Getting Rid of Moles in Your Yard

Getting Rid of Moles in Your Yard

From what I have read, moles are difficult to get rid of. There are lots of things that people try with mixed results, such as putting garlic down the holes. The best solution I found was using castor oil.

The theory is that worms, which are part of a moles diet, are coated in castor oil which makes them less tasty and the moles will move on to another area. There are castor oil repellants commercially available, but I was able to find a recipe on WA state fish and wildlife page.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup unrefined castor oil
• 2 Tbsp dish soap

Directions:

1. Combine and blend in a blender.
2. After the first mix, add 6 Tbsp water and blend again.
3. Take this concentrated mixture and add 2 Tbsp to 1 gallon of water, place in a sprayer and spray liberally in areas where the moles are active and areas that you want to be protected.

This works best in areas where the ground will be watered from time to time. The treatment should last 30-60 days and may need to be reapplied before the moles relocate.

Source: http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/moles.html

By StellaBella from Manchester, WA

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Castor Beans for Mole Control

I have been bothered by moles routing through my garden eating my earthworms. I read that the castor bean was poisonous. I grow castor plants, so I put a dozen seeds in a run. The seeds were gone in a few days, and I haven't seen any signs of moles since.

By Jerry W. from Wells, VT

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Castor Oil Mole Repellant

Moles don't like Castor oil. Try this solution and be sure to let us know whether it was successful.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup castor oil
• 2 gallons water

Directions

Pour this solution around the perimeter of you garden or lawn and keep some on hand to pour on mole mounds when they appear. Continue doing this for a month.

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I live in Illinois and this Summer we hardly had any rain and it's been extemely hot. I have lived in my house for 14 years and this is the very first time that I have ground hogs or ground moles making tunnels in my front yard. They have eaten up my entire Hosta plant. What is the best way to get rid of this pest so it doesn't come back next year?

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By Dudabug 06/17/2010

For the large moles ( leaves the big mounds ) I found the tunnel right after one had dug in our front yard. I took chili pepper out and sprinkled a bunch in the hole. He hasn't been to the front yard. In the back we have small little tunnels above the ground. What can I do for them?

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We are having some serious issues with ground moles and the many tunnels they keep digging in our yard. Our next door neighbor keeps throwing bread out in her yard. Can someone tell me if moles also feast on bread? She will not stop doing this. We also have a problem with ground squirrels and the many holes they too dig. This is getting out of control. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

By Sandy from IL

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By c t 12/03/2009

Get a cat. They love all those small rodent types.

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Would anyone know how to help get rid of moles in my yard? They're turning it into a sponge. I've tried all the commercial products and the spinner things to no avail.

By Crystal F.

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By candleglows 04/02/2012

Getting rid of moles is a problem for a lot of people. I learned if you have moles you have grubs which is a white worm that lives under your grass and you would never know they were there until you see the moles, and they are what the moles feed on.

I found by running a rolling spike across your lawn which puts holes in your lawn (not sure of the spelling here lol) which is called an aerator (you can probably rent one or borrow one from someone who has a farm). This helps with the getting rid of the grubs which you will then have to buy some Grub Ex at your local home improvement store. Spread it over the lawn using a spreader with the holes in the ground.

It makes it easier for the grub ex to get into the ground to do what it was made to do, get rid of the grubs. The primary goal here is to get rid of the grubs first and once you get rid of them you get rid of the moles.

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What's the best way to rid a yard full of trees from moles/voles?

By Karen G.

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By noel 12/16/2011

Here's a company I recommend: they have tips to get rid of moles/voles. Hope this helps!
http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=453

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How do I get rid of moles in my yard?

Hardiness Zone: 8b

By Debbie from Fremont, CA

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By sillepeanut 06/02/2010

My ex-husband swears by using cotton balls soaked in caster oil. After soaking cotton balls you just drop them in the mole holes or open a tunnel and drop in the moies don't like the oil on there skin and I think the smell also.

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I live in Cape Town, South Africa. Does anyone know how I can keep moles out of my garden?

By June from Cape Town South Africa

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By Steve Albano 07/30/2010

Do you know if what you have are "golden moles" or "mole rats"? Both can cause damage. Neither is particularly closely related to the true moles of Europe, Asia, and North America.

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Do mothball really get rid of moles?

By Beverly from Kansas

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By mcslacker 03/24/2009

You need to get a lawn fertilizer type product that contains grub giller. Grubs are these gross white worm looking bugs that live in the roots of the grass & attract the moles as the moles eat the grubs. Follow the package directions. It is usually best to do the application before a good rain and this is also a good time of year to do this. Be sure to by enough product to get the job done right the first time! If you don't get the problem under control it can become quite costly. Friends of mine actually had to remove their whole lawn and replant it. Good luck!

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Is there an easy way to rid my yard of voles, moles, and gophers? They are destroying my lawn and shrubs.

Hardiness Zone: 5b

By Dee from Long Island, NY

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By floydtheduck 11/16/2010

Castor Oil and Cayenne pepper work pretty well. The Castor Oil has to be an industrial grade (you can see if you have Murphy's Castor Oil around the house). They don't like the smell of the pepper or oil.
The trouble with moles and voles is they dig, and most products out on the market only hit the surface. If you're only concerned about your garden or other small area, try stirring up the soil a little and put some cayenne pepper and castor oil in there. Ammonia is also a strong smell that will deter them.

I've also heard of using human hair. Never tried it, but some friends told me if you stir it in the soil that will repel them as well. I've even heard someone say they used to put a donut in the holes, and it actually worked! :)

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How do I get rid of moles? They are terrible this year in our area.

By Ginny

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By susanmajp 04/02/2012

Yoohoo. Moles don't only eat grubs, they eat earthworms too. I organic garden, so both my garden and yard are full of moles. I have been trying for years to get rid of them. If getting rid of grubs was the way to do it, I'd have been free of these creatures decades ago.

We moved my compost pile a few years ago, only to find a nest of them under it, keeping nice and warm throughout the winter. Seriously, these destructive little pests multiply unbelievably often. I can no longer grow veggies due to them tunneling throughout my garden and through the plant roots. The water drains through their tunnels and my plants die. I've tried everything.

This year I bought eight solar mole chasers, and am in the process of trying them out. I've also got a bag of hair from the beautician to put in the tunnels, and am willing to try ANYTHING else known to man. But please, don't tell me to get rid of grubs in my lawn, or the juicy fruit gum thing, or the mole pellets, or the traps because I've tried them all and right now, am doing them all at the same time.

And yes I have a cat--last summer he killed 8, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. I need new ideas, no matter how controversial. We cannot even walk through our yard without tripping or twisting our ankles due to their tunneling. And no, rolling the yard does no good - the next day, the tunnels are right back. Help!

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We have moles and maybe voles in the yard, leaving little mounds of dirt everywhere. When it was just in the lawn it was bad enough, but now something is in the veggie garden. How do we get rid of them?

By Zippy

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By judylowery 07/08/2011

If you like cats, then I recommend getting a female they are the best catchers of moles voles and mice not to mention other critters that invade your yard I have 2 cats and 2, 5 month. old kittens one is a male he will wait till his mom or aunt comes with a catch and steal it from them .Just provide her with regular food and water and a place to sleep she will do her job.

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