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Although we've included information below on live traps, in
the case of gophers and moles we believe there aren't any humane,
cost effective alternatives at this time other than landscape modification and barriers.
Exclusion And Prevention Methods
Although there is currently no truly humane way to trap or remove gophers and moles, there are some steps you can take to
help prevent them, including utilizing mole exclusion methods around your property.
Barrier Method
The barrier method is the best way to exclude moles and gophers from your flower beds and yards.
The barrier method is very labor intensive and it can be quite costly. Dig a narrow 12" vertical
trench around the entire area you want to protect from moles and gophers. Insert 16" of steel as lawn edging.
Push the soil back to leave a 6" wall above ground and a 12" below ground barrier all around the area.
This will deter moles and gophers from entering the area below ground in the first place.
The 6" on top is to deter them from trying to access the area above ground.
Of course, steel is not inexpensive, so you can also opt to insert ¼" or ½" galvanized woven wire hardware cloth 12"
below the ground. The combined overall effort of making your property unappealing to lawn wrecking critters is
what will help you with long term results. The ½" hardware cloth should last approximately 15 years.
Landscape Planning
Landscaping can have a big impact on how attractive your property is to moles. For instance,
moles have eyesight worse than your grandfather without his glasses on, consequently,
they find their way around by touching and smelling. Since moles like to eat worms, they will
go where the worms are found. If you water your lawn too much or if drainage is an issue,
worms will move closer to the surface where they will serve as an attractant to moles.
When moles eat, they leave ridges all over your lawn that appear to be erratic.
These are caused by moles’ bad sight combined with their good sense of touch and smell.
They are changing directions erratically because their senses have told them that they
should go the other direction for that tasty worm, invertebrate, cricket, beetle larvae (
wireworms, and so on), ants, brood, moth pupae and larvae (the army worms and cut worms),
and those nasty slugs.
When landscaping
your property you might consider choosing a native grass that is heat and drought tolerant,
a grass that will not require so much moisture near the surface. The same principle applies to which
plants and flowers you choose for your property. Landscaping that moves moisture deeper into the soil will
not prevent moles but the damage done by the moles will be deeper down thus helping preserve the beauty of
your lawn and flower beds.
Castor Oil and Other Repellents
Castor oil in a liquid
form can sometimes be helpful as a repellent and can be bought online or at your local hardware store.
The castor oil bottle attaches to your garden hose and is sprayed onto your lawn at
least every two weeks. Clients report oily sidewalks with varied success but
have still described the results as
"worth the money and effort because we had fewer moles".
Scootmole Liquid
Castor Oil In Bulk
Mole activity slows down during drought and extreme hot or cold weather,
but they are active 12 months a year. So, if you think they are done
eating your lawn this year, don't worry – they will be back next year.
Live Trap Attempts At Humane Mole And Gopher Removal
There are a few live trap methods for catching moles, which we have described below, however, there
can be potential problems with these techniques that should be considered first,
including suffering or death for the mole. If you are
looking for a truly humane technique for trapping moles, it does not exist at this time.
Coffee Can Traps
Moles can sometimes be trapped in a coffee can. A hole is dug in the path of their tunnel and a coffee
can is inserted in hopes that the mole can be made to fall inside the coffee can.
Cardboard and dirt are placed over the coffee can without crushing the tunnels to help exclude light.
The can must be checked every other hour. One problem with this method, is that by the time
you check the can every other hour you have added a lot of human scent to the area, which can
deter the mole away from the trap.
But if you do not check it
enough, the mole will die of exposure to the elements.
Adjusted Mole And Gopher Body Crushing Traps
Some traps have sharp points that fully close on the mole and kill it. These points are sometimes altered
with rubber pads or special coatings in an attempt to make the trap non-lethal.
The concept is that the live mole will be trapped in place because of tension on their body from the trap,
therefore allowing for live removal and relocation. However, this method has the same problem the coffee
can one does - the trap has to be checked every few hours to avoid suffering and death for the mole. But, a
frequently handled trap will begin to have a strong human scent which will deter the mole away and even
educate the mole to avoid such traps in the future. If the traps are not checked frequently,
the trapped animal will suffer or die and defeating efforts to be humane.
Kill Traps And Poisons
Unfortunately, the bottom line is that the most effective way to get rid of moles and gophers is via trapping.
Humane removal methods are simply not cost effective or feasible when it comes to gophers and moles.
Mole traps can be rather expensive and a few styles can inadvertently hurt pets.
If incorrectly set, moles can be caught by one or more toes and actually drag your trap deep
into their tunnel system where you will never find it, only frustrating you that much more.
Mole traps and gopher traps are very different for many reasons.
Do not attempt to use a gopher trap to catch a mole, without consulting your physician first.
Talpirid is a popular poison used by mole control services to kill moles. But,
poisoning moles with Talpirid can typically only be done effectively by an
experienced mole trapper with a pest control license. And it is important to remember that
any time you use poisons you run the risk of accidentally poisoning your pets.
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