Does anyone have any good experience with getting rid of moles? I have tried
a pesticide (mole tox) with little success. I have looked on the web and
seen several options: scissor traps, worm type bait and eliminating grubs.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
Ed

From:	Travis
Subject:	Re: Moles
Date:	Wed, 19 Jan 2005 01:47:11 GMT

edja wrote:
> Does anyone have any good experience with getting rid of moles? I
> have tried a pesticide (mole tox) with little success. I have
> looked on the web and seen several options: scissor traps, worm
> type bait and eliminating grubs. Any suggestions would be helpful.
> Ed

Moles are one of the good guys. They eat the bad (grubs) guys.
Leave then be.

--
Travis in Shoreline (just North of Seattle) Washington
USDA Zone 8b
Sunset Zone 5

From:	Wavy G
Subject:	Re: Moles
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 19:23:01 -0500

Don't blame me. I voted for "edja" .

>Does anyone have any good experience with getting rid of moles?

Laser surgery? LOL?

>I have tried
>a pesticide (mole tox) with little success. I have looked on the web and
>seen several options: scissor traps, worm type bait and eliminating grubs.
>Any suggestions would be helpful.
>Ed
>

From:	greenfoot
Subject:	Re: Moles
Date:	21 Jan 2005 10:31:27 -0800

You have my sympathy. There are several types of moles. Some are
harmless, creating just a few small mounds and almost unnoticable
tunnels. These ones are kinda cute. Some are destructive; these are
not cute.

I could easily live with harmless ones. Most of your replie are about
these. Heck, I'd like one. I prefer to live in harmony with nature if
I can. The moles I had were not the harmless cute kind. They
destroyed my back yard. I am not kidding. We are talking about more
than 50 mounds (each at least 2 feet across and 6 inches high) in a
smallish surbaban backyard. This was in a dulex, and the tennents
could not mow because of the mounds. If I raked them all flat, the
next day there would be half a dozen more... and more the next. One of
our tennents sprained an ancle when her foot sunk into one of the
hollow spots.

Traps eventually worked. However, you must follow the directions
carefully and monitor them closely (several times a day) if you want
any success. I could not check them daily, so it took a whole season.
They yard needed to be reseeded completely come fall.

A few harmless ones... enjoy them.
Destructive yard destroyers, trap them or give up and move.

gf

From:	paghat
Subject:	Re: Moles
Date:	Fri, 21 Jan 2005 11:54:25 -0800

In article <1106332287.132227.53890@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>,
"greenfoot" wrote:

> You have my sympathy. There are several types of moles. Some are
> harmless, creating just a few small mounds and almost unnoticable
> tunnels. These ones are kinda cute. Some are destructive; these are
> not cute.

> I could easily live with harmless ones. Most of your replie are about
> these. Heck, I'd like one. I prefer to live in harmony with nature if
> I can. The moles I had were not the harmless cute kind. They
> destroyed my back yard. I am not kidding. We are talking about more
> than 50 mounds (each at least 2 feet across and 6 inches high) in a
> smallish surbaban backyard. This was in a dulex, and the tennents
> could not mow because of the mounds. If I raked them all flat, the
> next day there would be half a dozen more... and more the next. One of
> our tennents sprained an ancle when her foot sunk into one of the
> hollow spots.

With rare exceptions, in the main there are no "harmful" moles, if actual
damage to property or plantlife is the measure of harm. But a single
Townsend's mole certainly can make dozens of mole-hills all by itself.
This activity does no harm & much good in an ecological context, but
anyone who wants a perfect lawn will naturally regard it is unsightly to
the highest degree. "Perfect lawn" is to me a horrible thing (see:
http://www.paghat.com/lawnloony.html ); even so, I can certainly
understand why thirty, forty, or fifty piles of dirt in the front yard
would not be tolerable to a lot of homeowners.

If its not a Townsend's though, no other mole is that mightily
industrious. And the real issue would be this: If there are fifty
mole-hills in the front yard, the sod is greatly infested with grubs which
can kill lawns, as otherwise the mole would be industrious somewhere else,
so the Townsend's is doing good work rather than harmful, even if those
piles of dirt aren't attractive.

> Traps eventually worked. However, you must follow the directions
> carefully and monitor them closely (several times a day) if you want
> any success. I could not check them daily, so it took a whole season.
> They yard needed to be reseeded completely come fall.
>
> A few harmless ones... enjoy them.
> Destructive yard destroyers, trap them or give up and move.

I agree with that final sentiment more than not. The FIRST choice should
always be tolerance if not outright enjoyment. Sometimes that's not
possible. Where the margin between tolerable & not tolerable begins or
ends is going to be a personal call with each gardener. My complaint is
that most people automatically assume they have to kill things & don't
actually think about it rationally, as more often than not there's no
reason at all.

