How to deal with moles in your summer cottage and garden

What harm do moles cause?

Insectivores eat some garden and vegetable pests. Moles loosen the soil, improving its ventilation. However, this is where the arguments in favor of these animals end.

The harm that moles cause:

• destruction of plant roots;
• eating root vegetables;
• eating earthworms, which provide humus to the soil;
• deterioration in the appearance of the site.

When is the best time to start fighting?

Uninvited guests should be dealt with before spring planting. Experts do not recommend rushing the deadlines, since at the very beginning of spring moles eat the larvae of insect pests, which at this time begin active activity. Some experienced gardeners claim that it is better to destroy moles when the crop is ripening. This is due to the fact that mice and other rodents can move into empty “unowned” holes.

Effective ways to get rid of moles

There are many options for how to deal with annoying mammals. Most of them are safe for humans, but cause great discomfort to moles. Some methods are less effective, others help get rid of uninvited guests for a long time. Even if the moles have not chosen the site, but settled with neighbors in the country, it is necessary to urgently take protective measures.

Traps

Mole traps are effective and have been used by summer residents for decades. It is enough to purchase an inexpensive wire trap at any gardening store. Before purchasing, you need to make sure that the product is of high quality, since there is a possibility that it will fall apart after operation.

It is important to install the mole catcher correctly. It is better to place mole traps in groups of 2. The rings are directed in different directions, because it is impossible to predict where the animal will go.

There are modern traps from European manufacturers. They are more expensive than wire devices and show no less efficiency. Manufacturers recommend placing them on ledges. Experienced users advise installing it a little wider, because large, thick moles are often found in nature.

It is not advisable to place wire and other traps in all the holes in the passages, because there can be a lot of them. You should walk around the entire perimeter of the area and find the places through which the animal moves most often. This is explained by the fact that in most cases moles do not live in areas. They dig tunnels in the ground to eat worms and insects, and go there to search for food along the same routes.

Mole traps are installed in places with hard soil. If the ground is soft and loose, the animal will have no problem burying or moving the device.

Flooding

Mole dungeons can be filled with large amounts of water. It is important to do this before planting crops to avoid damaging them. An improvised dam made of plastic film, stones and other suitable materials must be installed around the perimeter. At the same time, it is important to protect the façade and foundation of a residential building, as well as other buildings. After a few days, the dam is dismantled. Three to four days are enough for moles to leave an area that is too wet and go in search of a new habitat.

Wind turbines

The design of the device plays a key role. It will not have any effect over a large area. For this reason, large areas will have to use many windmills.

All wind turbines must have a long base that can be buried deep into the soil. The vibrations created repel not only moles, but also small rodents.

You can make a windmill yourself. Procedure:

1. attach a narrow metal pipe 2 m long to a small board from below;
2. dig the tube into the ground 1-1.5 m;
3. plastic bottles on metal plates are attached to the edges of the vertical board;
4. place the bottles so that the device resembles a sunflower.

You can resort to a simpler method. It is enough to bury plastic bottles in the ground. The necks should be above the ground and pointing upward. When there are gusts of wind, a strong rumble will appear, which will frighten the moles. It has been proven that noise and vibration cause uninvited guests to leave areas and not return to them.

Mole traps

Technical devices aimed at capturing and killing animals - mole traps. We would like to warn you that not everyone can psychologically bear the sight of a bloody animal carcass with broken bones. But for a gardener who has already given up in the fight against small pests and is losing his nerves, there is no other way to solve the problem once and for all.

Handymen can make such mole traps at home, but it will be difficult to harden the wire for the springs. You can adapt a regular mousetrap to catch a mole. But the price of the cheapest and most effective devices is about 50 rubles, so you can relate the issue of making the device to the purchase.

Traps have the following modifications:

• Wire traps

With the correct installation of this cheap (from 55 rubles) device in a mole passage, the animal will definitely not be able to pass by. Moreover, it is recommended to buy at least two of these traps and install them so that the loops are located in different directions and the springs are closed. If in the first two days it was not possible to catch the animal, the devices are rearranged into other moves.

• Tunnel traps

The effectiveness of such a trap is twice as high as that of a single wire trap, which makes it easier to install along the path of the mole. The catching of the animal is checked not by digging, but visually - by raising the spring above the ground.

• Harpoon or plunger traps

Such mole traps are quite expensive (from 1 thousand rubles), but are easy to install and effective. But the capture of an animal is a very bloody spectacle.

• Trap - scissors

The cost of such devices is about 1 thousand rubles, the efficiency is high. When the device is triggered, the animal shrinks from the sides and dies.

• Branded expensive devices

The price of such traps is 2.5 thousand rubles, they are very easy to install and are certainly effective. But the animal also dies bloodily.

