Controlling Mole Infestations

There are many living creatures that burrow their way around the lawn during this time of year, from worms to rodents.  However,  the most noticeable are the mole infestations.  As homeowners make their way around their yards to inspect after the long winter, they are frequently taken aback by the massive tunnel network that has managed to crop up all over the place, lifting the sod from their lawn in an unsightly array of dirt among the otherwise green area. Moles make prime targets for eviction when the lawn damage reaches these proportions.

Mole infestation effects

Not all mole infestations are harmful.  In fact, ground moles can serve a valuable ecological purpose by helping aerate the soil and ridding a yard or garden of grub worms.   In fact, moles as small as 5 ounces can consume from 45-50 pounds of grub worms and insects each year.   However, they tend to multiply to unreasonable numbers in a very short period of time, and this is when mole control becomes a priority.

Ending mole infestations

There are a number of different ways to rid a property of a mole infestation.  There are traps, chemicals and all-natural ways to control them.  The homeowner’s best bet, however, is to consult with a local pest control expert who can come onto the property and personally assess the situation.  Only then, can they design a plan that will best suit the needs of the property owner.

The use of traps and poisons can be quite risky, especially for the homeowner who has pets or small children.  Even if the pets do not come into direct contact with the poison, they could eventually eat a mole that had been poisoned and become very ill or die.  Likewise, a dog or small child could sustain serious injury or be killed by the trap that has been left unattended.  Sometimes, less extreme measures are called for.  Controlling mole infestationss does not have to be dangerous or overly ​complicated if done correctly.

Some natural solutions exist for the control of moles .  Something as simple as watering one’s lawn less frequently can cause the moles to stay further underground, thus eliminating the annoying tunnel systems that appear above ground.  Overwatering a lawn can cause them to stay closer to the surface.  A little-known fact is that ground moles have twice as much hemoglobin and twice as much blood as similarly sized mammals of other species.   This enables them to breathe with more ease in their underground environments where there is a low oxygen content.

Another way of controlling mole infestations is to infuse the area that has been infested with a solution of castor oil and water.   It should be inserted into entrances to the tunnels and saturated into the surrounding area.   Moles are repelled by the use of castor oil because they cannot digest it.  Likewise, planting certain varieties of lilies can also deter and repel ground moles.