Old Getting Rid of Ground Moles

Moving house - this website is moving to a new domain

2005-07-21T20:15:00.000+02:00

I have decided to move this website to a hosting service with a paid domain.

Our new home is at

Getting-Rid-of-Ground-Moles.com

Hopefully all links are now pointing over to the new site, which I will be expanding with a lot more information.

Moving this blog over to the new site is proving to be very complicated, so I will start a new one

Moles

2005-07-11T18:01:00.000+02:00

I came across this fairly balanced article and something struck me.

The author is suggesting that all breeds of mole can be treated equally, and thus you don't need to identify them.

Moles: "Northwest Moles

Three species of moles cause problems for lawns and gardens in the Pacific Northwest.(1) The broad-footed mole is found in southwestern Oregon and California; the coast mole in Washington, Oregon, and northern California; and the TownsendÂs mole in western Washington, western Oregon, and northwestern California.(2) The same procedures are used for managing all three(1) so you donÂt need to identify which mole is in your yard."

The author refers to Townsend moles, which from all my research is only found in the Pacific NW, either side of the Canadian border.

The Townsend Mole is a Species At Risk in Canada

So while the Canadians are protecting the species as rare, a responsible society in the US, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides is suggesting you can kill them without regard to which species it is.

I haven't checked on the legality of this yet, but my ethical British nose is twitching.

We are not talking about 2 countries that are separated by oceans, and a species that was introduced into a new country. The two countries and areas affected share a common border, and the moles seem to live on both sides of that border.

Townsend Moles being protected in one place, and killed on a whim in the other just does not make sense.

Lawn Moles and proper Lawn Care by Linda Paquette

2005-07-10T00:35:00.000+02:00

I found this well written article with redistribution rights, and thought it added some very useful information to my growing collection.
Linda goes into details about how your garden design affects your problem.

Lawn Moles and proper Lawn Care by Linda Paquette
Are your making mountains out of your molehills? Although lawn moles are underground creatures, the benefits they add to your garden are clearly visible and far outweigh the disadvantages.

Of the six species of mole found in North America, the Eastern mole (or gray mole) is the most common. Moles are about the size of chipmunks and weigh from three to six ounces. A tiny creature, its total length is just six to eight inches.

Many gardeners and groundskeepers are under the mistaken impression that lawn moles eat the roots of their plants and turf grasses. However, moles are insectivores. Their primary diet is earthworms and grubs and a single mole can eat more than 140 grubs and cutworms daily. They also feast on destructive garden pests like snails, beetles, and millipedes. In fact, at just over a quarter-pound, a mole can consume 45 to 50 pounds of worms and insects each year.

The greatest harm that mole tunneling does to turf grass is by separating soil from roots. Still, the mole’s digging actually improves soil quality by turning and aerating the soil and mixing accumulated nutrients throughout the excavation.

Moles don’t continually dig each time they forage for food. Once a tunnel system is established, it is infrequently extended. In fact, the only signs of mole activity you might see are those when the mole must repair its construction. When disturbed, moles may temporarily vacate the area, but generally return within a week or two. In addition, when a tunnel is abandoned, a new mole inhabitant will “recolonize” using the handiwork of its predecessor.

For these reasons, even the most effective method of mole removal, trapping, is not a permanent solution to a “mole problem”. Besides which, the three types of mole traps that work with any success sound like relics from the Spanish inquisition— harpoons, scissor-jaws, and choker loops. In fact, numerous remedies have been used to try to control moles Pickle juice, red pepper, razor blades, bleach, moth balls, brambles, human hair braids and hair balls, vibrators, ultra sonic devices, and poisons offer inconsistent and generally ineffective results; many including environmentally unfriendly side effects.

As in all elements of lawn care, the best solution to a lawn mole problem is applying practical gardening principles. Mole tunnels (except for the hilled entrances) are typically deep enough to be almost invisible. Over-watering your yard brings earthworms and other invertebrates close to the surface, making it necessary for the moles to “move up” in search of them. Reducing the amount or frequency of watering may help both moles and their prey stay underground where they are most beneficial to your lawn.

Another solution to a lawn mole problem is to reduce the size of your lawn, converting it to gardens, paths, and hedgerows. First, moles prefer straight tunnel runs. However, more importantly, converting some lawn to gardens, paths, hedgerows and patio areas adds eye-appeal, reduces signs of damage, and in addition attract birds and butterflies to your property.

About the Author
Linda is author of The Lawn Care section of Lanwmowers-Guide.com

Animal Protection Institute - Cull of the Wild: Chapter Five

2005-07-08T22:50:00.000+02:00

This site has an insane amount of information related to trapping. I don't regard myself as being "green", but I do have a deep rooted ethical streak, the law is the law, even if it isn't enforced.
America is full of lawyers, and having laws that are not being persued is for me insane, but might be because of the costs on the legal system.

Animal Protection Institute - Cull of the Wild: Chapter Five: "In the United States, trapping is regulated at the state level. Regulations vary tremendously from state to state: Some, such as Louisiana and Nevada, have very loose restrictions; others have more restrictive and complex regulations, including Connecticut and Colorado.