• live traps

For those who categorically do not agree to kill, there are live traps. Many owners of moles quite successfully dig them up with a shovel when they see a moving mound or catch them in pipes. You can dig a hole under the passage and place a bucket or pan with high sides in it.

You can purchase ready-made devices. Cost from 350 rubles.

The only question remains where the animal will go after release.

Electronic repellers

Hardware stores offer devices of varying power and, accordingly, operating area. Such equipment creates special vibrations that spread along the ground. The distance over which the action of repellent devices extends depends on the characteristics of the product of a particular manufacturer.

Often, owners of personal plots have to buy several electronic devices. The devices are installed at the very beginning of spring and are not dismantled until the end of the summer season.

Experienced users note that it is better not to install such devices in areas where cultivated plants are planted. This is due to the fact that at the very beginning of use, pests will show increased interest in the foreign structure. As a result, the number of soil mounds will increase, threatening the potential harvest.

About a month after installing electronic repellers, animals will gradually move to a distance of 10 meters or more from sources of unpleasant vibrations. Then the mammals will completely leave the area.

Acoustic equipment

Devices "Mole", "Mole" and other products can be purchased in specialized stores for gardeners and vegetable gardeners. The operating principle of such devices:

• the equipment creates ultrasonic waves that are similar to danger signals;
• moles cease to navigate in space.

The main advantage of this method is its safety. But an acoustic device is not enough for even the smallest garden plot. In addition, ultrasound creates discomfort for people and pets (cats, dogs, rabbits, etc.). The effect of using the device does not last long. If you turn it off, the moles will return and cause trouble again.

Why do moles appear on the site?

Moles quite quickly destroy lawns in personal plots. Cute, at first glance, animals bring a lot of inconvenience to their owners, destroying the harvest. Moles become more active in spring and summer, when the soil warms up well and it is easier for them to dig tunnels. In winter and autumn, animals calm down and wait out the cold. In search of food, moles enter territory where they are not entirely welcome. While digging holes, animals hunt for spiders, earthworms and other insects. There is a lot of this in gardens, which is why many gardeners encounter moles.

Trying to find food, animals damage the root systems of trees and other cultivated plants, which leads to the death of the crop. It is worth understanding that the mole operates underground, he digs huge tunnels, due to which the earth subsides, and also:

• infertile soil rises to the surface, thereby deteriorating the quality of the land;
• Other pests, such as shrews, mice, and rats, can also move through mole holes.

One of the main dangers of a mole is its fickleness. © https://ydoo.info/qa/kak-izbavitsya-ot-krotov.htmlThe animal never sits still, it is constantly in search of food, so if a mole appears on an area, then with a high probability it will appear on others. In addition, moles live in colonies, so if one is spotted, it means it has a family. The more animals on the site, the more harm they cause.

Poisons and improvised means

Industrial enterprises produce chemical compounds that help get rid of moles. Many modern products meet safety requirements and cause almost no harm to the soil and plantings. However, care must be taken when using. Poisons can enter the body of an adult, child or pet and lead to irreversible consequences.

Under no circumstances should you try to create poison at home. Rat poison, as well as poisonous powders that quickly dissolve in water, will not work. After rain, chemicals will penetrate into the fertile layers of the soil.

A good solution would be to contact companies specializing in pest extermination. You will have to pay more for the services of professionals than for drugs in a store, but the effectiveness of this method is much higher.

Repellent home solutions

Summer residents often use castor oil. Mix 200 ml of castor oil and a few tablespoons of liquid soap. You can use dishwashing detergent. 15 ml of the resulting composition are dissolved in 2 liters of water. The solution is sprayed evenly over the entire treated area. It is better if the ground is damp. For this reason, it is recommended to carry out the procedure after watering or rain.

Other home remedies with strong odors will also help. You need to soak cloth or paper in them, and then put them in molehills. You should sprinkle some soil on top. For this purpose the following are used:

• petrol;
• kerosene;
• ammonia;
• valerian;
• naphthalene.

Shovel

This is the most important weapon of a summer resident, which is always nearby. Moles are eliminated from the site and remain alive, i.e. this is the most humane way. After rain, you need to trample down the raised molehills. The animal will definitely return and begin to restore them.

During the recovery process, the ground will begin to rise again. It is worth allowing the animal to restore a few meters of passages, and then begin to trample the soil sharply. The mole will return and begin to rebuild the tunnels again. It is important to seize the moment correctly, plunge the shovel deep into the ground and quickly remove the pest along with the soil layer. The mole should be placed in a deep container and taken to the forest. There it will eat insects and worms, so it will not harm the garden.

