Apparently it's not all that far-fetched an idea to catch the pesky little critters that tunnel under your lawn. You can find helpful how-to sites that show exactly how to catch a mole, alive or dead. There are also many ads for chemical solutions to the problems or for professional help.
One way to catch the critter alive is a bit labor intensive, but it is said to work. You dig a hole through and under a tunnel you are sure is still in use, put a deep bucket in the hole, restore the tunnel to a usable condition, and cover the hole with a board so all is dark. Then you wait. The mole, being a creature of habit, runs through its tunnel and falls into the bucket. An easier way is to shove a spade into a tunnel in which you see movement and try to throw the mole out into the air.
Once you have your mole (you need thick gloves to handle it, because it has sharp teeth), you need to decide what to do with it. In many jurisdictions, it's illegal to move a wild animal from its habitat, so check the local regulations or ask animal control for advice.
Catch and release folks should read up on what moles like before letting them go. They like lawns, so letting them go in deep woods is not humane. You don't want to release them on a neighbor's property, either. If you have a part of your garden which is not on display, you could release your captive there and hope it stays away from your lawn.
If just getting them out of your yard is the goal, there are chemicals you can use to kill them. These include pellets and other forms of bait that you can drop into tunnels. Moles don't eat grain, so poison-soaked grain biscuits will not work. Most of these remedies don't get good reviews, but it may be worth a try.
Traps for moles are one thing that is said to actually work. These need to be set and placed into active tunnels. Care must be taken to keep the traps underground out of the reach of children and pets.
People flood the tunnels with water by the simple expedient of sticking a hose into the molehill and turning on a steady stream of water. Apparently you then catch any moles that emerge. It seems that the old trick of putting mothballs in the tunnel to get the moles to move out doesn't work very well, if at all. Gassing the animals is another thing desperate gardeners have tried, as are explosives. At this point, it might make sense to call in the pros. Ask for a guarantee before signing a contract; even professionals have trouble with these little creatures.
Moles eat grubs, which is why they like your lawn. However, they are also ridding your garden of grubs, which hatch into Japanese Beetles and other nasty pests. Some tunnels might only mean that moles are traveling thorough, not setting up their nursery. Rolling your lawn might compact the earth enough to make the animals stay away. You may be able to co-exist with these little creatures.
One way to catch the critter alive is a bit labor intensive, but it is said to work. You dig a hole through and under a tunnel you are sure is still in use, put a deep bucket in the hole, restore the tunnel to a usable condition, and cover the hole with a board so all is dark. Then you wait. The mole, being a creature of habit, runs through its tunnel and falls into the bucket. An easier way is to shove a spade into a tunnel in which you see movement and try to throw the mole out into the air.
Once you have your mole (you need thick gloves to handle it, because it has sharp teeth), you need to decide what to do with it. In many jurisdictions, it's illegal to move a wild animal from its habitat, so check the local regulations or ask animal control for advice.
Catch and release folks should read up on what moles like before letting them go. They like lawns, so letting them go in deep woods is not humane. You don't want to release them on a neighbor's property, either. If you have a part of your garden which is not on display, you could release your captive there and hope it stays away from your lawn.
If just getting them out of your yard is the goal, there are chemicals you can use to kill them. These include pellets and other forms of bait that you can drop into tunnels. Moles don't eat grain, so poison-soaked grain biscuits will not work. Most of these remedies don't get good reviews, but it may be worth a try.
Traps for moles are one thing that is said to actually work. These need to be set and placed into active tunnels. Care must be taken to keep the traps underground out of the reach of children and pets.
People flood the tunnels with water by the simple expedient of sticking a hose into the molehill and turning on a steady stream of water. Apparently you then catch any moles that emerge. It seems that the old trick of putting mothballs in the tunnel to get the moles to move out doesn't work very well, if at all. Gassing the animals is another thing desperate gardeners have tried, as are explosives. At this point, it might make sense to call in the pros. Ask for a guarantee before signing a contract; even professionals have trouble with these little creatures.
Moles eat grubs, which is why they like your lawn. However, they are also ridding your garden of grubs, which hatch into Japanese Beetles and other nasty pests. Some tunnels might only mean that moles are traveling thorough, not setting up their nursery. Rolling your lawn might compact the earth enough to make the animals stay away. You may be able to co-exist with these little creatures.
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You can get advice on how to catch a mole and more info about the best mole traps at http://www.traplineproducts.com/trapinstructions.html right now.
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