Moles can be beneficial or harmful, depending on how you choose to look at them. Their burrowing habits turn the soil and allow air to reach into the earth.
This is good for soil creatures like earthworms. On the other hand, the same digging patterns can make your garden, lawn or yard an eyesore.
To prevent the damage from escalating, you might want to take action on time. This article will teach you how to get rid of moles and keep them away too.
What Are Moles?
Moles are burrowing insectivores. They are 6 to 8 inches long with velvety grey to black ur, thin, hairless snouts, and small eyes and ears.
Moles’ large front legs have long claws that dig like a hoe. During the spring breeding season, moles tend to live alone, so the many tunnel patterns in your yard are likely to be home to just one mole.
Before you learn how to get rid of moles, you need to learn how they live. Moles build new feeding tunnels all the time and may not use the same one twice.
You may find inlet and outlet mounds, which are generally round and symmetrical, pushed up by the mole in the shape of a volcano. The hole is usually messy but remains visible.
The mounds are connected to the main tracks that the moles use over and over again. Tracks are 12-18 inches underground and generally not visible.
Moles feed on insects and insect larvae, but they are particularly fond of white larvae, which are common lawn pests. Given a choice, moles will prefer moist, sandy, loamy soil to dry, heavy loamy soil.
They are most active during warm, humid months, although they live underground year-round. Did you know that small numbers of moles can be valuable for landscaping?
They help aerate the soil and eradicate large populations of harmful insects but when you have too many moles affecting your landscaping, it’s time to act.
How To Identify Mole Damage In Your Yard & Garden
Before learning how to get rid of moles, first know how to differentiate their presence from that of another.
Mole damage may seem similar to the destruction caused by voles, mice, pocket gophers or other rodents. However, there are some key differences to take note of.
1. Dead Grass
2. Molehills
3. Mounds That Are Far Apart
4. Chunks Of Dirt
1. Dead Grass
Finding dead patches of grass are a good indication that you have a mole problem. As the moles dig their tunnels, they disrupt the root systems of nearby grasses and kill the grass on the surface, leaving behind dead zones.
2. Molehills
When the moles dig their tunnels, they act like mini diggers, scooping all the dirt out of the tunnel and o the surface, creating a telltale molehill at the tunnel entrance.
People sometimes confuse mole tunnels with those of gopher gophers, small rodents that also tunnel underground.
However, gophers do not generate raised ridges when they move. Their tunnels tend t k flattened, fan-shaped, or semicircular.
Each mound may contain a visible hole, although clods of earth can camouflage the hole.
3. Mounds That Are Far Apart
Like we said before, moles aren’t the only creatures making their way in and out of tunnels in the yard. Gophers do something similar.
The difference, however, is that gopher mounds are close together while gopher mounds are typically about two meters apart. Take note of this when you want to identify what may be digging up your back garden.
4. Chunks Of Dirt
When ground squirrels or gophers dig in your garden, they crumble the soil into a soft powder. Moles, on the other hand, dig up the earth in chunks.
When examining mounds in your yard, look for clods of soil, which are a surefire sign of moles. If you’re wondering if you have moles in your yard, it’s just as important to know what not to look for.
Because moles are insectivorous, they do not chew on plants or root systems. Instead, they eat earthworms, larvae, and centipedes.
If you notice bite marks on plants or vegetables in your garden, mice or mice are probably to blame, not moles.
What Attracts Moles To Your Yard?
Moles are likely to show up in areas that offer the ideal habitat for feeding, breeding, and burrowing.
Here are 3 environmental conditions that moles are attracted to:
1. Lots Of Insects
2. Cool Temperatures
3. Landscaping Elements
1. Lots Of Insects
Moles eat many insects. It is reported that many species eat up to the whole of their body weight on insects every day.
Their diet consists of earthworms, white maggots, beetles and larvae which may be found in abundance where you live. Moles build burrows in areas where these insects are plentiful.
2. Cool Temperatures
In contrast to common belief, moles are neither blind nor nocturnal. They are active throughout the day and prefer moist, cool soil, which helps them regulate their temperature.
3. Landscaping Elements
The main structure of tunnels that moles usually follow is certain landscape features such as rows of fences, paths or other man-made edges. They may also appear along a hedge line or other sheltered area.
Moles also hide under bushes and trees to find insects living in their root systems. Wherever moles settle, food is the main motivation, therefore, controlling their food sources is one of the most effective ways to control mole populations.
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6 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Moles
This is how to get humanely rid of moles:
1. Eliminate Their Food Sources
2. Apply A Repellent
3. Use Plants As A Barrier
4. Dig A Trench
5. Create An Unfriendly Environment
6. Keep Your Lawn Tidy
7. Create An Artificial Drought
1. Eliminate Their Food Sources
Moles love to snack on insects. If you remove maggots and other insects from your garden, moles will move on to find better food sources.
