of for nearly 2 years and I guess you could say I've given up. Nothing worked. But it does appear their activity in my yard has finally decreased.