Making a Mountain Out of a Mole Hill

That's just what you'll be doing if you try anything except trapping to get rid of the little critters. And, you'll probably still have moles after you've stomped on their trails, cursed at their burrows and shoved wads of gum down their holes.
Moles are remarkable animals known for their underground habitats. They are not rodents and don't have typical mouse-like features.

Instead, moles have sharp, pointed teeth like cats, but they use them for catching and eating grubs, earthworms, snails and beetles. They have enlarged, "paddle-like" front feet and big toenails uniquely adapted for digging.

Moles construct two types of extensive underground tunnels. The shallow runways appear in spring, summer and fall. The deep, permanent tunnels are used year-round as the main avenues of travel.

Moles typically travel one-fifth acre, eating continuously as they move. No more than three to five moles live on each acre and two or three per acre is more common. Their life span is relatively short, three to four years.

Controlling moles is a difficult task. No new techniques or materials have been proven effective. The best method is trapping. Even that can be tricky, since moles are naturally suspicious and can detect out-of-place objects.

However, moles tend to reopen damaged trails. This habit makes for a fairly effective method of capture by tamping down a tunnel and then placing a trap on the damaged area.

Several types of traps are available at hardware, agricultural supply and feed stores. Trapping is most effective in the spring or fall with traps placed in early morning or early evening. Handling the traps safely by following manufacturers' directions is key to stopping the wee varmints from digging up your yard.

If you'd like additional information on trapping moles, we'd be glad to provide it. Just give us a call.

(Information in this article was reprinted with permission from the Cooperative Extension Service of Monroe County.)