We recommend controlling larval populations by using beneficial nematodes or milk spores to kill the larvae. If you want faster results, use an insecticide instead.
Pros: This method is humane and straightforward
Cons: Moles can become dependent on other food sources and insect species.
2. Apply A Repellent
In some cases, a mole repellent is an effective solution to an infestation. For example, castor oil doesn’t kill moles, but it does cause indigestion in moles that come in contact with it, making your lawn a less attractive area to live in.
Make your homemade mole repellent with this recipe: 3 parts castor oil and 1 part dish soap. Mix four tablespoons of this mixture with a gallon of water and drench your garden tunnels and driveways.
You can also buy repellents in liquid or granular form and apply them to your garden with a spreader. Be sure to follow all label instructions carefully if choosing this option.
Pros: Safe, humane, and safe for pets and children.
Cons: Needs to be reapplied regularly
3. Use Plants As A Barrier
Moles do not like plants with strong smells, such as daffodils, marigolds, and anything in the allium family. Plant these species around the edges of your garden to create a natural barrier, or plant them in raised beds to protect the root system.
If you prefer, you can also purchase ready-made mole barriers from your local gardening store.
Pros: Safe, humane and lovely addition to your lawn and garden.
Cons: Time-consuming, requires ongoing maintenance.
3. Dig A Trench
To create an artificial border around your lawn and garden, dig a trench about 2 feet deep and 6 inches wide around the area you want to protect. Fill the trench with rocks or cover it with wire mesh or metal mesh with holes ¾ wide or smaller.
This is a long-term solution that is time-consuming but effective in preventing moles from entering your yard.
4. Create An Unfriendly Environment
Moles do not like living in disturbing areas. This is good news for you because it means getting rid of them can be as easy as creating an uncomfortable environment.
To do this, purchase a sonic hoe from your local hardware and garden supply store and drive it into the soil in your yard. This tip uses electronic pulses to create irritating noises that encourage moles to go elsewhere.
But don’t worry, you won’t be able to hear or feel the electronic impulses.
Pros: Simple and affordable
Cons: May not be as effective as other solutions
5. Keep Your Lawn Tidy
Moles feel safer when undercover. Because of this, removing their protection is a great way to encourage them to go elsewhere.
Keep lawns mowed and garden beds manicured. Avoid using thick layers of mulch to cover beds and remove all wood heaps or heaps of organic waste.
You may also want to reduce watering, as excess moisture attracts insects and creates an ideal habitat for moles.
Pros: Creates a beautiful lawn and garden environment and can be effective.
Cons: Time-consuming, and may not be effective in reducing severe mole infestations.
6. Create An Artificial Drought
Moles and the earthworms they like to consume experience soft, damp soil. To make your backyard much less hospitable for them, keep away from over-watering your lawn.
Keeping it at the dry characteristic is an extremely good means to restrict earthworms and discourage moles from putting up homes in your backyard.
Remember that lawns need only approximately an inch of water every week to live healthily, so this technique won’t make your outside area any much less beautiful.
Pros: Organic, natural, effective
Cons: Long-time period solution, won’t get rid of current mole populations.
How To Keep Moles Away
Some places have higher chances of being visited by moles, usually a rural or suburban yard with large open areas or lawns. Try the barrier method to protect smaller spaces like a vegetable garden or a colourful flower bed in your front yard.
You can create an underground fence by burying a 24-inch metal or chain link barrier at least a foot below the surface. When a mole tunnels through this barrier, it usually chooses to dig elsewhere.
Since moles prefer to live in areas where the soil stays moist, you can try improving drainage on your property to deter them. If the problem isn’t serious, you can just wait and see if the mole will move to another location on its own.
However, if the damage to your lawn or garden seems to be getting worse, it is best to take steps to get rid of the mole. Luckily, you’ll probably never notice more than one mole ripping through your yard at a time, but that doesn’t make them any less annoying.
By using these tips to get rid of moles, you can deal with those trying to work their way under your lawn and hopefully discourage more from getting there by adding barriers or improving soil drainage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Time Of Day Are Moles Most Active?
Although moles are active throughout the day, their activity levels peak around noon and midnight.
Will Vinegar Repel Moles?
Yes. They are sensitive to the smell of vinegar.
How Deep Do Moles Dig?
Moles as deep as 40 inches below the soil surface.
What Is The Fastest Way To Get Rid Of Moles Naturally?
Set traps, use bait or repellents, install a fence, or hire a pest control service.
Conclusion
How to get rid of moles and keep them away? It’s very simple: make the environment uncomfortable for them.
Take away things that attract them like their food sources and burrowing conditions and use repellents. The mole population will surely reduce if the proper actions are taken.
