How to get rid of ground hogs and moles

Normanda
by Normanda
How can I get rid of these critters. I live on a lake and was told they attract the water snakes AND ruin my yard. I am afraid to let my little dogs out by themselves.
  21 answers
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Feb 08, 2015
    You didn't say specifically, but are the water snakes poisonous??
    • Normanda Normanda on Feb 08, 2015
      @Marion Nesbitt I don't know if all are poisonous but they could hurt my puppies anyway and I could die of a heart attack, so I guess they are all deadly
  • Carol Carol on Feb 08, 2015
    I don't know from snakes however, I do know about moles as I lost most of my lily bulbs to them one spring. The best was the mole trap, easy to set and bingo, dead mole. The vibrating tools work for a while. Moles hate vibration. I have a small metal windmill with its feet planted 2" into the ground.. We have lots of wind here to keep it going.
  • Normanda Normanda on Feb 08, 2015
    thanks for the help. I don't have a windmill but will be looking for one or something I can put in ground to vibrate
    • Sue Sue on Feb 15, 2015
      We tried the solar stick that makes a very high pitched sound and it did nothing.
  • Bonnie Bonnie on Feb 09, 2015
    I stumbled onto an insanely simple remedy two years ago.... Just simply drop some Gummy bears down into the mole holes... no more moles! I don't know what happens, but my guess is that the mole eats the gummy and either it sticks their mouths shut or they can't digest it, but the moles have absolutely disappeared! Simple, and inexpensive.
    • See 1 previous
    • Shelby Renee Pringle Shelby Renee Pringle on Feb 15, 2015
      I don't know if it's true about the snakes. But we had a huge ground hog living under our shed that was a concern with a new curious puppy running around. We threw moth balls under there and haven't seen the ground hog since.
  • Vickiwhaley Vickiwhaley on Feb 09, 2015
    I had moles in my yard for years. i tired every thing and nothing worked. Then I went to Ace Hardware Store and got this product called " mole worms". They' re rubber looking worms you put in the holes. I put them out one summer and I haven't had moles in three years.
  • Jean Jean on Feb 10, 2015
    I have very large yard with an 18/36 inground pool. I see no holes where I can drop anythin in but a long running 'hump" with the ground very soft (in fact you step in a long hole and runs right under the fence to the cement of my pool. help!!!! Jean G
  • Normanda Normanda on Feb 10, 2015
    Thanks to all for the answers to my mole problem. I have not had a chance to use them yet but I will soon and will try to let you know the results. Thanks again
  • Eileen Hall Eileen Hall on Feb 13, 2015
    I was told to do this for moles by an exterminator and it does work. Get a pack of Juicy Fruit gum and chew a stick just enough to get it sticky. Place a chewed stick in every hole or where you have seen them. The mole eats it because of the aroma and cannot pass it through and he dies. The ground hog is a different story. Get the chocolate flavored laxative "candy". Put pieces of it in all the place's you have seen them spending the night or hiding in. As the exterminator told me " they don't eat where they sh*t. We haven't had either on our 3 acres in over 6 years.
  • Grady Grady on Feb 17, 2015
    Use hounds or terriers to get them.
  • Carol Carol on Mar 31, 2015
    I have had to deal with moles. Best thing I have found and still use, is a trap. Most hardware stores or agricultural supply stores, stock these. One mole can do so much damage in a yard that one thinks there are dozens of them, where actually only one ot two. The trap kills them instantly.
