Moles: Get Rid of Them for Good

Moles, like the one you see to the left may look cute, but don’t be fooled with their cute faces, clumsy paws and furry bodies. Moles can be quite aggressive and destroy your lawn or garden. Moles are unique in that they do not hibernate; they spend almost every waking moment in search of food. Moles mainly consume grubs, worms and insects, but they can occasionally eat garden roots.

The main issues that people have with moles is their tunneling or burrowing behaviors. Moles are built to power through soil and plant/tree roots. They may look small, but they pack a powerful punch with their enormous legs and front paws that have evolved to dig through meters of dirt every day.

You can tell that you have moles tunneling in your yard when you

• See mounds of dirt
• Your lawn feels spongy
• Parts of your lawn are damaged and/or collapsing
• Your grass or plants/flowers are mysteriously dying

If you notice any of these issues arising in your lawn, you probably have moles. If you do have moles, you need to get rid of them as soon as possible to prevent any more damage occurring to your property. There are several ways to get rid of moles.

1. The most effective way to get rid of moles is to trap them. There are several traps available on the market that help you trap them, but you must know where to set the trap. Go to a place in your yard where there are visible tunnel tracks, remove a small portion of the top of the tunnel and look to see if the tunnel is smooth. If it is smooth, it is an active tunnel. Furthermore, many experts say that long, straightaway tracks are the sign of an active tunnel. Place the traps on either side of the tunnel and check the traps frequently.
2. There are many deterrents available on the market, but there is no guarantee that these will work. They are usually only effective for a short amount of time and do nothing to prevent the moles from coming back.
3. There are poisons available also, but these rarely work. Not only do moles not eat grains, and therefore will not be lured into eating the poison, but poisons are dangerous in that another innocent animal or your pet can get hold of it and die.
4. The best way to get rid of moles is to call a professional animal removal agency to take care of the problem for you. Not only do they have the equipment and knowledge to get rid of the moles quickly and effectively, they save you the time and frustration of trapping the moles yourself.

To learn more about moles and how to get rid of them, check out the University of Perdue’s website at http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/expert/Moles.html