If a mole really must be killed & it can be done without too much
disfigurement to the pelt, it is super-soft & worth saving. Turn it into a
dollhouse carpet.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com

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From:	edja
Subject:	Re: Moles
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 10:37:24 -0500

Thank you for your many replies and suggestions. It is winter here in Jersey
, but we had a week of 50 to 60 degree weather and I was surprised the 1 the
moles were active and 2 the extent of the area they had covered(10 ft by 30
to 40 ft) from the back yard to the front. In the beginning they were
confined to the fringes of the backyard. So I will probably try to keep my
grubs down and let them live as long as I can mow the lawn, one of my fav
things to do.(ha)
ejarvis@comcast.net

"paghat" wrote in message
news:paghatSPAM-ME-NOT-2101051154250001@soggy72.drizzle.com...
> In article <1106332287.132227.53890@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>,
> "greenfoot" wrote:
>
>> You have my sympathy. There are several types of moles. Some are
>> harmless, creating just a few small mounds and almost unnoticable
>> tunnels. These ones are kinda cute. Some are destructive; these are
>> not cute.
>
>> I could easily live with harmless ones. Most of your replie are about
>> these. Heck, I'd like one. I prefer to live in harmony with nature if
>> I can. The moles I had were not the harmless cute kind. They
>> destroyed my back yard. I am not kidding. We are talking about more
>> than 50 mounds (each at least 2 feet across and 6 inches high) in a
>> smallish surbaban backyard. This was in a dulex, and the tennents
>> could not mow because of the mounds. If I raked them all flat, the
>> next day there would be half a dozen more... and more the next. One of
>> our tennents sprained an ancle when her foot sunk into one of the
>> hollow spots.
>
> With rare exceptions, in the main there are no "harmful" moles, if actual
> damage to property or plantlife is the measure of harm. But a single
> Townsend's mole certainly can make dozens of mole-hills all by itself.
> This activity does no harm & much good in an ecological context, but
> anyone who wants a perfect lawn will naturally regard it is unsightly to
> the highest degree. "Perfect lawn" is to me a horrible thing (see:
> http://www.paghat.com/lawnloony.html ); even so, I can certainly
> understand why thirty, forty, or fifty piles of dirt in the front yard
> would not be tolerable to a lot of homeowners.
>
> If its not a Townsend's though, no other mole is that mightily
> industrious. And the real issue would be this: If there are fifty
> mole-hills in the front yard, the sod is greatly infested with grubs which
> can kill lawns, as otherwise the mole would be industrious somewhere else,
> so the Townsend's is doing good work rather than harmful, even if those
> piles of dirt aren't attractive.
>
>> Traps eventually worked. However, you must follow the directions
>> carefully and monitor them closely (several times a day) if you want
>> any success. I could not check them daily, so it took a whole season.
>> They yard needed to be reseeded completely come fall.
>>
>> A few harmless ones... enjoy them.
>> Destructive yard destroyers, trap them or give up and move.
>
> I agree with that final sentiment more than not. The FIRST choice should
> always be tolerance if not outright enjoyment. Sometimes that's not
> possible. Where the margin between tolerable & not tolerable begins or
> ends is going to be a personal call with each gardener. My complaint is
> that most people automatically assume they have to kill things & don't
> actually think about it rationally, as more often than not there's no
> reason at all.
>
> If a mole really must be killed & it can be done without too much
> disfigurement to the pelt, it is super-soft & worth saving. Turn it into a
> dollhouse carpet.
>
> -paghat the ratgirl
>
> --
> "Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
> "Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
> -from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
> Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com
>
>
> ----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet
> News==----
> http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! >100,000
> Newsgroups
> ---= East/West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

From:	Anonny Moose
Subject:	Re: Moles
Date:	Sat, 22 Jan 2005 09:37:00 -0800

I repeatedly see the assertion that lots of mole activity is an indicator of
grub infestation. We have a lot of Townsends moles and I haven't found a
corresponding abundance of grubs in our soil, but earthworms are aplenty.

This is an interesting factsheet I pulled up - about Townsends in BC - that
covers their behavior and diet in detail. Really very interesting. Thought
others might enjoy reading it. Also note it says earthworms comprise over
70% of their diet, which certainly confirms my experience.
http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/townsendsmole.pdf

Perhaps the earthworm/grub connection holds true for other species.

