Moles can be a nuisance in many ways. They are particularly a big problem to farmers since they contaminate silage and make it unsuitable for livestock. Due to their burrowing activity, they can cause extensive damage to crops and to farm machinery. Damage is as a result of their covering of crops with soil and exposure of stones which are destructive to farm tools. To succeed in getting rid of moles, you will need some knowledge about the different types of the mammal and their lifestyle.
These mammals measure about 8 in length. They have large, clawed front feet which are used for burrowing. They keep to themselves most of the time except during the mating season. They make feeding channels that are not reused after they leave them. Each tunnel typically has an entry and an exit mound and these are connected by runways that are about 12 inches below the ground. Their main source of food is earthworms.
Ground moles create and scatter mole hills all over. Their presence in a well maintained lawn ruins its attractive appearance. Besides, hidden burrows are a safety risk to the lawn users. One of the major ways of controlling them is limiting the ground surface area occupied by grass. This can be done by transforming some areas into hedges or paths. This move sends away these animals to grassier and greener areas. Moreover, visible signs of damage are greatly reduced.
It is common for the tunnels created by these animals to be confused by those created by pocket gophers. Pocket gophers are small rodents that also live underground. The main difference is that gophers never make ridges on lawns. The tunnels they create are fairly flattened and have semi-circular mounds. Gophers eat plant roots and will often pull them down into their burrows.
The use of traps is perhaps the most commonly used methods of controlling moles. There are many different types of traps each with its advantages and disadvantages. Examples include the harpoon, the scissor jaw and the choker loop types. Each trap comes with instructions on how to use it and it is important that the user in conversant with these instructions. The trap should be correctly positioned in a working burrow. A deeper tunnel would be most ideal.
The home remedies are a quick and cheap solution to the problem. The only problem is that they only take care of the issue in the short term and may turn out to be very expensive in the end. The reduction of the numbers of insects and grubs in an attempt to reduce the food has been tried but found to be futile.
The barrier method is used in the control moles in a small enclosed area such a garden. Metallic or hard cloth barriers measuring about 24 by 20 inches are buried some distance from the ground. The bottom of the barriers is bent at a ninety degree angle. They be should be large enough to seal off the exit points of the tunnels.
Poisons may be used as well. Their effectiveness in getting rid of moles is, however, far less when compared to that of traps. Poisons are disguised as gummy worms so that they can be eaten. It is quite difficult to know whether they have worked or not. The other disadvantage is that dead moles may be trapped in the tunnel and rot to release an offensive smell.
These mammals measure about 8 in length. They have large, clawed front feet which are used for burrowing. They keep to themselves most of the time except during the mating season. They make feeding channels that are not reused after they leave them. Each tunnel typically has an entry and an exit mound and these are connected by runways that are about 12 inches below the ground. Their main source of food is earthworms.
Ground moles create and scatter mole hills all over. Their presence in a well maintained lawn ruins its attractive appearance. Besides, hidden burrows are a safety risk to the lawn users. One of the major ways of controlling them is limiting the ground surface area occupied by grass. This can be done by transforming some areas into hedges or paths. This move sends away these animals to grassier and greener areas. Moreover, visible signs of damage are greatly reduced.
It is common for the tunnels created by these animals to be confused by those created by pocket gophers. Pocket gophers are small rodents that also live underground. The main difference is that gophers never make ridges on lawns. The tunnels they create are fairly flattened and have semi-circular mounds. Gophers eat plant roots and will often pull them down into their burrows.
The use of traps is perhaps the most commonly used methods of controlling moles. There are many different types of traps each with its advantages and disadvantages. Examples include the harpoon, the scissor jaw and the choker loop types. Each trap comes with instructions on how to use it and it is important that the user in conversant with these instructions. The trap should be correctly positioned in a working burrow. A deeper tunnel would be most ideal.
The home remedies are a quick and cheap solution to the problem. The only problem is that they only take care of the issue in the short term and may turn out to be very expensive in the end. The reduction of the numbers of insects and grubs in an attempt to reduce the food has been tried but found to be futile.
The barrier method is used in the control moles in a small enclosed area such a garden. Metallic or hard cloth barriers measuring about 24 by 20 inches are buried some distance from the ground. The bottom of the barriers is bent at a ninety degree angle. They be should be large enough to seal off the exit points of the tunnels.
Poisons may be used as well. Their effectiveness in getting rid of moles is, however, far less when compared to that of traps. Poisons are disguised as gummy worms so that they can be eaten. It is quite difficult to know whether they have worked or not. The other disadvantage is that dead moles may be trapped in the tunnel and rot to release an offensive smell.
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