How to.....Humanely get rid of Moles

[Jez]

As Nick Cantle has stated in another thread concerning his Mole problem that he has in his garden. I'm asking for Humanely ways to move these underground dwellers on to pastures new!

[ron1863]

Hi Jez, the link below has a number of deterrents and a live traps, good luck and wear gloves when handling them as they bite and don't let go - I know through experience.

Pest Help UK - Mole Control - Traps & Repellers for Garden Moles

[Jez]

Don't worry all I have had his blessings!

I had Mole issues myself, even though they were a very slight pain in my garden & my neighbours who saw them as an utter bane! I unfortunately killed the loveable rogues by using round up on clearing for my meadows! It did state on the label not harmful to animals!!!! I do think they never took Moles into consideration.

Any hints or tips, using herbs or catching them etc would be appreciated-Thanks

[coasty]

Dont think there is a way of keeping them away without killing them... Years ago we tried to keep them out of the lawn by putting in the little windmills like yu buy for sandcastles,,They kept falling over when the Moles undermined them,,,,,

[Gill Catton]

my parents used to have Moles and years ago they used to have them removed poor little things. Then they decided not to and its brill, Moles produce the softest loosest topsoil - brilliant for potting on seedlings and peat free!! Flattening the Mole hills also then made fab dust baths for the local pheasants and partridges I love watching them spin in their own self made cloud of dust - its also interesting to watch as plants start to re-colonise. I say keep them they aerate the soil and provide new niches for other wildlife.

your roundup may have killed all the invertebrates in the soil maybe? - that may have caused the Moles to move on, not necessarily die?

was using roundup within some sort of guide to creating wildflower meadow? It seems odd that you'd kill off all the wildflowers to create a wildflower meadow? Do the chemicals not persist in the soil too?

[Kayleigh]

The solar powered one looks good, Cheep too.

[Muggsy]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

It seems odd that you'd kill off all the wildflowers to create a wildflower meadow? Do the chemicals not persist in the soil too?

roundup becomes inactive after contact with the soil, its non residual.

its also only kills plants, not insects or Moles.

I purchased some of the Mole spikes, the ones that take 4 U2 battery's and look more at home in an Anne Summers catalouge, I am told

I was very sceptical about the effectiveness of them, however they actually do work. The battery's last almost a year, the only problem I could see using them in a small garden, where to drive the Moles too.
I have 6 running right now, in a line at the base of a hedge bordering the formal lawn. Placed about 25yards apart, the Moles stay their side of the hedge and the lawn stay's pristine.

[Dan Salter]

I saw a clinic in the back of the mail on sunday magazine claims to be experts in Mole removal? worth a call?

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Muggsy

roundup becomes inactive after contact with the soil, its non residual.

its also only kills plants, not insects or Moles.

I purchased some of the Mole spikes, the ones that take 4 U2 battery's and look more at home in an Anne Summers catalouge, I am told

I was very sceptical about the effectiveness of them, however they actually do work. The battery's last almost a year, the only problem I could see using them in a small garden, where to drive the Moles too.
I have 6 running right now, in a line at the base of a hedge bordering the formal lawn. Placed about 25yards apart, the Moles stay their side of the hedge and the lawn stay's pristine.

I don't believe it! I applied round up and found three Moles and dead with in days of spraying

[Muggsy]

Originally Posted by Jez

I don't believe it! I applied round up and found three Moles and dead with in days of spraying

a molicide pact, designed to discredit Monsanto

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Muggsy

a molicide pact, designed to discredit Monsanto

Sorry ?

[Muggsy]

its not the same if you have to explain

molicide pact ... suicide pact for Moles, Monsanto ... manufacturer of Glysophate, active ingredient of Roundup.

never mind, I'll get me coat

believe or believe not, Roundup only kills plants, it wont even kill a fly. If it did kill Moles, murdering farmers (not me though) would be pouring it down Mole runs by the gallon, the chemical is cheap enough, and Moles are notoriously hard to get rid of.

Ohh yes, Bewdley, lovely part of the world, used to purchase Glouster Old Spot pigs from a man called Styles in Bewdley.

[paddy]

After laying a new and extensive lawn, I had Moles inside a week. I used one of the battery powered sonic devices, which emits a tone at somewhere around 200Hz, I think - bass, anyway.
They were gone in a week - the thing cost about £20 though. Of course, you never know if they would have gone anyway. It's the same principle as the 'windmill in the run' - they don't like bass - can't understand it....