Hollow tubes

You can take a reed or reed trunk, as well as light pipes with a small diameter and a length of at least 2 m. The device is stuck into the hole. 50-60 cm of pipe should remain on the surface. In strong winds, air masses passing inside will create a hum. The hum scares off the moles, and they leave the area.

Planting

Some plants repel moles with a pungent odor. Such crops need to be planted on the site in the spring. After about 2 months they will begin to have an effect on the blind pest. At this point, the mole will have eaten the larvae of insect pests that negatively affect the crop. This method cannot be called fast. However, it is completely safe for adults and children.

Herbs that repel animals:

• celery;
• narcissus;
• basil;
• dill;
• black beans.

Flowers that have a similar effect are presented in the table:

Some plants are poisonous, so you should not plant them where children play. Moles do not like legumes (peas, beans). They can be grown around the perimeter of the site.

Animals

Natural enemies of moles will help clear the area of ​​them. Many small and large predators are potentially dangerous to pests. Pets will come to the rescue. They will exterminate all the moles on the site, and then help the neighbors.

However, not all pets will want to hunt moles. A fat, spoiled cat is unlikely to want to chase an underground animal. To do this you will have to make unnecessary movements. What's the point if there's always food available in the bowl? In addition, the mole can bite strongly.

Dogs enjoy tracking and catching prey much more. There are breeds that were specifically created for hunting burrowing animals. For example, dachshunds, Scottish terriers. Representatives of some decorative breeds also enjoy catching moles. There are known cases when Yorkshire terriers and Pomeranians caught uninvited guests.

It is important to take care of the safety of your pet. If neighbors have treated the area with poisons, the dog should not be released.

Preventive measures

Perhaps moles have not yet appeared on the site, but neighbors are already complaining about the invasion of animals. In this case, you need to take care of preventive measures. It is best to install underground fencing. Along the perimeter along the fence at a depth of 50 m, you need to dig slate, metal mesh or roofing felt. This way the animals will not enter the territory.

It is better to dig a mesh into damp soil. This way the moisture will not stagnate in one place and will pass freely in all directions. The mesh has a short service life. This type of fencing will have to be replaced every 2-3 years.

Prevention against moles

Gardeners and gardeners who have gone through the agony of getting rid of the mole scourge are thinking about measures that will protect them from invasion in the near future.

To do this, you need to take the following precautions: the perimeter of the entire site is surrounded by slate or a special mesh with a recess of 80 cm and an elevation above the ground of 20 cm. To do this, it is necessary to dig trenches almost a meter deep along the edge of the entire site. Then also plant legumes along the entire perimeter of the site, the smell of which these animals cannot stand.

Facts about moles that may be useful for summer residents

Before you start fighting uninvited guests, you should familiarize yourself with useful information about these animals:

• Moles can live in any soil. The exception is sand.
• The average body weight of an adult is 100-120 g, body length is 15-17 cm.
• The small predator digs tunnels and hunts not only at night, but also during the day. This is a hardworking animal that works around the clock with short rest breaks. Typically, the animal’s activity lasts about 4 hours, and subsequent sleep lasts the same amount of time.
• A mole cannot live long without food. If you catch it and don't give it food for 3 hours, it will die. The animal has an excellent appetite and good metabolism, it constantly needs nutrition.
• Moles give birth twice per season, with a litter usually consisting of about a dozen babies.
• The effect of fighting moles lasts no more than a week. Thus, after the disappearance of annoying animals, it is necessary to take preventive measures so that they do not return.
• An adult individual with offspring needs a plot of 15 acres for normal life. When the cubs grow up and can exist independently, this area becomes insufficient for them. As a result, individuals spread over vast territories, including neighboring lands.
• If your neighbors have moles, everyone needs to fight them together. It is logical that if one area is vacated, the animals will move to the next one.

Repelling moles requires patience, because persistent animals can be quite difficult to get rid of. There are many effective methods of dealing with blind animals. Such funds can also be used for preventive purposes. If any of the methods does not show a positive result, do not despair. Through trial and error, you will definitely be able to find a suitable option with high efficiency.

Folk methods of struggle

When a mole tunnel is detected below its level, a pan is dug in and filled with water. The hole is covered with something to block daylight. While exploring underground passages, the mole will fall into the pan and die.

Uninformed summer residents throw poisoned “delicacies” into the hole, including worms. Here you need to remember that the underground dweller only eats live insects or worms. Therefore, this method is completely useless.

Gardeners who don’t mind the lawn tear down possible passage places and wait for the animal to come out. The location of the animal is determined by the movement of the earth. When a mole is discovered, it is destroyed.

Fumigation against moles

If all possible methods have been used to combat underground pests, and the number of pests does not decrease, then you can use the services of a company specializing in fumigation. Using chemical poisoning, the team will quickly rid the garden area of ​​underground pests.