Moles Leave my garden alone.

[snippits]

I have one or maybe more moles in my garden and the yard area around my garden close to a quarter acre of area. As far as I can tell, the moles are not eating plants, but their tunneling under the rows and across the rows. The moles are not making hills, but the tunnels are visible on top of the ground. Plant roots are drying out and dying.

I have been using two Victor Out O'Sight mole traps for the last month, and I still have not caught one single mole. I used a Victor spear trap for a couple weeks too, but it never got tripped either, so I returned it. I found a deep tunnel which was about eight inches down, and nothing on that tunnel yet either. I have set the Victor trap two different ways. Excavating the hole, and then sifting dirt back in on top of the trap, and cutting a slot across the tunnel, and setting the trap that way. The traps have never been tripped either. I let the traps set for two to three days before I move it. I have been using gloves too.

Got a Nash Choker Loop mole trap yesterday, and it is set now. The Nash trap is harder to set than the Victor, and the Nash does not have a safety either. The Nash trap does have a hair trigger on it from the factory. Hopefully the Nash will be the trap that gets the moles.

It's not rained for a while around here, so the moles activity has slowed down at least on the ground surface. I am beginning to think that I have the Einstein of moles in my garden.

Mole poisons are not legal to buy in the state of NC because of the star nose mole in the southeastern part of NC. It is on the state protected list. I would not use poisons anyway even if they were legal to buy.

What would you do to get rid of moles?

[rags57078]

heres a video

http://www.rodenator.com/

[Vespertino]

I'm so sorry to hear about your mole problem! My in-laws are battling a mole infestation in their yard as well, they've hired a specialist to get rid of them and he's using baited traps, but I'm not sure what kind he's using but I can ask if you'd like. So far they've caught 3 or 4.

[JamesL]

You need to eliminate their food source, which is typically grubs.
They are insectivores and do not eat veggies. Nothing wrong with taking a few out of course, but if food is available, his cousins will just move in.

[kath]

We had them two different times and although I know the experts claim you have to poison or trap them, we used those battery-operated Sweeney's Sonic Spikes and they cleared out both times.

kath

[Got Worms?]

First; find which tunnels are active. Do this be closing up all the tunnels with lose dirt. The ones that are cleared out the next day are the ones in use...duh.

Second; set up some test traps to to see what you're dealing with. You may have Voles (more likely) and not Moles. Do this by making trap sets with regular, un-baited mouse traps. Most animals are shy when it comes to taking bait, especially if it's the wrong bait for that animal.

Pick single holes, not open tunnels. Set the trap with the trigger pan facing and close (about 2") from the hole. Block off the other 3 sides of the hole to force the critter to blunder into the trap. They will take the route of least resistance. Try to get the mouse traps with the large plastic trigger and not the small copper one.

Third; if it is voles, buy more traps. Let us know how you do.

Charlie

[snippits]

I had voles earlier in the year, and I got rid of them with the plastic Ortho traps. The voles go for peanut butter or an apple baited trap. If I do see a broom stick size hole in the ground, I will bait an Ortho trap, and then sit it close to the hole, and cover it with a bucket.

Back to the mole or moles again. I did look at that Rodenator a couple weeks ago, and I saw some videos on Youtube about it. I will not be able to use anything like that because I have two main natural gas lines that come across my property that are five foot down in the ground. I could possibly blow the whole block up seriously.

It seems any where I put traps, the mole goes to a different area. I have poked holes in surface tunnels, and stepped on them too in various spots. If they fix it, I will set the trap, but then they avoid it.

I have read one story about a mole catcher, and he said there was one time that it took him about three months to catch one mole. Most of the time he said that it only took him about 48 hours or less to catch them. I am beginning to think I have one of those moles.

It's been really dry here, but my area may get some rain tonight or tomorrow morning. He should be very active if it does rain, so I should have some fresh sign. Just hoping that fresh sign is not up under my six inch tall corn in the rows.

[Got Worms?]

Moles: ...Smoke 'em, if you get 'em.

Close off all the entrances/exits except 2 or 3 and drop lit smoke bombs down those holes all at the same time, then close 'em up tight with a flat rock or brick.

Amazon.com/The-Giant-Destroyer-Gas-Bomb

Alternatively you can use the exhaust from a tractor or lawn mower, by piping it into one of their holes and sealing off the others. Make sure the pipe can take the heat.

[snippits]

Originally Posted by Got Worms?

Moles: ...Smoke 'em, if you get 'em.

Close off all the entrances/exits except 2 or 3 and drop lit smoke bombs down those holes all at the same time, then close 'em up tight with a flat rock or brick.

Amazon.com/The-Giant-Destroyer-Gas-Bomb

Alternatively you can use the exhaust from a tractor or lawn mower, by piping it into one of their holes and sealing off the others. Make sure the pipe can take the heat.

My local farm supply does carry these smoke bombs. I might pick up a pack, and at least gas the garden area.

[Labradors2]

JamesL is absolutely right. Get rid of the grubs and the moles will visit your neighbours instead!

My dog is fascinated by moles, and thinks it's great fun to stalk them.....

Linda

[Got Worms?]

Scott’s GrubEx works but it's best used at a certain time of the insect span. They move from shallow to deep in the lawn at a certain time of the year. I forgot when exactly. Also, you know your grub problem is bad when the grass dries out and the lawn mower kicks up big flaps of turf with short roots.
Skunks will also come around and dig up pointed little divots when your grub problem gets going. Skunks on the top, moles on the bottom, and grubs in the middle.
I'm wandering again, I'll shut up now.

[snippits]

Not seen any pointed holes, but I have seen the heart shaped holes that a mole makes plus the raised surface tunnels they make too, so I definitely have a mole or moles.

I thought the main food source of moles was earth worms, and a grub was just an appetizer. My garden was full of worms unless the moles eat them all, and my soil is red clay.

I do think the moles don't like chemical fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, because ever since I planted my okra and fertilized with 10-10-10 the moles have stayed away from that part of the garden area. Could be coincidence not sure.

[JamesL]

Moles do eat worms primarily. But usually if you have grubs, you have lots of them and it is feasting time.
My father who had been doing battle with them (moles and grubs) off and on for close to 50 years in the same location, has 5 or so of the mole windmills strategically placed, and they do work except for the occasional interloper.
He says he knows he has grubs if a mole appears and once he treats for grubs, the moles don't stick around (because of the windmills), regardless of the worm population. Although if you have a really huge worm population, it might be a different story. He also uses the spring loaded spike traps, and it could take a month to pick off a single mole. Odds are you only have one, maybe two moles at most.

[b54red]

If you have a bunch of miniature dachshunds they will get rid of them. Or rather they will kill them and leave them at the back door for you. Of course they will dig up a lot in the process.

Bill

[snippits]

During the plowing, tilling, raking rocks and debris, and planting I only saw two grubs total. I will treat the garden area and the yard around it for grubs this fall. My garden is heavily visited by robins, black birds, and blue birds, and I am sure they have put the hurt on grubs and worms.

@JamesL

Could you ask your father what brand the windmills are?

Thanks everybody for your advice.