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Muggsy

its not the same if you have to explain

molicide pact ... suicide pact for Moles, Monsanto ... manufacturer of Glysophate, active ingredient of Roundup.

never mind, I'll get me coat

believe or believe not, Roundup only kills plants, it wont even kill a fly. If it did kill Moles, murdering farmers (not me though) would be pouring it down Mole runs by the gallon, the chemical is cheap enough, and Moles are notoriously hard to get rid of.

Ohh yes, Bewdley, lovely part of the world, used to purchase Glouster Old Spot pigs from a man called Styles in Bewdley.

Going off the subject a bit! But you don't know where abouts in Bewdley you used to get your pigs from Styles?

[Muggsy]

tis a long time ago Jez, Mr Styles (cant remember his christian name) bred some of the best old spot pigs in the world.
I came up there 3 times, once to his auction, once to collect my purchases, 2 sows of the Princess line, and once more 2 years later too add to our collection.
Would have been 1981 1983 ish M1 M6 M5 as I recall, from here

silly thing is, I can remember the pigs names, I can remember thier litters, size and even some of the purchasers of the progeny, but his name and the exact location has me beat.
Was Bewdley though, near the river ?

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Muggsy

tis a long time ago Jez, Mr Styles (cant remember his christian name) bred some of the best old spot pigs in the world.
I came up there 3 times, once to his auction, once to collect my purchases, 2 sows of the Princess line, and once more 2 years later too add to our collection.
Would have been 1981 1983 ish M1 M6 M5 as I recall, from here

silly thing is, I can remember the pigs names, I can remember thier litters, size and even some of the purchasers of the progeny, but his name and the exact location has me beat.
Was Bewdley though, near the river ?

I ask as I have a gut feeling the location would be my road. Northwood Lane formerly Rag Lane. I have heard stories of pigs being raised here years ago, it's near the River Severn!

[Rich_]

You'd think the Moles would get used to the vibrations from sonic devices if they are there all the time.they dont seem to mind tunneling in the verges of busy roads & railway embankments, unless they are intollerant of particular frequencies?

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Rich_

You'd think the Moles would get used to the vibrations from sonic devices if they are there all the time.they dont seem to mind tunneling in the verges of busy roads & railway embankments, unless they are intollerant of particular frequencies?

The Sonic Mole deterrent did nothing for my neighbour!

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Muggsy

believe or believe not, Roundup only kills plants, it wont even kill a fly. If it did kill Moles, murdering farmers (not me though) would be pouring it down Mole runs by the gallon, the chemical is cheap enough, and Moles are notoriously hard to get rid of.

Roundup is not quite the harmless substance that it is sometimes claimed to be.
http://www.pesticide.org/glyphosate.pdf

I know from observing some work done at one of the Universities, it certainly gives spiders a good kicking.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

Roundup is not quite the harmless substance that it is sometimes claimed to be.
http://www.pesticide.org/glyphosate.pdf

I know from observing some work done at one of the Universities, it certainly gives spiders a good kicking.

It Killed three Moles that's for sure. They don't just come up a die just like that (There such lovely looking critters......it's the dirt in there cuticles which makes me think of them as great gardeners)! I did tolerate the unearthing they did in my garden and do miss there presence

[Gaina]

Kirkley Hall Agricultural College used empty wine bottles in their organic gardens (I am pretty sure they still do). They put the bottle in the Mole hole upright and the sound of the breeze whistling over the neck of the bottle travels down the hole and deters the little darlings.

I did some googling and the only web sites that said this method doesn't work turned out to be pest control firms.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Gaina

Kirkley Hall Agricultural College used empty wine bottles in their organic gardens (I am pretty sure they still do). They put the bottle in the Mole hole upright and the sound of the breeze whistling over the neck of the bottle travels down the hole and deters the little darlings.

I did some googling and the only web sites that said this method doesn't work turned out to be pest control firms.

Could be an enjoyable project?!?

[Gaina]

Originally Posted by Jez

Could be an enjoyable project?!?

You know what I've always wanted to do? (this just shows my utterly juvenile streak).

Sit outside a Mole hole, then when one pops it's head up, shout 'BOO!' just to see it's reaction.