From:	enigma
Subject:	Re: Moles
Date:	20 Jan 2005 14:07:42 GMT

"edja" wrote in
news:lq-dnYnWseKzKXDcRVn-oA@comcast.com:

> Does anyone have any good experience with getting rid of
> moles? I have tried a pesticide (mole tox) with little
> success. I have looked on the web and seen several options:
> scissor traps, worm type bait and eliminating grubs. Any
> suggestions would be helpful.

my barn cats are pretty good at getting rid of moles, voles &
mice too. (for the birdy lovers out there, they seldom bother
birds because there are enough fun mole, vole, mouse toys
around to keep them occupied... plus the overly aggressive
rooster seems to have put the fear of birds into them ).
Rudh recently brought me a Star-nosed mole. what a facinating
creature! personally, i'm happier when they get the voles.
those things are far more destructive than the moles.
oh, & eliminating grubs does remove the moles food supply &
is probably the best method for non-cat folks . i have 62
acres & grub eradication is not much of an option due to my
pending organic status & size of the acreage. i just don't
worry too much about the lumps in the lawn (now the woodchuck
in the pasture is another thing entirely...)
lee

From:	paghat
Subject:	Re: Moles
Date:	Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:26:28 -0800

In article , "edja"
wrote:

> Does anyone have any good experience with getting rid of moles? I have tried
> a pesticide (mole tox) with little success. I have looked on the web and
> seen several options: scissor traps, worm type bait and eliminating grubs.
> Any suggestions would be helpful.
> Ed

Check this out:
http://www.paghat.com/mole.html
The Victorian maxim that starts out the article, "The ground swells
greenest o'er the laboring moles," seems to have been forgotten by
envirophobic moderns, but it was once common gardener knowledge that moles
do not harm plants but do great good aerating soil & controlling
populations of grubs & beetle larvae that do harm plants.

If per chance you really do have the rare & unusual mole who is a serious
problem (& they have enough individuality that one out of every few
thousand may find some method of being an actual rather than assumed
nuisance), no solution other than scissor traps are likely to work in your
behalf, & even scissor traps won't work if you're not ultra-expert at
placing them.

Once you've made the awful decision not to tolerate such wildlife, your
life thereafter as a mighty slayer of moles will be perpetual frustration.
Even if you have an occasional "success" in killing a mole & can put your
foot on its scissored corpse & raise your fist to heaven singing a great
song of victory against God's worthless creation, another mole will move
into the vacated underground mole-runs the next day. You'll have to kill
them serially for the whole of your ambulatory life, then when you're
dead, a wee beady-eyed & pointy head will pop its head out of the sod over
your grave & blow raspberries at your tombstone.

-paghat the ratgirl

--
"Of what are you afraid, my child?" inquired the kindly teacher.
"Oh, sir! The flowers, they are wild," replied the timid creature.
-from Peter Newell's "Wild Flowers"
Visit the Garden of Paghat the Ratgirl: http://www.paghat.com

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
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---= East/West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

From:	Travis
Subject:	Re: Moles
Date:	Wed, 19 Jan 2005 22:55:41 GMT

paghat wrote:
> In article , "edja"
> wrote:
>
>> Does anyone have any good experience with getting rid of moles? I
>> have tried a pesticide (mole tox) with little success. I have
>> looked on the web and seen several options: scissor traps, worm
>> type bait and eliminating grubs. Any suggestions would be helpful.
>> Ed
>
> Check this out:
> http://www.paghat.com/mole.html
> The Victorian maxim that starts out the article, "The ground swells
> greenest o'er the laboring moles," seems to have been forgotten by
> envirophobic moderns, but it was once common gardener knowledge
> that moles do not harm plants but do great good aerating soil &
> controlling populations of grubs & beetle larvae that do harm
> plants.
>
> If per chance you really do have the rare & unusual mole who is a
> serious problem (& they have enough individuality that one out of
> every few thousand may find some method of being an actual rather
> than assumed nuisance), no solution other than scissor traps are
> likely to work in your behalf, & even scissor traps won't work if
> you're not ultra-expert at placing them.
>
> Once you've made the awful decision not to tolerate such wildlife,
> your life thereafter as a mighty slayer of moles will be perpetual
> frustration. Even if you have an occasional "success" in killing a
> mole & can put your foot on its scissored corpse & raise your fist
> to heaven singing a great song of victory against God's worthless
> creation, another mole will move into the vacated underground
> mole-runs the next day. You'll have to kill them serially for the
> whole of your ambulatory life, then when you're dead, a wee
> beady-eyed & pointy head will pop its head out of the sod over your
> grave & blow raspberries at your tombstone.
>
> -paghat the ratgirl

Well put Ratgirl.

--
Travis in Shoreline (just North of Seattle) Washington
USDA Zone 8b
Sunset Zone 5