Moles can be removed from a garden by trapping, flooding or driving them away with repellents. Placing an electronic vibration device or even a child’s toy pinwheel over a surface tunnel can cause the mole to relocate.
The odor of used cat litter dumped down a mole tunnel will discourage the garden pest, too. Dogs and cats will catch and kill a mole, but they won't eat them.
Whatever method is chosen to remove moles from the garden, the surface tunnel that they are currently using must be identified. As the mole uses the surface tunnels in their search for food, the tunnel use is only temporary.
Locating an Active Mole Tunnel in a Garden
Inspect the lawn and garden for ridges and mounds that indicate that the mole has been tunneling just below the surface.
Tamp down sections of the surface tunnels with a shovel or foot to partially block them. Try to identify the exit holes. Flood the mole out by inserting a hose into one exit hole. Stand next to the exit with a shovel to whack the mole as it escapes the water running through the tunnel.
Vigilance is Key to Mole Removal
Examine the tamped-down tunnel areas each day. As the mole digs its way through the blockage caused by tamping the earth down in the tunnel, ridges will reappear above. Sometimes it’s possible to see movement of the soil when the mole is active. In this case, simply scoop the dirt and mole out of the garden with a shovel and toss it into a bucket.
Continue to tamp down sections where new ridges are formed and note the areas of mole activity each day to identify the active tunnels.
Removing the Mole from the Garden
Once the active tunnels have been identified, it’s time to implement the chosen removal process. Prepare the traps according to manufacturer directions. Traps should be set about 18 inches from the mounds that indicate the exit. Repellents should only be used at the exits of active tunnels, while vibration devices can be placed anywhere along the tunnel.
Continue to monitor tunnel activity until it is apparent that all moles have been removed. Just a couple of moles can cause extensive tunneling damage, so the successful capture of one or two may mean the garden is free of moles.
Locate deeper tunnels by plunging a pointed stick into the ground in the area of the surface tunnels. Blocking these tunnels will prevent mice from using the runs and possibly feeding on bulbs and roots of valuable garden plants.
Source:
University of California: Pests in Gardens and Landscapes
Patrice Campbell - Patrice Campbell is a freelance writer working from the Denver, CO area. As an experienced news reporter and lifestyle writer, Patrice ...
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