Moles are not only unsightly, but they can also be dangerous. One of the most common problems people have with moles is that they don’t know how to get rid of them and keep them away without causing damage to their yard or garden.
The good news is that there are several ways to get rid of moles naturally without using harmful chemicals or pesticides on your property.
In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about these nocturnal animals and how you can take care of them once and for all!
Takeaway
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Yard moles are not necessarily bad for your garden, as they can help aerate the soil and eat pests. |
| However, mole tunnels can damage plant roots and make it difficult for plants to grow. |
| There are humane ways to control moles in your yard, such as using traps or repellents. |
| It’s important to avoid using poison or other harmful methods that can harm other wildlife. |
Are Yard Moles Bad For The Environment?
First of all, are yard moles bad for the environment? In short, no. Moles are good for your garden because they eat grubs and earthworms.
Grubs are harmful to plants because they bore into roots, making them unable to absorb nutrients from the soil.
Earthworms are also beneficial to a healthy yard because they dig tunnels which aerate the soil and provide drainage channels for water runoff during heavy rainstorms or excessive watering.
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Are Yard Moles Dangerous To Me And My Family?
Moles are not dangerous to humans, pets or wildlife. They’re not harmful to the environment either, and they don’t eat plants or trees. They mainly burrow beneath your yard in search of earthworms and grubs. Their tunnels usually aren’t more than two feet deep, but they can be as long as 30 feet!
If you have children or pets in the yard with moles, it’s important not to let them play near any holes that may be present.
If a child falls into an active burrow system (which happens more often than you might think), they could sustain serious injuries and even if no harm comes from falling down a hole by accident, having one on your property can be incredibly annoying for adults too!
What Are The Best Ways To Get Rid Of Yard Moles?
When it comes to killing off yard moles, you have a few options. If you want to get rid of your mole problem but don’t want to be the one who does it, consider hiring an expert.
One method that many people use is trapping the mole with a trap. You can purchase these online or at your local hardware store; they are inexpensive and easy to use as long as you place them in the right spot where moles tend to tunnel into your yard (along fence lines, for example).
Once inside the wooden cage, these pests can’t escape and will eventually starve or dehydrate and die off after several days without food or water within its confines.
You can then bury them at least 6 inches deep so they won’t rise again from their graves not only do these creatures keep coming back from their graves (pun intended), but if left above ground they will attack again once released from captivity!
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How Can I Keep Yard Moles At Bay?
To keep yard moles at bay, you need to do the following:
Use repellents. Moles eat grubs and insects, so they don’t like the smell of garlic. You can crush some garlic cloves and mix them with water to make a homemade mole repellent spray that will help prevent further damage from happening in your yard.
Or you could use an actual commercial product such as Mole Medication Mole & Gopher Repellent Spray by Biocare Pet Products, Inc..
Put away all food sources for them to eat; this includes pet food left out overnight or fertilizer for plants and lawns. If your pets are leaving food outside after eating it themselves then this can attract rodents which in turn will attract moles into your yard as well because they’re looking for something new to eat! Yuck!
Use traps; these are useful when catching live specimens but also if you want them DEAD (and believe me…you do). The most popular trap is called Victor Tin Cat Mole Trap which has many positive reviews online -check it out!
Some people even use poison since it gets rid of both voles AND moles but I wouldn’t recommend doing this unless absolutely necessary because there could be other animals living nearby who’ll get sick from eating poisoned worms/bugs etcetera too.”
Pros and Cons of Having Moles in Your Yard
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Moles can aerate the soil and improve drainage | Mole tunnels can damage plant roots and make it difficult for plants to grow |
| Moles eat insect pests that can harm plants | Mounds of soil created by moles can be unsightly |
| Moles can improve soil health by adding organic matter | Moles can attract other predators to your yard |
Do Lawn Mowers Work For Killing Yard Moles?
You can use a lawnmower to kill yard moles, but it’s important to know how to do so safely. The key is making sure the blade doesn’t hit them directly, as this will almost certainly cause injury or even death.
The best way to do this is by using a technique called “snake cutting.” To snake cut effectively, you need a lawnmower that has an adjustable height feature. You’ll also need some extra blades specifically designed for lawn mower blades (you’ll find these at hardware stores).
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Why Do I Have To Get Rid Of My Yard Moles?
Moles can cause a lot of damage if left unchecked. They will eat your plants and vegetables, damaging your lawn and garden.
They can also cause injury to pets and people by burrowing underfoot causing them to trip or fall on the mole tunnels. Moles also create holes in your yard that can be dangerous for children who play outside because they may fall into these holes and get hurt.
In addition, moles can cause structural damage underneath foundations as well as damage to buildings by burrowing through walls or even roofs!
The best way to avoid all of these problems is by removing the mole before it causes any damage at all – so it’s important that you know how they work so that you can prevent them from coming back again in future years too!
How Many Types Of Mole Exist In The United States?
There are 3 types of moles in the US: the Eastern Mole, Townsend Mole and Shrew Mole. The Eastern Mole is the most common mole in North America.
Moles are small rodents with long snouts and short tails that eat insects and worms underground. They have fur on their bodies which helps them to stay warm when they live in cold climates like Canada or New York State where winters can get very cold sometimes!
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Where Do I Find Information About Mole Removal Services Near Me?
- Local wildlife removal company: One option is to hire a local wildlife removal company. They’ll come out and assess your situation, then give you an estimate on how much they’d charge to trap and remove the moles.