Animal advocates have had some success in banning or limiting certain traps and trapping practices through the administrative, legislative, and ballot-initiative processes (see Chapter Seven). However, most state wildlife agency commissions (or boards or councils) are controlled and dominated by “consumptive wildlife users,” those who hunt, trap, and kill wildlife for recreation or “sport,” making change through the administrative process slow. Wildlife is seen as a resource to be stocked, managed, culled, thinned, harvested, hunted, and trapped for the benefit of consumptive users, as reflected in the fact that many state wildlife agencies are still called fish and game departments. State wildlife agencies depend heavily upon revenues obtained from hunting, trapping, and fishing license sales, and excise taxes levied on hunting and fishing gear. As a result, agencies have effectively ignored the opinions of the vast majority of their constituents. Agency funds are disproportionately spent on “game” animals while “nongame” animals receive little or no consideration. Funding for sensitive species is often so low that in many states, threatened and endangered species lack recovery plans."

Alabama - Mole Trap - state regulations

2005-07-08T20:32:00.000+02:00

The Montgomery County Extension Office offers some mole control information, in the form of a short guide that I am sure I have read somewhere else.

Mole Control Guide

They also offer a 2 page PDF document (PUBID: ANR-0759) entitled "Mole Control"

The document lists traps, it does not offer information on other approved methods such as the exact types of poisons that are allowed.

Canada - Mole Trap - State Regulations

2005-07-08T20:03:00.000+02:00

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency in Canada has a fairly short page of advice.

I find it strange that on an official government website they do not offer any cautionary advice regarding the identification of mole breeds that are protected in Canada.

I have already uncovered lots of information on protected mole species.

Alaska - Mole Trap - state regulations

2005-07-08T19:23:00.000+02:00

Maybe there are no moles in Alaska, so this doesn't really apply.

I haven't been able to find any specific trapping regulations for moles, or other common pests. Mice however seem to be included in at least one of the regulation documents.

The best I have to work with are the very extensive regulations that control trapping various kinds of game.

Alaska Trapping Regulations

There are restriction on the distance traps can be used from a road, labelling traps or the area traps are being used, and also requiring a license to use traps.
For many creatures there is the requirement that they are being trapped for food or clothing.
What do moles taste like?

Mole research - state by state

2005-07-08T17:34:00.000+02:00

Today is the day I start my Mole research "state-by-state"

The aim is to try as find mole control legislation for as many US states as possible online.

As these are my notes, below you will find my "50 states" crib sheet, just a list of all the States, plus their capitals.

AL - Montgomery, Alabama
AK - Juneau, Alaska Alaska
AZ - Phoenix, Arizona Arizona
AR - Little Rock, Arkansas Arkansas
CA - Sacramento, California California
CO - Denver, Colorado Colorado
CT - Hartford, Connecticut Connecticut
DE - Dover, Delaware Delaware
FL - Tallahassee, Florida Florida
GA - Atlanta, Georgia Georgia
HI - Honolulu, Hawaii Hawaii
ID - Boise, Idaho Idaho
IL - Springfield, Illinois Illinois
IN - Indianapolis, Indiana Indiana
IA - Des Moines, Iowa Iowa
KS - Topeka, Kansas Kansas
KY - Frankfort, Kentucky Kentucky
LA - Baton Rouge, Louisiana Louisiana
ME - Augusta, Maine Maine
MD - Annapolis, Maryland Maryland
MA - Boston, Massachusetts Massachusetts
MI - Lansing, Michigan Michigan
MN - St. Paul, Minnesota Minnesota
MS - Jackson, Mississippi Mississippi
MO - Jefferson City, Missouri Missouri
MT - Helena, Montana Montana
NE - Lincoln, Nebraska Nebraska
NV - Carson City, Nevada Nevada
NH - Concord, New Hampshire New Hampshire
NJ - Trenton, New Jersey New Jersey
NM - Santa Fe, New Mexico New Mexico
NY - Albany, New York New York
NC - Raleigh, North Carolina North Carolina
ND - Bismarck, North Dakota North Dakota
OH - Columbus, Ohio Ohio
OK - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Oklahoma
OR - Salem, Oregon Oregon
PA - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
RI - Providence, Rhode Island Rhode Island
SC - Columbia, South Carolina South Carolina
SD - Pierre, South Dakota South Dakota
TN - Nashville, Tennessee Tennessee
TX - Austin, Texas Texas
UT - Salt Lake City, Utah Utah
VT - Montpelier, Vermont Vermont
VA - Richmond, Virginia Virginia
WA - Olympia, Washington Washington
WV - Charleston, West Virginia West Virginia
WI - Madison, Wisconsin Wisconsin
WY - Cheyenne, Wyoming Wyoming

Controlling Ground Moles Effectively and Responsibly

2005-07-01T07:16:00.000+02:00

Quite a short article on moles, mainly trapping moles.

