I have moles in my lawn. how do I get rid of them?

Answer 1

Many articles say using Castor oil is effective. Even the Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife site, which nixes the noise-scaring approach & other repellents, actually gives out a Castor oil recipe & after saying "No repellents currently available will reliably protect lawns or other plantings from moles"... then says this...
"The repellent will be most effective where it can be watered into the moist soil surrounding surface tunnels made by moles. Areas that receive extensive irrigation will quickly loose the repellent to leaching. For best results, spray the entire area needing protection; moles will burrow under a perimeter treatment. The repellent may need to be reapplied before moles depart. Once moles move elsewhere, the solution usually remains effective for 30 to 60 days."
The Recipe:
Using a blender to combine 1/4 cup of unrefined castor oil (can be purchased at most pharmacies) and 2 tablespoons of a dishwashing liquid. Blend the two together, add 6 tablespoons water, and blend again. Combine the concentrated mixture with water at a rate of 2 tablespoons of solution to 1 gallon of water. Use a watering can or sprayer to liberally apply the solution to areas where moles are active. The above mixture will cover approximately 300 square feet.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/moles.htm

Besides Castor oil, some people pour cat litter or human hair clippings into molehills & refill them until signs of the mole have disappeared.

If you have a lot of moles, you probably have an oversupply of grubs and bugs.
http://www.english-gardening.com/green_up_your_thumb/unwanted_visitors_how_to_deter_moles.htm
Elimination the mole's food source...grubs..and bugs ... is thought to be helpful. "The idea is to kill the grubs to make your yard less like a mole fast food drive through."
http://ezinearticles.com/?Proven-Tips-for-Eliminating-Ground-Moles&id=564546

The Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife site also gives a more detailed explanation of using flooding, barriers, trapping & natural controls/predators & states:
"It is often suggested that if you eliminate grubs from an area you will get rid of moles. Grubs make up only a portion of the mole's diet. During dry periods, moles are known to frequent well-irrigated lawns just for moisture. Thus, moles often are present even in grub-free yards. If all the earthworms, grubs, and other soil animals in a lawn are eliminated by repeated insecticide application, moles may be forced to seek other areas. However, the use of soil insecticides is an expensive approach with no immediate reduction of damage and little likelihood of long-term control. In the process, soil insecticides may poison the groundwater, kill beneficial soil invertebrates, and damage songbirds and other desirable wildlife."

From Cornell U. If you need to eliminate grubs, you could use beneficial nematodes. "They attack many different types of white grubs and are an effective, natural, & safe biological control alternative to pesticides. Just as one must select the appropriate insecticide to control a target insect, so must one choose the appropriate nematode species or strain." Ask your county Agricultural Extension agent for recommended matching of insect target and nematode.
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/pathogens/nematodes.html

A heavy infestation involves using many approaches which can also include using natural predators like cats, dogs, owls, etc. The Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife site states: "Predators alone won't always keep mole populations below the levels that cause conflicts in gardens and landscaped areas. However, when combined with other control techniques, including practicing tolerance, natural control can contribute to overall control."

This is Bob Villa's site with suggestions from members:
http://www.bobvila.com/BBS/GETTING_RID_OF_MOLES_IN_YARD-Bugs_and_Pests-1-F117.html
Good Luck! Hope this is helpful.

Answer 2

Safely & Permanently Remove Moles, Warts and Skin Blemishes

Answer 3

An observation I made a few years ago, My friend up the street and next door neighbor on the other side, for some reason. fertilized their lawns, I kind of lived in between them. I didn't have any moles. Both of them , were loaded.

Answer 4

Moles eat grub worms -- contact the yard specialist --ChemLawn and ask what to do. Moles actually air rate the soil for better lawn growth

Answer 5

Moles eat grubs and earthworms. Figure out what you've got living in your sod in excess, and see what you can do about controlling the grubs. When there's no chow, the moles move on.

Answer 6

My brother used Juicy Fruit chewing gum, he said it worked for him. He put pieces of the gum down the holes. I found it on the Internet but can't remember the website. Sorry.

Answer 7

It may sound bad, but get a dog that will dig them up, You will have some holes to fix, but the dog it the best I have seen, No poisons ,traps or freaky remedies. Young Squirrel dogs bird dogs huskys and so on do great.

Answer 8

SHOTGUN