- Local pest control franchise: Another option is to contact your local pest control franchise. There are a lot of different franchises out there that offer services like this, so it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to find one in your area.
- Local exterminator: If neither of those options work for you (or if they do but are too expensive), then consider contacting a local exterminator instead; if there aren’t any franchises nearby then it’s probably cheaper than hiring someone from out-of-town anyway!
Can I Use Poison To Kill Off My Yard Moles?
You can use poison to kill off your yard moles. However, there are some things you need to know about using poison for this purpose:
What type of poison should I use?
There are a variety of poisons that can be used to kill off yard moles. They all work in different ways, so it’s important that you choose the one that is best suited for your particular situation.
For example, if the problem is just with one or two holes, then it’s better not to waste time and money on something like DRC-1339 which has been proven effective against multiple species but may not be able to reach underground tunnels as well as some other products (like MoleMax).
On the other hand, if your lawn has many tunnels crisscrossing underneath it then this type will obviously work much better than any others because its ingredients are designed specifically for tunneling creatures such as moles or gophers; they contain zinc phosphate which is poisonous even when ingested by small animals such as mice but won’t affect larger creatures like dogs due their size difference between those two types–this is why only birds eat worms!
Moles can damage your lawn and garden, but there are ways to deal with them. Try using traps or repellents, or consider planting mole-resistant plants. For more tips on dealing with moles, check out our article on how to deal with moles in your yard.
Are There Any Natural Remedies For Getting Rid Of Yard Moles?
The best way to get rid of yard moles is to make sure that they don’t have a food source in your yard. If you use pesticides or other chemicals, be sure to follow all label instructions carefully and wear protective clothing as necessary.
You can also try setting traps near the mole tunnels, but since moles can move around underground, it may take some time before you notice their effects.
You may also want to consider using repellents such as chili powder, vinegar and castor oil mixed with water sprayed on the surface of your lawn (for example, using a garden sprayer). You’ll need about two cups of each substance per gallon of water for maximum effectiveness!
How to Control Moles in Your Yard
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Traps | Humane traps can be used to capture and release moles |
| Repellents | Natural repellents such as castor oil or garlic can be used to deter moles |
| Habitat modification | Removing food sources or making the environment less favorable for moles can help control their population |
| Poison | Poison should be avoided, as it can harm other wildlife and is not a humane method of control |
How Big Do Yard Moles Get?
They’re often between 1 and 2 inches in diameter when they are born, but can grow up to 10 inches in length.
When fully grown, they weigh between 1/2 pound and 5 pounds. Their fur is usually brownish-gray with lighter underbellies, but some species have different coloration depending on where they live.
How Do You Get Rid Of Yard Moles?
You can use a trap, poison or repellent to get rid of yard moles. Traps are the most popular way to remove a mole from your property because they’re easy to set up and will kill the animal quickly.
However, you must be careful when using any kind of trap as it could harm your pets or children if they get too close while you’re setting up the device.
If you choose to use poison as your method for mole removal, make sure that you only use approved products in order to prevent any harmful side effects on yourself or other animals who may ingest this substance accidentally.
Using poisons is not recommended because it’s not only dangerous but doesn’t work very well either; moles tend to tunnel underground where they won’t come into contact with these toxic substances at all!
You’ll also want something like bait stations which hold poison pellets inside them until an unsuspecting animal comes along – this way there won’t be any accidental deaths due in part because someone else ate some food outside their house without realizing what was being eaten!
How Do You Keep Moles From Coming Back?
If you want to keep the moles at bay, the best thing to do is prevent them from eating your plants, lawn, garden and flowers.
Moles are attracted to these things because they need a lot of water to stay healthy and will eat just about anything in their path as long as it provides some moisture or nutrients for them.
You can also use an organic repellent spray on your plants if you’re worried about keeping the moles away from them but this method isn’t very effective since it only lasts for a few days at a time before needing another application.
Conclusion
You should now have a good understanding of what yard moles are and how to get rid of them. The most important thing that you can do is to keep your lawn well maintained so that there are fewer places for the pests to hide and breed.
If you live in an area prone to these critters though then it’s probably best just hire a professional exterminator who will come out with all the equipment needed for an effective removal job!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to learn more about moles in your yard:
Are Moles Bad to Have in Your Yard?: This article discusses the benefits and drawbacks of having moles in your yard, as well as tips on how to handle them.
Moles Can Benefit Gardeners: This article explains how moles can actually benefit gardeners by aerating the soil and reducing pest populations.
Much Ado About Moles: This article provides an overview of mole behavior, habitat, and control options.
FAQs
What do moles eat?
Moles primarily feed on insects, worms, and other small invertebrates found in soil.
Do moles damage plants?
While moles do not typically eat plant material, their tunneling can damage plant roots and make it difficult for plants to grow.
Are moles beneficial to the soil?
Yes, moles can be beneficial to the soil by aerating it and improving drainage. They also eat insect pests that can harm plants.
How can I tell if I have moles in my yard?
Signs of mole activity include raised ridges and tunnels in the soil, as well as mounds of soil on the surface.
What are some methods for controlling moles?
Methods for controlling moles include trapping, repellents, and habitat modification. It’s important to note that some methods, such as poison, can be harmful to other wildlife and should be used with caution.
I am Hellen James, a landscape architect. For many years I have written about landscaping for various publications; however, recently decided to focus my writing on personal experience as a profession.