Although harmless to humans, moles can still be a nuisance in your garden. Whether found in a flower bed, vegetable garden or part of your lawn, this small animal can cause a lot of damage by turning over the soil and severing the roots growing underground.
To get rid of moles scavenging for food, such as earthworms, larvae or other insects, follow the advice of our Montreal pest control technicians.
How to identify moles in your garden, yard or lawn
Before you can take the necessary steps to get rid of the moles that are hiding beneath your soil, you need to identify them first.
Let’s take a look at some of this animal’s unique characteristics.
What do moles look like?
Concerning their physical characteristics, moles are about 15 cm long and weigh on average 100 g. Their black fur and elongated snout are typical attributes of the species and their large front legs allow them to dig underground tunnels, often found in gardens.
Misconceptions about moles
This species suffers from two major misconceptions. The first is that the mole is a blind animal. Moles have tiny eyes that do not allow them to see movements, hence the expression to be as “blind as a mole”.
The second misconception is that the mole is a rodent. Moles are solitary mammals and do not spend their time with other moles. Therefore, if you see a mole in your garden or yard, it is unlikely that there are any others around.
Indirect helpers
Despite the fact that moles dig into your garden and damage your soil, they actually help aerate the soil in your garden and eliminate pests.
Despite this, you don’t have to put up with their presence and there are many ways to get rid of them.
6 ways to get rid of moles in the garden or yard
If you want to get rid of moles in your garden or yard, there are many different methods that can be used. Let’s take a look at them!
1. Elderberry
Elderberry in all its forms is a very effective product for dealing with moles. Surround your flower and vegetable gardens with elderberry branches planted in the ground to protect them. Moles will stay away from the strong smell.
Another option is to pour concentrated elderberry compost directly into the molehill. Garden moles find this substance particularly repellent.
2. Flowers and plants
You may unknowingly have natural methods in your garden that keep moles away.
Some flowers and plants have an unbearable smell for moles. You can therefore plant or scatter them throughout your garden to keep moles away. Some examples include:
- Garlic
- Onion
- Hyacinth
- Daffodil
- Narcissus
- Mole grass
Besides keeping moles out of your garden, these plants will beautify your yard with a variety of colors.
3. Human hair and animal fur
Another effective way to get rid of moles without using toxic products is to use animal fur and human hair.
Placing dog or cat fur and human hair in the corners of your garden and on mounds of soil will keep moles away for a long time. Moles will think that their predators are around and will want to flee as soon as possible.
4. Ultrasonic and vibration pest repellants
One of the most effective ways to get rid of moles is to install ultrasonic and vibration pest repellants in your garden or yard. Moles are particularly good listeners and will move away from your property at the slightest sound.
These devices are designed specifically for rodents and moles. This means that your pets have nothing to fear.
5. Bicarbonate soda
Bicarbonate soda is a harsh but effective solution for getting rid of moles in your garden or yard. Using this product will kill the moles and deter future pests from coming into your home.
To use bicarbonate soda against moles, take a cup and fill it up halfway with peanut butter. Fill the rest of the cup with the bicarbonate soda. Then, mix this solution together until you have a smooth paste. The goal is to use the smell of the peanut butter to mask the smell of the bicarbonate soda. Lastly, place small amounts of this mixture near to the moles’ tunnels.
6. Chemical products
The final way to get rid of moles is to use chemicals. You can find some mole sprays in your local hardware store.
This method is designed to kill the mole, so it is important to keep your children and pets out of the way when using it. Chemicals must be handled with extreme caution and care.
If you don’t know where to start, contact professional extermination services.
Contact professionals to get rid of moles in your garden or yard
In short, moles are not very troublesome animals, but they can still damage your garden, your vegetable patch and your flowers.
There are several natural and chemical solutions for getting rid of them, depending on your situation.
If you want help getting rid of the moles in your garden or yard, you can contact our experts in wildlife capture and rehabilitation. They will be happy to answer your questions.
