How to get rid of mole rats in your garden

Pests are gardeners' worst enemies, capable of destroying a large portion of their harvest. Therefore, control measures must be taken immediately. Many types of rodents can be found in gardens, and one of the most common is the mole rat. Methods for controlling this dangerous pest can be found below.

How to recognize a pest?

The rodent's appearance resembles a mole, but they cause significantly more damage to gardeners. Moles are mammals and feed on insects, but when digging, they damage plant roots. Moles are rodents; they feed on various root vegetables growing in the garden. They can also feed on plants, even onions, which repel moles.

The animal lacks visual organs; where its eyes should be, there is a fold of skin covered with bristly hairs. Its tail and ears are poorly developed. The body length of an adult mole-rat can vary from 15 to 35 centimeters. Unlike a mole, its forelimbs are small. The mole-rat's main working tool is its sharp teeth, or more precisely, two protruding incisors. The remaining teeth are located internally, covered by multi-folded lips. It digs burrows in several tiers, with a minimum depth of 15 cm and a maximum of three meters. These burrows are quite spacious and can reach 12 cm in diameter, which is necessary for the mole-rat to move root vegetables.

The animal inhabits southern Russia, the western Ciscaucasia, and throughout Ukraine. The mole rat is a mammal belonging to the rodent order, the mole rat family. They live primarily underground, only occasionally emerging to the surface in search of food or a new home. Four species of mole rat are most common in the former Soviet Union:

• giant;
• small;
• sandy;
• ordinary;

The most common mole rat seen in Russia is the greater mole rat, also known as the small-eyed or southern Russian mole rat. It can be found both in your own backyard and in the forest-steppe zone, as well as at forest edges and in the steppes. It inhabits grassy areas and does not venture deep into the forest.

A single anteater can cause enormous damage to a gardener. In summer, it feeds primarily on above-ground plants, dragging root vegetables into its burrow to store for the winter. A anteater's hoard can contain up to 18 kg of various vegetables, including beets, carrots, and potatoes. It can damage not only garden crops but also flowers, so gardeners should also be concerned about the appearance of an uninvited guest. This is especially true for several individuals or a family with offspring. Some sources claim that a anteater can consume its own weight in food in a single day. The mammal does not hibernate, but is more active during the warmer months.

These voracious animals have few enemies. In the wild, they often fall prey to ferrets. Young individuals seeking new habitats are often killed by foxes and birds of prey. The average lifespan of these rodents is 4 to 9 years.

Methods of struggle

There are now many modern methods for rodent control, all of them effective. From the vast variety of options, you can choose the one that suits you best.

Physical destruction of rodents using traps and snares

Traps and snares can be purchased at a specialty store or made yourself. In the latter case, you can use plans found online. But that's not the main problem. It's important to install the device correctly, otherwise all your efforts will be wasted.

First, find a newly formed mound of earth and dig a hole to locate the main entrance. Once found, clear it down to the dirt plug, which should be removed. Pests dislike drafts in their burrows. Once air begins to flow, the worker will rush to fix the problem, which is when they get caught. The trap is set at a depth of five centimeters, and its chain is placed on the surface. Then, cover the hole with a layer of soil and cover it with a sheet of plywood. Check the trap after 30-60 minutes.

You can also catch a rodent using one or two hooks with a noose attached. The hooks are dug into the soil near the burrow's exit, and when the rodent comes to repair the damage, it will snag one of them. It's worth noting that trapping animals is considered ineffective. If improperly set, it won't work at all. Even if everything is done correctly and one animal is caught, don't count on success a second time, as mole rats are quite resourceful.

Pets

Pets, particularly cats and dogs, are excellent at catching mole rats. If a cat has experience hunting rats and mice, it can handle this task as well. Any dog ​​is a hunter and can easily handle the task. Of course, hunting breeds are best.

Noise devices or repellents

A variety of devices are used for this purpose. The mole rat is completely blind, but is highly sensitive to various types of sound waves. If constantly exposed to sound, the animal becomes uncomfortable and is forced to leave its habitat.

Method No. 1

Glass bottles, such as champagne bottles, should be buried in the ground at an angle, with the neck of the bottle protruding a few centimeters above ground level. Gusts of wind will create quite an unpleasant noise. Eventually, the animals will have to leave the area.

Method #2

Rattles made from plastic bottles are also great for creating sound waves that will repel pests. There are many ways to make them, which can be found online.

Method No. 3

Tin cans are placed on wooden or iron stakes driven throughout the area. When the wind blows, a humming sound is created, which causes moles and mole rats to leave their nests. Initially, there will be no effect, but later, when the mole rats realize the humming doesn't stop, they will leave to find a new home.

Ultrasonic repellers

They perform their function perfectly and are highly effective. The key is to properly position the devices throughout the area, taking into account the area they will cover. They are buried in the soil, and the manufacturers have ensured that they are waterproof and protected from adverse conditions. Therefore, rain and high humidity are not a problem for them. These devices are easy to maintain; they simply require periodic charging or battery replacement.

Sound waves, almost inaudible to humans, have a deterrent effect on rodents, causing them to leave their burrows. It can take up to 45 days from installation to complete elimination of unwanted neighbors. If there's no result, the mole may have found an inaccessible area, in which case the device should be relocated. These devices can be purchased at specialty stores; their price varies depending on the range and manufacturer. According to gardener reviews, the following are considered the best:

• Grom-profi M;
• Tornado OZV 01;
• Ecosniper LS-997M.

Plants against mole rats

Like other rodents, moles dislike the scent of certain plants. For example, they dislike parsnips; it's believed that planting parsnips around the perimeter of a garden will repel the pest. It's best to plant varieties with long, branched roots so that the rodent constantly bumps into them as it moves. This method is more of a preventative measure than a cure.

Water

You can flood a mole rat's burrow using a garden hose. Of course, you can use buckets filled with water, but that won't be very convenient. At least 100 liters of water will be needed, and the supply must be continuous. It should flow not just into the passages, but directly into the rodent's burrow, which is usually located on the lower levels.

First, carefully inspect the mound of earth. If there's any clay, it could be the entrance to the nest. Clear the hole and, once you've located the entrance, begin watering. When the water reaches the mole rat, it will float to the surface. Then, the only thing left to do is decide for yourself what to do with the pest. You can kill it or move it away from your gardens and release it into the wild.

There's another method, but it's very labor-intensive and not guaranteed to work. To do this, dig a trench approximately 30-40 cm deep around the perimeter of the garden. Reinforce the edges to prevent the mole rat from escaping. Then, dig trenches at intervals and fill them with water. The mole rat, while moving along the trench, should fall into one of them and drown.

Chemicals

Simply put, poisonous substances. These can be purchased at a specialty store. Both rodent and mole poisons are suitable. However, they must be used with extreme caution, as the poisonous substances can penetrate the soil and reach plants, rendering them unfit for consumption. Also, if pets are present in the area, the use of poisons is not recommended. Among these products, you can choose "Nutcracker," but there's no 100% guarantee that a mole rat will be drawn to the poisonous bait in an area with abundant food.

It's best to use "Antikrot" or "Krotomet"; these products are repellent, non-toxic, and don't alter the soil structure. Place the pungent-smelling substance in rodent burrows approximately every three days. Results are guaranteed; you just have to wait a little while.

Conclusion

The presence of mole rats in your garden is a major problem. The animals are very resourceful, so controlling them can be challenging. However, thanks to a variety of modern methods, you can get rid of these pests. It's best to use several methods simultaneously for faster results.