Whether you’re new to pest prevention or have had problems in the past, these common mole control methods will help keep your yard from turning into a mess of mounds.

Signs of a Mole

The first step in mole control is determining if you do, in fact, have moles in your yard. Some of the signs include:

• Long, straight mounds of soil.
• Some mounds connect at two points.
• Mounds run along fence rows, hedges, concrete paths, or other man-made borders.
• Runways follow a woody perimeter of a field or yard.

To locate the main mole tunnel, clear away a mound of soil and look for the opening. This is usually a short passage that leads down a few inches to the main tunnel. Fill in the opening with soil. If in 24 hours you notice it’s reopened and the mound is built back up, you know a mole is living there and trying to access its pathway to food.

Mole Control Methods

There are several ways to help control your mole population:

1. Baiting. Looks like an earthworm, a mole’s favorite food source, but acts like a poison.
2. Trapping. Mostly used in the spring or fall after rain when the worms are plentiful and the moles are active. Capturing pregnant moles in the spring helps reduce your future mole problem. Place traps at the entrance of any active tunnels you find. Some traps are reusable.
3. Gassing. Smoke or knock them out.
4. Repelling. Keep moles away with granulated repellent or organic oils.
5. Insecticide. Removes their food source. Moles feed on grubs and worms. So if you have a mole problem, you probably also have a grub problem. Treat your lawn for insects and you could rid your lawn of multiple pests.

If you’ve tried multiple methods and are still experiencing a mole issue, contact Cardinal Lawns for more information or to deal with the problem professionally.