How to Get Rid of the Mole

The mole is a common pest in Alaska, Canada, and the eastern United States. ^{[1] X Research Source} They live in burrows at a depth of 0.6 -1.5 m underground, and can extend up to 10 m horizontally. ^{[2] X Research Sources} Gardens are ideal for groundhogs because of their abundance of food, low predators, and open ground in the garden that makes it easy to burrow and grow. Lots of vegetables to eat every day. ^{[3] X Research Source} Mole burrows can cause significant structural damage to buildings. ^{[4] X Source of Research}^{[5] X Source of Research} The good news is that there are many solutions to getting rid of moles: for example, you can humanely trap, fumigate, and kill them without need to smoke. You can also make your garden and backyard less attractive to discourage moles from living there.

Table of Contents

Humanely trap moles

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Surveying. Before trapping moles alive and releasing them, you should check with your local wildlife agency about the removal of trapped wildlife, as different laws may apply. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

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Wear gloves when using the trap so your scent doesn’t stay on it. Set traps right in front of the cave entrance. Camouflage by spraying paint and rolling traps in the mud are considered effective ways. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Use fruits and vegetables as bait. ^{[8] X Research Source} Cantaloupe is a mole’s favorite, but if you notice something disappearing quickly in your garden, you can use it as bait. ^{[9] X Research Source} The lure should be placed as deep inside the trap as possible to ensure that the mole will fully enter the cage and reach the lure. Place a brick above the trap cage to prevent rats from rolling back and forth when trapped. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Camouflage mouse trap. Place sticks, dirt and leaves in and around the trap, ^{[11] X Research source} then set up the trap. Depending on the type of trap you buy, the mechanism of action will be slightly different. It is best to follow the directions on the packaging carefully.

Wash the mole

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Consider carefully. Using poison is not necessarily a good solution. The use of poison to deal with mole rats is not supported by many people for a variety of reasons. ^{[14] X Research Sources} Before you resort to this approach, consider taking the medication to a specialist to assess the situation.

Animals killed with poison are often excruciatingly painful. A mole can die slowly over hours or days from internal bleeding, suffocation, or some other painful cause. ^{[15] X Research Source}
Efficiency is not high. Most legal poisons are usually formulated to kill rodents such as rats or mice, not moles. ^{[16] X Research Source}
Chemicals that kill moles are also harmful to humans and other animals. Pets can and often are poisoned, as well as human health. ^{[17] X Research Source}
The good scenario is that you will be cleaning up the dead rodent that has been poisoned, rotting on the lawn. When decomposing underground, the corpse will smell terrible and can attract other pests. ^{[18] X Research Source}^{[19] X Research Source}
The cleanup process can be time consuming and toxic. ^{[20] X Research Source}

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Select time. Moles tend to hibernate in late September or early October, and their hibernation chambers are usually covered, so it cannot be smoked immediately after this time. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Locate the cave entrance. Place a patch of pre-cut grass next to each entrance. ^{[22] X Research Source}

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Read the user manual carefully. The process of burning and installing the fume box will vary by brand. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

Ignite the canister. Place the fumigation box as deep in the cave as possible without having to throw it in. You can use the tip of the shovel to push the box deeper. ^{[24] X Research Source}

Place the pre-cut grass patch in the hole. Press the grass firmly into the ground to seal the hole. Wait about five minutes, and see if the other caves are leaking smoke. If there is, you need to use a patch of grass to cover it. Repeat this step until all entrances have been sealed. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

Kill moles without fumigation

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Use mouse traps. This is often an inhumane solution, as these types of traps do not always kill the animal immediately. Cave entrances are also more difficult to locate so that traps can be placed directly outside, and rat traps pose a significant danger to small children and pets. Depending on the type of rat trap you buy, there will be different ways to install it, and you should pay close attention to the instructions. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

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Poisoning the mole rat. This solution also poses the same threat as trapping and fumigation: the poison is dangerous to pets and humans, and it would be difficult to dispose of the carcasses if they died underground. However, if you decide to go with this solution, the process is quite simple: you just need to place the poison in areas frequented by mole rats in your garden. ^{[27] X Research Source}

Kill the mole. This way is usually only chosen when you live in a remote place, and you are a good shooter. A mole that has been hit by a bullet but isn’t completely dead can become more dangerous and aggressive, and can cause real harm to children and pets if it escapes. As such, this is not a recommended practice for dealing with mole rats. ^{[28] X Research Sources}

Preventing moles from dwelling

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Make the yard less attractive to moles. The best way to deal with moles is to be proactive, and prevent them from making dens in your garden in the first place. If you’ve ever had a mole problem, return to the area once you’ve eliminated them and keep your garden mole-free.

Harvest vegetables as soon as possible. ^{[29] X Research Sources}
Clearing bushes and clearing piles of dirt out of the yard, and trimming away too dense foliage ^{[30] X Research Source} As prey, mole rats often feel They are most comfortable when they can easily hide from predators.
Remove stalks that rats can use to sharpen their teeth. ^{[31] X Research Source}
Fill rocks or gravel in the mole’s empty burrows. ^{[32] X Research Source}

Build a fence around your garden. Although the shape does not resemble the squirrel family, it is surprising that the mole is a good climber. To prevent moles more effectively, you should erect a wire mesh fence with holes no larger than 7.5 cm wide. The fence should be about 1 – 1.2 m above the ground and at least 0.6 m below the ground, ^{[33] X Source of research} the top of the fence needs to be bent to make climbing difficult. If possible, you should create an L-shape underneath the ground for maximum effect. ^{[34] X Research Source}

Sprinkle Epsom salt on the plants in the garden. Salt will make the plant less attractive to moles. However, the rainwater will wash away the salt, so you need to sprinkle it again. ^{[35] X Research Source}

Chase them away. If moles think your yard is full of predators, they’ll be less likely to burrow there. If you own a cat, sprinkle some litter around the garden. If you don’t have a cat, use ammonia-soaked rags for the same effect (mole mice will confuse the smell of ammonia solution with urine). Ammonia can damage your lawn, so consider placing rags on rocks or pieces of wood. ^{[36] X Research Sources} You can also purchase chemical pesticides for this purpose, although there is some controversy as to how effective this method really is. ^{[37] X Research Source}

Advice

If you’re having trouble getting rid of moles on your own, don’t hesitate to seek professional help.
Moles are known to transmit rabies. If you or your pet is bitten by a rat, seek medical attention immediately. ^{[38] X Research Sources}
Red peppers will repel moles.

Steps

Humanely trap moles

Wash the mole

Kill moles without fumigation

Preventing moles from dwelling

Advice

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