Mole Control

The mole, one of the most abundant of all small mammals, actually spends most of its life underground. In a natural environment, moles cause little to no damage. They are rarely noticed unless their tunneling becomes visible in our lawns and gardens. Although moles burrow year-round, they are the most active during warm, wet months.

In our lawns we typically think of moles as a problem. However, as they tunnel in search of food, they actually help to aerate the soil. In addition to aerating the soil, a favorite meal among moles is white grubs. High white grub populations can cause unsightly damage to lawns. Moles are voracious eaters and can consume large numbers of grubs on a daily basis.

Exclusion is the first step in controlling any wildlife problem. Hardware cloth (1/4 to 1/2 inch mesh) can be used with a decorative fence around flowerbeds and shrubbery to exclude moles as well as chipmunks, voles and other small animals. The hardware cloth should be 1 to 2 feet tall and needs to be buried to a depth of 6-12 inches.

The next step in discouraging moles in your lawn is to determine if you have a grub problem. If you do have high white grub populations you should reduce watering and use an insecticide to kill the grubs if necessary. This will remove the food source that attracted the mole. Also, heavy, frequent watering may attract insects and earthworms near the surface where moles look for food. Without a food source the moles will likely move to a new area, however, traps can also be used to remove them. There are several styles of traps available and most can be used multiple times. If you use a trap you must be sure to place it on a tunnel that the mole is actively using otherwise it will be ineffective. Poisons may be limited in their effectiveness because grains (which are often used as bait) are not a normal part of a mole's diet.

Mole control can be tricky, especially if your lawn or garden is an excellent habitat. If nearby mole populations are high new moles may simply move into areas that have become vacant. Before initiating a control program, be sure the mole in your lawn or garden is actually a nuisance. Keep in mind that moles play an important role in the management of soil and of grubs that destroy lawns. If you do have moles where you don't want them a combination of the methods mentioned above is generally the best strategy to control the problem.

For more information on this or other topics please visit eXtension at: www.extension.org or call the Alabama Master Gardener Helpline at: 1.877.252.GROW (4769).