  • Capernius Capernius on Apr 27, 2015
    About moles: the perfect answer to this Q, is the same for all pests, regardless of size, species, etc....#1) take away their source of food #2) bring in a predatory bug, animal, etc., to get rid of the pest. #3) bring in the trap(s). #1)Because you have pets that go outside, any kind of chemical is out. I do not care what the "Experts" claim, there is no such thing as a safe chemical. All chemicals will either make your pets sick, or kill them, period. #2) there are many predatory animals that would just LOOOOOOOOVE to sink their teeth in to a mole's wee body....Some domestic dogs & cats have been known to feast on a mole or 3...as will snakes. ALL snakes, poisonous or not, moles will not last long with snakes around....and if you do not know for certain that the snake is poisonous or not, assume that is is & keep your distance from it(this includes all pets too). #3) traps. There are almost as many types of traps for moles as there are grains of sand on a California beach. Some are worth their weight in gold, while others are only good for paper weights.So how do you get the best trap for your money? Talk to exterminators. find out what they use & also find out how satisfied their customers are....if you talk to a good exterminator, & he says for you to buy XYZ mole trap, find out if he uses that also, & if he does, and you can afford it, buy that trap.Lastly, getting rid of moles is NOT a one time thing....nor will you see results within 24 hours. exterminating moles, does not work that way...it is an on going thing in the spring & summer, and it takes time....lots & lots of time.Some will get lucky & rid they yard of any & all moles in 1 summer....but the law of averages says that it will be a forever thing. meaning that once that single mole is gone, 2 to 20 more will be close at hand to move in. About Ground Hogs:many of the things I mentioned earlier, will work for ground hogs as well, However, if the dog in the pic is one of your dogs, your dogs will come out on the loosing end if they try to battle a ground hog. Bar none, THE safest way to get rid of ground hogs is with a trap.It can be the type of trap that kills the pest immediately, or the type that catches them alive....Personally, I prefer the live animal traps; but that is only because I eat them(the ground Hogs). If prepared & cooked correctly, Ground Hog Roast is delicious.Ground Hogs are herbavores, which means they will eat just about anything but meat. No ground Hog will ever eat another animal. If you use a trap that kills, after removing the dead animal from the trap, all you need to do is bury it...bury it deep....like 2 - 4 feet deep. this is so another animal will not dig it up & eat it, leaving you with a half eaten carcus to bury a second time.If you use a trap that captures them alive, you need to find a safe place to turn it lose(like maybe your ex-hubby's girlfriend's back yard?). the options here are numerous....my suggestion here is, to find a meadow/field/etc., where it can live out his/her life without becoming a pest to someone else.
  • Victoria Jostes Victoria Jostes on Aug 11, 2015
    trapping moles is the single effective solution.
  • Cornelia Schott Cornelia Schott on Aug 11, 2015
    We battle moles. This trap has worked for us. We had one mole this year vs many last year. http://www.amazon.com/Talpirid-34150-Mole-Trap/dp/B0043FHXVM/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1439293791&sr=8-17&keywords=mole+traps
  • Betty Johnson Betty Johnson on Nov 18, 2015
    That's a good point that those little pests can attract worse ones. If I were you, I might call in a professional. They would have the latest tech to make sure that they fix things longer term. It might be a good idea to keep your dogs inside until the problem is fixed. http://www.allpestsolutions.com.au/service-area-lismore
  • Grady Grady on Jan 12, 2016
    Terriers are bred for hunting vermin. Try borrowing a friend's terrier.
  • GoddessOdd GoddessOdd on Jul 21, 2016
    HOW CRUEL. Moles are beneficial animals, they are in your garden eating grubs and insects, improving your drainage and aerating your soil! Please don't kill them. they are NOT vermin. You should be thanking them, not killing them
    • Ronnette Foster Dean Ronnette Foster Dean on Jul 30, 2016
      I live in California, moles and gophers have ruined my lawn, eaten roots on my lantana and destroyed my young fruit trees etc. my cat can catch these critters anytime she chooses, but is scolded for birds, lizards & snakes!!!!
  • Carol Fredette Carol Fredette on Oct 07, 2016
    Moles hate vibrations. Find urself a fan or windmill and stake it in the ground . Make sure it's high enough to catch the wind. Or purchase the solar powered one from Amazon. It will chase them away. https://www.amazon.com/One-Stop-Gardens-Windm...
  • Mogie Mogie on Jul 09, 2023

    I would think that fencing could help.