How to get rid of moles in your garden

Moles are predatory mammals that spend almost their entire lives underground and can be found throughout Eurasia. The mole family includes 42 species.

Of these, 4 species can be found in Russia:

The Siberian mole is found from Transbaikalia to the Irtysh River. The lesser and Caucasian moles can be found in the North Caucasus. However, the most common species in Russia is the European mole, also known as the common mole.

Desmans, which lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle, are considered relatives of moles. Living with them has both positive and negative aspects.

The positive aspects include:

• Destruction of harmful insects and the larvae they lay.
• Loosening the soil.
• Destruction of rodents.

Although moles don't eat vegetation, they often damage plants. The negative aspects of such a neighborhood include:

• Moles feed on earthworms, which enrich the soil. Since moles quickly destroy them, the soil becomes poor and unsuitable for vegetation.
• The holes made by moles have a negative impact on buildings and can damage the integrity of the foundation.
• These animals can be carriers of infectious diseases and parasites.
• While digging passages and burrows, they bring the lower, less fertile layers of soil to the surface.
• When moving, they damage the root system of plants.

They definitely do more harm than good, so gardeners and horticulturists try to fight them with all available means.

Preventive measures

Getting rid of moles is quite difficult, and to avoid wasting precious time fighting them, it's essential to take preventative measures. These include:

1. Planting legumes and onions in the garden.
2. Digging trenches and filling them with broken bricks, crushed stone, or gravel. Ordinary soil can be added on top. However, if a mole really wants to get into the area, such a barrier will only delay it for a while.
3. Fencing the entire area with durable materials such as linoleum, slate, or roofing felt. To do this, bury the chosen material approximately 1 meter into the ground, and the fence should be at least half a meter high.

Habitat specifics

Moles primarily inhabit loose, moist soil. These mammals dislike gravel and clayey substrates. Moles have poorly developed hearing and vision, but their sense of smell and touch help them navigate. Their forelimbs are shovel-shaped, and they dig their own burrows with great speed. They can move at speeds of up to 6 km/h.

This predatory mammal spends its entire life on the move, searching for a suitable area with sufficient food. It lives with its family, improving its underground den, making it soft and comfortable. From there, it digs numerous tunnels through which it moves in search of food. It feeds on earthworms, woodlice, frogs, as well as insect larvae and other pests. It is not attracted to vegetation, but when digging its tunnels, it inadvertently damages the root systems of plants. Moles inspect their tunnels every hour; if they detect damage, they repair it by digging a secondary tunnel underneath.

Moles are quite intelligent and cautious animals, sensing danger and trying to avoid it. They are rarely seen above ground. They dig vertical tunnels to drink. With the arrival of winter, these predatory shrews retreat deep underground and do not hibernate. Their enemies are foxes and raccoon dogs. Moles defend themselves with long, sharp claws and teeth.

Methods of control

Many methods have now been developed for getting rid of unwanted neighbors. Every farmer can choose the one that suits them best. There are both more humane and more radical methods, and you can read about which ones are best below.

Planting plants

• Marigolds have a pungent smell that moles don't like.
• Animals simply cannot stand ornamental flowering onions and imperial fritillaries, as the bulbs of these plants have a fox-like odor.
• If you sow the entire area with legumes, the moles will disappear.
• The smell of caper spurge will repel pests, but you should be careful with it, as its berries are poisonous.

Folk recipes

1. To repel shrews, you can use a solution. To prepare it, mix 200 grams of castor oil and 4 tablespoons of dish soap, then measure out 30 ml and dilute it in 4 liters of water. Spray the resulting solution onto pre-moistened soil.
2. Previously, tunnels were flooded with water to lure the animal to the surface. However, when using this method, it's important to consider all its drawbacks. First, it's worth noting that the area will be flooded, which will negatively impact the plants growing there. Also, the soaked soil will need to be compacted. And in the future, when it dries out, there's a risk of the pest returning.
3. Rotten herring, combined with a spinner made from plastic and tin cans, can also help combat moles. The herring and the homemade device are buried in one of the mole burrows; the sound and smell will be quite unpleasant, repelling the animals with their keen sense of smell.

Shovel

Using a shovel, disturb the integrity of the dug mound and wait for the unwanted neighbor to appear, who will inevitably come to rebuild the home. Wait about an hour, carefully observing the soil. When the soil begins to move, quickly lift it with a shovel, throw it into a bucket, and cover it to prevent the mole from escaping.

You can also break the tunnel and insert a shovel into the mole's path. If the ground shakes, cut away the mole's waste with another shovel. A third shovel is used to remove the mole from the ground. However, this must be done very quickly.

Mole hunting

Animals, cats, or dogs can be used for trapping. Dogs need to be smart, but in any case, damage to the plantings is possible, as the animal can behave unpredictably while hunting. The moles will either become prey or flee, sensing a threat.

