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Moles

How to Get Rid of Moles Humanely

Moles are tiny creatures that can quickly cause widespread damage if they choose to live and hunt in your yard. Getting rid of moles at the first signs of damage is very important. This page offers all you need to know about getting rid of moles, including step-by-step instructions and expert tips by Havahart®.

modify soil conditions

1 Modify Soil Conditions

Moles invade areas where soil is ideal for digging and for hunting worms. The best type of soil for a mole is moist and loamy - this type of earth is easy to tunnel through and tends to provide the most food. Making the ground in your yard less inhabitable will help give moles a reason to find somewhere else to live.

  • Use a lawn roller to pack down loose soil, making it more challenging to dig through.
  • Replace traditional soil or mulch with harder and drier materials like clay or gravel.
  • Reduce soil moisture by improving drainage systems.
  • Avoid over-watering your lawn to keep moisture levels down.

2 Locate Existing Tunnels

mole

Knowing where moles are living and feeding underground will help you determine where to begin your control plan. You can identify their tunnels by locating mole runs and molehills:

Common cat activities include:

  • Mole runs: When moles tunnel just below the ground's surface searching for worms, they push up the top level of soil along the way, leaving behind runs. These appear as crooked paths of raised soil about 3 inches wide.
  • Molehills: As moles dig deeper tunnels, they push up soil to the surface, creating cone-shaped mounds of soil. These mounds range from 6-24 inches in diameter and 2-8 inches high.

3 Choose a Control Method

Review the information below to select the best control method(s) for you. It's important to note that by employing multiple control solutions, you will have a better chance of getting rid of moles and keeping them off your property.

Mole Repellents

mole repellent

Apply a castor oil-based mole repellent to stop moles from being able to feed in your yard, subsequently driving them out. Castor oil is an all-natural ingredient that effectively repels moles in two ways:

  • offends a mole's sense of smell, on which they depend to seek out food
  • coats earthworms (mole's favorite food source) to make them unpalatable

For more information, read How to Repel Moles »

Shop Ultrasonic Repellents »

Ultrasonic Mole Repellents

ultrasonic mole repellent

Insert an ultrasonic mole repellent into your lawn to make the surrounding earth too uncomfortable for them to live and feed in. Ultrasonic repellents drive moles away by negatively altering the territory:

  • Piercing ultrasound penetrates the soil and irritates moles, making them want to search for a quieter environment.
  • Constant vibration pulses throughout the earth confusing their sense of equilibrium.

Although moles can easily hear the sounds and feel the vibrations, humans and pets cannot.

For more information, read How to Repel Moles »

Shop Ultrasonic Repellents »

Fencing

fencing

Install an underground barrier to exclude moles from your yard or garden. Use the following guidelines:

  • Use sheet metal or 1/4" steel mesh, at least 12" in height.
  • Bend the bottom 6" out at a 90° angle to prevent a mole from digging underneath.
  • Completely bury the barrier so that the top is flush with the surface of the ground.

It's important to note that while fencing is a great solution that can provide long-lasting results, very persistent moles can find a way to dig underneath such a barrier.

Expert Tips

  • Once you drive a mole out of his territory, it's open for another mole to take over. This is why it's very important to continue repelling moles after they are gone.
  • Moles can dig up to 15 feet of tunnels per day, so it's important take control at the first signs of damage.
  • Some may recommend using pesticides on your lawn to kill worms and other mole food in the soil. Havahart® strongly discourages this as doing so may actually cause more harm than good. If a mole's food source goes completely missing, he won't just stop digging - in fact, he may be even more destructive in his desperate pursuit to find something to eat.
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