This is what I found most interesting, you can't use mole traps legally in Massachusetts

Controlling Ground Moles Effectively and Responsibly: "Before the animal rights activists convinced the Massachusetts voters to ban mole traps, part of my animal damage control business was trapping moles, primarily the eastern mole."

Product Listing (Problem-Solving Products for the Home)

2005-07-01T06:57:00.000+02:00

PBI are one of the many manufacturers of mole poison pellets.

The restrctions for which states can use this poison for mole control give me some new directions to research.

Product Listing (Problem-Solving Products for the Home): "Mole & Gopher Killer
Poison Pellets
Ready To UseMole & Gopher Killer
Specimen Label | MSDS

* Zinc phosphide pellets for control of moles and pocket gophers in lawns and other non-crop areas.
* Must be applied under the soil wherever surface ridges and conical mounds are found.

Not for use in Indiana, North Carolina or New Hampshire

"

University of Minnesota - FAQ-Moles

2005-07-01T06:48:00.000+02:00

Minnesota Master Gardeners say:

FAQ-Moles: "
Trapping is the most effective means of control."

Well nothing new there...

They do however have a link to the excellent mole guide from The University of Missouri

Help! My yard is overrun with moles! - Lawn Care

2005-07-01T05:48:00.000+02:00

Isn't mole control confusing?

Garden web, generally an "authority" in total contradiction to the University of Delaware says controlling food just doesn't work.

They also give negative opinions on many other popular remedies.

They suggest traps and a unique method, a pitch fork!

Help! My yard is overrun with moles! - Lawn Care: "Ironically, all a good gardener's hard work, mulching, irrigating, keeping a compost pile can actually ATTRACT moles by providing plenty of worms, grubs etc. for them to eat. Their constant search for underground insects can cause serious damage to lawns and gardens, so it would seem that destroying soil insects would decrease their activity...but actually, damage may be increased as the animals burrow even more in their territory to find the scarcer food! Also long-term eradication of soil insects is impractical, if not impossible. "

One thing they don't mention at all is checking whether it is legal to use lethal means to get rid of moles, in my opinion a serious oversight.

LAWN INSECTS AND THEIR CONTROL

2005-07-01T05:41:00.000+02:00

The University of Delaware is so far the only institution in the USA that has suggested that moles can be controlled by their food source.

They also offer an additional white paper on controlling lawn insects that is an interesting read.

LAWN INSECTS AND THEIR CONTROL: "LAWN INSECTS AND THEIR CONTROL
HYG – 17
(revised March 2004)"

Moles - University of Delaware

2005-07-01T05:38:00.000+02:00

So far the only institution in the USA that has a published paper suggesting that control of a moles food supply is a viable method.

It is amazing how opinions regarding mole control vary

Moles: Control

Often there is no need to control moles. However, when they become a nuisance, satisfactory control measures are available. The two most promising methods are trapping and reducing insect populations in the yard so the moles forage for food elsewhere."

Mole control without poison bait

2005-07-01T05:33:00.000+02:00

Ultrasonic mole control devices are normally looked on with scepticism by the "mole experts", and I must admit I didn't have much success with the cheap ones I used last year (at least I don't think I did, sometimes hard to tell with perennial problems).

This company however seems to deserve a plus. Not only do they give you a guarantee, they won't actually charge you for the product & shipping until after 30days and you are totally satisfied.

Mole control without poison bait:

"Mole control without poison bait, mole traps or pesticides. This Vibrasonic mole control device is fast, safe and effective"

.

You pay nothing if these devices fail to get rid of your moles. Give us a try! Over the past 3 years we have helped thousands of people solve their mole nuisance problem. Our knowledgeable staff can help you be successful too. Offering a great product and 110% customer service we hope to earn your business and recommendations. Take advantage of our FREE 30 day trial - Try before you buy program, your credit card will not be charged unless you are satisfied and keep the device longer than 30 days. ( Please read policy details) ."

Getting Rid of Ground Moles - Introduction

2005-06-30T20:59:00.000+02:00

Have you got moles?

I have...

Every year the moles use my garden as a safe haven when the local farmers decide to plow up the fields surrounding the small plot of land on which my house sits.

I spent a long time searching the internet for solutions, and found it extremely frustrating.

Most of the mole control sites are controlled by a single company, looking to sell you a single solution, and often they don't even give you guaranteed results.

I also searched for legal information. In many areas it is illegal to use any form of lethal mole control methods. Mole Extermination is forbidden in parts of Canada.
Every state in the USA has it's own specific regulations, and in some countries, such as Germany and Poland (where I live), it is out-right forbidden to kill moles.

It is strange but in the USA, using a mole trap is the most highly recommended method of mole control. In the UK, the most highly recommended is fumigation by a specialist under license.

So I have decided to put together a detailed website containing all my research.

The main intention of this blog is to be an easy place where I can keep notes about what I find whilst searching for mole information.

Every few weeks I will update the main "Getting Rid of Ground Moles" site with my collected archives of information and useful links.

If you have a mole problem, hopefully this blog and my website will help.

Don't forget to add this feed to your Feedreader for regular updates.