Problem with moles

Jamala W
by Jamala W

Does anyone have any suggestions on removing garden moles..?


  11 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Dec 30, 2013
    The first thing is that you have to make sure you really have moles. If so, your options are limited, but Purdue University has suggestions here: http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/expert/Moles.html
    • Jamala W Jamala W on Dec 30, 2013
      @Douglas Hunt Thanks, yes I believe that's what's making all these tunnels in my yard. My gardener said he found a dead one...thanks for sending that info, I read it, but it seems they say the shelf products don't work..I have to figure something out, they're all around my property making tunnels
  • Lynn Lanier Lynn Lanier on Dec 30, 2013
    Jamala..I am from the south and we have them really bad...we have found a simple way to get rid of them.....take tide powdered laundry detergent and sprinkle it all over the yard the wet it down.....Wetting it down pushes the soap into the dirt and when the mole digs it get into his eyes and mouth and burns like you getting soap in your eyes and it taste bad.....They generally leave the area.........
  • Judy Judy on Dec 30, 2013
    I get them in my veggie garden & I'm wondering if the worm look-alike poisoned bait would be safe for use there......not sure what the laundry detergent would do to my soil.....
  • Jane Seaver Jane Seaver on Dec 30, 2013
    My dad would flood the tunnels with a garden hose. cave in a section of the tunnel so you dont flood the entire yard.
    • Judy Judy on Jan 01, 2014
      @Jane Seaver This doesn't work. They usually have a high spot where they can retreat in case of flooding. All it does is turn the tunnels to mud & they just dig new ones.
  • Linda Raley Linda Raley on Dec 31, 2013
    Cats.....Mine outside have killed about 12 so far...
    • Judy Judy on Jan 01, 2014
      @Linda Raley My dogs dig them up but not enough of them to totally get rid of them. Drat!
  • Keller Pest Control Keller Pest Control on Dec 31, 2013
    The first thing you need is patience, patience and more patience. They are difficult at best to control but with a little help and perseverance you can win the day. There are a couple of methods and numerous traps and poisons I have found that the harpoon trap and Talpirid or something similar' are the two best two items for you to be successful.. What you need first is a long dowel rod or metal rod all thread works about 3/8 inch to 1./2 inch in diameter as long as you want it to be the longer the less bending over you have to do.Also some bright paint and garden flags. its best to do this in the spring and fall when the soil is loser. The moles go deeper when its real cold out. The first step is to identify the main runs these will be the longest runs from one section of the yard to another or the entry points into the area . Once you have identified these areas you need to take your rod and place holes down through the soil into the top of the run until it breaks into the tunnel . don't destroy the tunnel just open a small hole so it enters the tunnels You will place the Talpirid later in these holes so don't make it to big with the worms later. Do lots of these holes and paint or flag each one. leave them exposed and check every couple of days. when you see the dirt piled up in the hole reopen the hole with the dowel and place worm inside the tunnel with the end of the worm exposed in the hole. Take a rock or brick and cover the worm. keep pets out of the worms. They look like fishing rubber worms. This is a very effective product and if you follow the instructions you will have success. Don't waste the worms unless the runs are active. The product you can buy at home depot if its the worms is the same active ingredient and come in packs of six Talpirid comes in packs of 20 and is about 50.00 More later about the harpoon traps
    • Sue Sue on Feb 13, 2015
      Thank you for replying. I unfortunately live in Pennsylvania.
  • MaryAnn B MaryAnn B on Dec 31, 2013
    I saw on the TV show Cisco the Garden Guy in Seattle that he mixes mint in a blender with water and then boils it. Dilutes it a bit and pours it into the holes. I haven't tried it but he says it works. At least it's not poisonous.
  • Kathie Kathie on Dec 31, 2013
    This sounds odd..but when we had them on the farm we did various things...bits of chewing gum in their runs ( didn't work)....rat poison buried in their runs (worked)...the dog...but he tore up the yard getting them ...and the most effective was a vacuum hose that went from the exhaust pipe of the car into their run..but is was in the country and we could drive to where the mole runs were. I suppose there will be all kinds of comments about that ..but you asked what worked :)
    • Sue Sue on Feb 13, 2015
      Thank you. We tried the poison but they are back. The moles tunnel underground. The volls make large mounds on top of the ground. It is baffling.
  • Deborah Ray Deborah Ray on Dec 31, 2013
    My cats keep any moles/voles under control.
  • Moles & Voles are two different critters. Studies by several universities in the state of Washington have good reports on this. Trapping is the most effective way of getting rid of them, 2nd is poison or small gas things that look like large firecrackers.
    • Sue Sue on Feb 13, 2015
      We tried poison but they are back. I have never heard of the large things that look like firecrackers, is there a name for them? The moles have the underground tunnels, the volls make large mounds of dirt all over.
  • Lexi Lexi on Jul 31, 2014
    I wonder if it would work to put the laundry detergent IN the holes and spray the hose down it to make it spread. I have a dog in the yard (but he's useless at hunting, he's more concerned with barking at the cars that drive by) so I'm not sure how soaking the yard would do for him.