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Moles

Moles, like our little cartoon picture, have the image of a loveable industrious little animal. Most of the time they do little harm, but they can be a nuisance, and sometimes they do harm

The obvious sign of moles is the molehill, but the real activity is underground. Moles live mostly on a diet of worms. To catch worms, they make underground tunnels covering an area of about 200 - 400 square metres.

Moles are not blind, but the most important senses are touch and hearing. The mole constantly patrols the tunnels, and it eats the earthworms which have wriggled into the them.

Moles do sometimes come out of the ground, but it is rare for one to be seen. If you do see a mole, you may be surprised. It is quite small - about 150mm long (6 inches), with smooth velvet like fur and a pointed pink snout with sharp teeth. The front paws are really big and strong. The mole is well suited to its lifestyle. The small smooth body allows it to run through the underground tunnels, and the big front paws work like excavator buckets to make the tunnel system. The earth which is excavated has to be disposed of, so the mole pushes it up above the ground, and this makes the molehill. The molehills are not entrances to the tunnels, just the disposal heaps.

A mole's life is a lonely one. Each mole makes and maintains its own tunnel system, and they avoid each other except at breeding time.

The usual damage caused by moles is the unsightly mess on a lawn caused by molehills. If the tunnels are under a vegetable plot, the roots can be damaged, causing poor growth. Damage in farmland is more serious - farm machinery can be damaged by cutting molehills, and hay and straw can be spoiled if the earth is mixed in with the crop.

Do I need to get rid of moles ?

Perhaps not ! If the mole is not causing any damage to your garden, simply rake the molehill out level with the grass

How do I get rid of moles ?

With difficulty is the short answer ! If the mole is causing damage there are only a few options, and all of them have some drawbacks. Sometimes fancy gadgets are advertised which claim to eliminate moles by using noise or vibration. Be wary of these claims. The methods listed below are the only ones that we think are effective

Since moles live on worms, it is possible to treat lawns with a wormkiller. If there are no worms, it is less likely that a mole will continue to make tunnels in this area. However, worms are good for the garden, and this treatment is not recommended except for special situations like bowling greens, where worms casts are also a problem

The only poison which can legally be used against moles is Strychnine. This poison is highly dangerous, and is only licenced for use on farmland. It is illegal to use it in domestic gardens

It is technically possible, and legal, to use tablets which generate phosphine gas. However, this is also dangerous, and cannot be used near to buildings, so this is not really an option for most domestic properties. We only use this method on farmland, and we will not use it in gardens.

The only other option is to use traps, which catch and kill the mole in the tunnel. Traps are effective, but it takes a lot of time to set the trap up properly. If it is not set up properly the mole will simply dig around it. Our pest technician will explain the options to you about using traps, and you can then decide if you want to go ahead with the job.