Moles (non boaty)

[Bergman]

Help

Does anyone know how to get rid of these things. My garden looks like battleground and SWMBO is getting touchy on the subject.

I've tried various weapons of mass destruction already without any success

Chemical warfare - poured bleach, battery acid and drain cleaner down the holes, even the cat joined in and peed on them - no effect

Incendiary warfare - poured a can of 2 star down a few holes and set it alight - nothing at all.

Electronic warfare - connected about 200 volts across a couple of earth spikes - waste of time (and fuses)

Tried these wind blown click/clack things - useless

Desperate - please help

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[bigmart]

The old method used to be Dig down to expose the tunnel, chuck in a handful of Calcium Carbide(Don't know where you get it from nowadays) add a bit of water, Put your foot over the hole for a couple of minutes & then chuck in a match. The resultant bang could well blow up your lawn but I am told that it works.

I accept no liability for any damage if you try this or any similar method.

Martin

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[dieselhead]

try one of those spikey thing you put in the ground, it emits a sound that moles hate... that works

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[lyc]

Soak a rag in old engine oil and place in the mole hole. They don't like the smell.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BroadsandEastcoastBoating/>Broads & East Coast Boating</A>

 

[BrendanS]

Biologists hat on here. Options that actually work are limited.

Putting things they don't like down the hole (smelly things, irritant things like broken glass) just means they'll burrow round it, and create more tunnels. Rat poison doesn't work, cause they don't eat grain.

Ultra sonic noise things that stick in the ground are a waste of money, they don't affect the mole, and ultrasonic waves don't pass through soil anyway. Trading standards are continually challenging people who sell this junk.

One of the best bets is to poison earthworms with strychnine, but you'll have to get a specialist in for this, as you need MAFF approval to optain strychnine.

Manual option works if you have patience. Stomp on the mole hills and flatten them. Check regularly, and see when the moles are active, and tunnel back up them (disturbed hill). When you've established when they are active, smack the wee bugger with a spade as it emerges. Very satisfying!

Traps put into the runs. Many sorts.

Deterents. Castrol based deterent products which are well watered into the soil irritate the moles, who move out. Has to be repeated at intervals.

Limited effectiveness which depends on the extent of the runs are smoke fumigation or flooding with a garden hose. You have to be able to cover all the runs at the same time, so only works well in newly colonised areas.

At the end of the day, once you've got moles, you've probably got them for good. If you kill off the population, it will be repopulated by moles migrating in from other areas. They wouldn't have ended up in your garden if there wasn't a decent sized population in the area.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[AndrewB]

Worms soaked in strychnine, placed in the runs, is the standard method. Smoke and rat poison don't work. Think I read somewhere there is a shortage of strychnine, which is why there are so many moles around.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[jimi]

Nuke the bastids!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[hlb]

The Do Nothing Option

Best idea I came up with for moles. (And I am talking about seven acres.) Drive round with lawn tractor and trailor and collect all the mole hills for the garden. It's the best soil you will ever find. Unfortunatly moles soon move on to somewhere else, so better get collecting whilst you still have a chance!!

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue> Haydn

 

[BarryH]

Shotgun. I shot a load at the local golf course, and/or a ferret or two. But you cant borrow pinky and perky cos they is having kits so they is a bit fat at the moment.
Needs to be a young'ish fereet otherwise it'll be to big for the burrow.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Ohdrat]

Suggest you get on the phone to ol' GW and say you've got pinko eco al quieda moles at work in your garden .. I'm sure he can spare a battalion or 2 but be warned he may use anthrax to exterminate the moles

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tr7v8]

When I lived in Norfolk a couple of the cats used to regularly catch them. They'd sit by the mole hills for hours until they emerged and zap! On 2 acres of land didn't have moles for long!

Jim
---

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[pvb]

Good use for old flares...

When I had a mole infestation, it coincided with replacing my flares. So I used the out-of-date flares to smoke out the moles. Seemed to work fine. Orange smoke flares are especially good. No problems since.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Observer]

Should have expected that from a trigger-happy lunatic like you.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Guest]

Diplomatic solution

You could try a UN Security Council Resolution, provided you can get the votes, then wait a while to see if the moles respond. If still not completely successful, try a second resolution.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[wpsalm]

Have never seen a real mole but know what they look like from an ilustrated version of Wind in the willows ...why would you want to kill such a cute little creature ... ???

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Bejasus]

Cute. You have got to be joking. The ones I get in my garden have yellow fur & JCB on the side. Have you took a look at the shovels these things have for hands. Cat occasionally gets one(cats don't eat em). Tried the electronic spike gizmo...no good I actually watched in amazement as they dug it up. Tried the mole smokes. You would be more successful getting them to take up fags. Tries the plastic windmills in milk bottles. Nothing. Tried spring traps. Nothing. Became obbsessed to the point of sitting up all night with a flashlight in one hand and a garden fork in the other. Attacked them when signs of disturbance appeared in molehills. Nothing. Flooded them out with garden hose for hours on end, moving hose around holes. Peace for a day or so and then they return I tell you, the Caddyshack gopher has nothing on these.
Now when ever they appear, SWMBO sends me to bed with a couple of painkillers and a bottle of Scotch.

AaaaRrrrrGh!!!!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/h00>http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/h00</A>

 

[Guest]

Sailors, gardeners and golfers

Isn't it a truism that no man can be more than one of these?

I suggest you:

a) give up sailing and concentrate on the moles.

b) give up gardening, let the lawn go fallow and the moles take over. Once the grass is a foot or more tall, you won't see the molehills. Tell the neighbours it's an environmental experiment.

c) give up both and concentrate on the drinking. You might even decide to take up golf later.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[rbrooks]

I had a bull terrier that used to love to eat them! and my plants and my car bumpers and, and, and,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[mickshep]

Seem to remember Jasper Carrot had same problem, Cure involved sitting on swiveling bar stool in middle of night with torch taped to head and 5 shot 12 bore in hand, don't know if he won but bloody funny sketch.
Fair winds, Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[peterb]

I wonder what would happen if some butane leaked gently into the run over a few hours, then someone accidentally dropped a match?

<hr width=100% size=1>