Getting Rid of Moles Is Not a Hopeless Endeavor

Moles are probably quite despised creatures, because people don't see any benefit in them, only damage in the form of ruined lawns and large mounds of earth. Yet moles also have their own role in maintaining the natural balance, they were not created to torment people on earth.

And actually, moles can even be useful in the home garden: they aerate and loosen the soil and eat insects and their larvae. In one day, a mole eats about as much as it weighs itself. And contrary to a fairly widespread opinion, a mole does not eat plant roots. Its delicacy is earthworms and insects. (By the way, after eating its fill, a mole sleeps for 5-6 hours and then goes hunting again. A mole dies of hunger after just 17 hours pass.)

Still, moles and the gardener's interests cross swords when it comes to a beautiful lawn. That's why we give you some tips on how to direct moles to better hunting grounds. This in both a literal and figurative sense – first we try with kindness and then with force.

Ultrasonic pellets

Stores sell ultrasonic mole pellets, which should be inserted into mole holes. The pellets should chase away existing moles and keep new ones away.

Garlic cloves in mole tunnels

If vampires are supposed to fear garlic, then maybe moles do too. Break garlic cloves in half and put them in mole tunnels. Reportedly, moles will then soon be gone. However, in order for them not to want to return, you need to put new cloves in every few months.

Stick with a beer bottle

Whether this is the most beautiful sight or not, but it is said that moles are also driven away by a stick inserted into a mole tunnel with a beer bottle rattling on its end. Moles are very sensitive to sound and if they dislike something even slightly, they will leave. Unfortunately, one stick is not enough, you need several.

Garden flowers

It is said that some flowers also drive moles away. How effective this is, we unfortunately cannot tell from our experience. Suitable are fritillaria, daffodil, common bluebell. Almond milkwort is considered especially effective, and it even has a name in English that refers to moles – mole plant.

On the other hand, some gardeners say that yes, moles don't like the bulbs of some flowers, but they dig them out of the ground and damage the garden even more.

In any case, we plant some almond milkwort in our garden just in case.

Cat litter

Moles don't like it if cat litter and cat feces are used in their tunnels. If you have a cat that uses the house for its business, it's definitely worth trying.

Naphthalene

Naphthalene also has a specific smell that moles don't like.

Harsher methods: live trapping of moles and wire traps

If none of the gentler methods have helped or the moles simply haven't left at your request, then you need to resort to harsher measures.

Live trapping of moles

If you want to avoid killing the velvet-furred creatures, there is also the option of catching them and moving them elsewhere in nature (avoid coniferous forests, moles don't like it there). In nature they can go about their business peacefully and build underground labyrinths. Watch from this video how quickly a mole digs into not exactly the softest soil.

Wire traps

As far as we found out from googling and talking to garden owners, unfortunately the most effective method is still the wire trap, which catches moles and kills them. At the same time, some people claim that new moles simply come instead of the old ones and it's impossible to catch all the moles in the world.

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Go ahead and figure out what works best. In any case, we wish you patience and success in controlling moles.

By the way, there are no moles on Estonian islands. Maybe your new country home is there instead? Check offers here.