Cats can also catch or repel shrews. A cat is brought to the area where the moles are nesting and kept at the ready. When the soil moves, it is brought closer, and, smelling the scent of prey, it will eagerly hunt.

Underground fishing

You'll need three-pronged fishing hooks. First, you need to damage the hole and insert hooks tied to a strong fishing line. When a digger comes to repair the damage, they'll be sure to snag one of the hooks, making it easy to pull out.

Mole repellents

Ultrasound

Moles are known to be sensitive to ultrasonic waves. This is probably why the market has expanded with specialized devices that have a deterrent effect on these animals. The device has a range of approximately 20 meters, so take this into account when installing it. The devices also offer excellent moisture protection, as the weather can be unpredictable. Ultrasonic repellers are recommended to be installed in dense, well-compacted soil. A frequency of 400 Hz will discourage moles from leaving their nests.

Noise-making devices

You can either buy them at the store or make them yourself, saving your family money. You can make a pinwheel out of plastic bottles or tin cans; they're tied to tree branches, and in windy weather, they make quite a loud sound.

Long ago, when such a variety of means didn't exist, reeds were placed in burrows at a depth of about a meter. When the wind blew, the noise of the reeds resembled a howling sound, which scared the moles, causing them to seek new shelter.

Firecrackers placed around the perimeter of a mole-infested area make a loud bang when they explode, causing the moles to scatter. However, nearby plants can be severely damaged.

Smoke bombs

The smoke bombs will emit acrid smoke, which won't please any moles that have taken up residence in the area. While the moles may indeed leave, they could be replaced by animals from neighboring areas. There's also a chance these resourceful insectivores will fill in the tunnels emitting the toxic smoke and begin rebuilding their home. It's also worth considering that smoke bombs can harm crops growing in the garden.

Insecticides

They should be used with extreme caution, as beetles and worms, which enrich the soil, will also die along with the moles. Without them, the soil will become poor.

Poison

If repelling them fails, some gardeners resort to more aggressive methods, such as poison. There are several varieties, one of which is called "Mole Killer." For it to be effective, the poison must be sprinkled on bait, which can be earthworms. These worms should be dug up, treated with the poison, and then spread along the burrows. This is best done in the evening, as moles are more active at night.

Electrocution is considered an extremely cruel method; it's used when the animal emerges from the water. Some people make crossbows and kill the unfortunate animals with nails.

Traps

Solomon's Trap

It's highly effective, and the animal will still live, just in a different location. It's cylindrical, roughly the same diameter as a mole's tunnel, and half a meter long. A mole can enter it from both sides, but it can't escape. They place it in the tunnel, wait for the prey to be caught, then take the animal outside the garden and release it.

Mole trap

This device is installed directly into the burrow. The unsuspecting mole crawls through its burrow, trips a spring or valve, and is caught.

You can also make your own trap. To do this, you'll need a 50-centimeter water pipe with a door cut into the side. He'll get in, but he won't be able to get out.

Traps

They can be purchased at a specialty store. A great option is the "Claw"—it's designed like scissors, with a pin between the blades. When an animal accidentally touches the pin, it's trapped between the blades.

Chemicals

There are many such products available, all of which have a pungent odor. According to gardeners, "Argus" is an excellent mole repellent. Its main ingredient is aluminum phosphide. When exposed to water, it releases a toxic gas. The gel is quite easy to use; simply squeeze it into the burrow with a syringe. 5-10 grams is sufficient.

Some gardeners use calcium carbide with added calcium phosphide and arsenide. When added to water, these substances release various gases. Kerosene and turpentine, or gasoline, will also repel diggers; other solvents can also be used. However, it's important to note that such aggressive solutions degrade the soil quality.

You can also use Dr. Klaus. This concentrated product with an ejector is effective against various types of rodents. The nominal volume of the product is one liter. Apply it in early spring: attach a hose to the ejector, adjust the settings, turn on the water, and spray.

Help from specialists

If none of the above methods work, or you don't have the time to trap or exterminate moles, qualified professionals can help. They'll handle the job with ease and offer a guarantee. If the pests return within the timeframe specified in the official contract, they'll come again free of charge. Of course, calling out professionals will require a significant financial outlay, and the cost of services varies by region.

They use methods such as:

• Fumigation is a highly effective method; the essence of the procedure consists of treating the area with a poisonous cloud.
• Setting traps.
• Gasification is the treatment of passages dug by moles with chemicals.

Conclusion

Moles are beneficial in some ways, but unfortunately, they cause far more harm. Therefore, most gardeners, upon noticing the presence of new inhabitants on their land, begin to combat them. There are many ways to destroy and repel these animals, and everyone can find the right one. Excellent results can be achieved by combining several methods.