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Moles
Moles are small black or gray mammals with a fine velvety
fur. They are usually 6" long. Moles live in burrows made up of interconnecting
runways. These runways are usually 6 to 8 inches below the ground. Some species
of moles also dig a series of shallow feeding runways; these feeding runways are
only a few inches below the ground and consequently, produce ridges on the soil
surface. Moles dig lateral tunnels to the surface, where they deposit surplus
soil from the tunnels in volcano shaped mounds of pulverized soil.
Moles have slender hairless snouts and inconspicuous eyes and
ears. Moles have very poor eyesight, but their senses of smell, touch and
hearing are excellent. The front feet of the mole are larger than the rear feet
and are adapted to digging by the addition of long trowel like claws used for
tunneling.
Moles rarely feed on plants. They eat slugs, earthworms,
grubs and other small insects. However, their tunneling uproots plants and
loosens the soil around roots. This loosening of the soil causes the roots to
dry out and die.
Suggested solution
There are a number of solutions for mole problems. Traps are
probably the most effective solution. You should probe to find the main runway
and then dig down to expose a section of it. The main runway will be quite deep
and will seem to connect all the surface holes. Once you have exposed a section
of the main runway, you should place two traps in it, facing into the hole on
each side of your excavation. Use a chain or wire to fasten the traps to a stake
on the surface. This prevents the mole from pulling the traps deeper into the
burrow. When the traps are in place, spray them with WD40®,
to remove any traces of human scent. Place a board or soil over the area to
block all light. Check the mole traps frequently and clear the tunnels if the
mole has pushed soil into the trap. Each time you inspect a trap, it is
important to repeat the process of spraying to remove scent.
Poison baits can also be used to eliminate moles, but this is
not the most successful method of eliminating moles. Care should be taken when using
baits as they can be hazardous to other
animals and care should be taken to ensure the bait is not spilt on the ground.
To use the bait you must find the main runway by prodding around. Once you have
the main runway, the bait can be placed in it. You must ensure that the tunnel
is an active tunnel;
pushing down the ridges formed by the shallow tunnels can do this. If the ridges appear again the next day, you have an active
tunnel.
How to prevent Moles
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Wire mesh on the base of raised beds can be an effective way
to keep moles from tunneling in vegetable beds.
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Mesh baskets can also be used when planting new shrubs. These
baskets line the holes with wire mesh and will stop moles from tunneling in the
area of the roots.
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Emitters that send out a high frequency pulse into the ground
can also be placed in the ground to discourage moles.
Products we sell at Cambria Nursery & Florist to control Moles
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Wire mesh baskets
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Noise emitters
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Cambria Nursery and Florist
