[visionwf]

  I have a problem with moles (not spooks) digging up my lawn.  I am surrounded by fields and that is where they come from. I have tried a machine that vibrates and suposedly keeps them away. They dug it up!   Any sugestions?

[arugula]

You can get poison, but its pretty dangerous stuff to use (noxious gasses). Trapping is a common way. There are two types of lethal trap - tunnel and scissor - the scissor being easier to set. Live catch traps are also available, but aren't as effectual, and anyway what would you do with a live mole? Give it to your neighbour?

[Salmo]

To quote Jasper Carrot "There's only one way to kill a mole - blow its b****y head off!"

If you really cannot live with them they will have to go.

A shotgun is actually quite effective. You have to wait until the mole is pushing up the heap and fire into it at close range. A spade walloped flat down and hard is just as good. It is the shock that kills them.

If you are trapping it is best to find the runs used for travelling rather than shallow feeding runs. These are usually about 4 inches down and can be detected by pushing a cane into likely spots. A good place to look is along lawn edges betwen the lawn and the field. Dig down neatly with a trowell. If the tunnel looks smooth and used set the trap in it. Cover the hole round the trap to keep the light out. Moles move about every 2 hours. To comply with law you must check the trap at least every day. Often they will push the trap aside or spring it without being caught. This is usually because the it has not been set quite deep enough. If you catch one then it is likely that you will catch more in the same tunnel.

Live traps are OK in theory but I suspect that most moles may die of shock or starvation. If you release them elsewhere they then have a problem of being placed in the middle of another moles patch. They are extremely territorial and will fight to the death.

I do not think gas pellets are on sale to the general public and must be used by a professional. Perhaps someone else knows more about that?

[arugula]

Trapping is more of an art than it may seem!  

Re. the use of poison, Strychnine was banned but Aluminium Phosphide can be purchased/obtained by anyone who has either:

• professional pest control training or
• a County Parish Holding (CPH) number from DEFRA, in essence a farmer (with proof of training in the chemical's use).

*#:)

[DavidT]

Mothballs.

[arugula]

Mothballs.

.... or other smelly things. We have planted garlic all down one border to the field along the run line where there are exits into the garden  . We also have one of those solar powered things that make a noise and vibrate, but tbh they seem to use that as a homing device now  . We are currently battling what appears to be a juve in the raised bank at the front of the property. There aren't runs for it to follow, so its just making an almightly mess and ignoring any traps as it isn't following a route  .... garlic will be planted in that area in the spring too....

[Roll Roll]

I've never tried it , but i've heard if you push a glass bottle in one of the "hills" so that the base of the bottle is in the tunnel , wind passing over the neck of the bottle causes it to whistle and the moles will move on.

[cob nut]

We were told to place some bramble cuttings or other prickly twigs in the run as the moles are supposed to not like getting their fur caught on anything, don't know if it works or not though.

[Salmo]

All these violent threats against the little man in velvet only make him more determined.

The old way was to sit quietly until you knew a mole was around and very politely ask him to go and live elsewhere. It makes it easier for him if you can suggest an alternative residence such as your neighbours.

It does work. Moles only usually work an area for a few weeks and then you see no more of them for a time. But then they return. 

[Rubellite]

Moles are beautiful creatures................until they're in your garden.
I had one last year, it kept alternating between my garden and next door's.
We took it in turn to laugh at each other's woes. 
Then it decided my garden was better and it wasn't funny anymore, unitl it headed off towards another neighbour's garden. In the end the cat brought me three dead moles and we haven't seen any since
So there's your answer, get a mole hunting cat!!

[Hey Jude]

We had moles on our front lawn and my husband put a dribble of petrol in the holes - it worked a treat!

[catllar]

We had moles on our front lawn and my husband put a dribble of petrol in the holes - it worked a treat!

My OH did that too, but went one step further and set light to it - it was like the battle of the Somme!  Exploding divots everywhere - got rid of the moles but the lawn didn't look to good afterwards!