Moles can cause extensive damage to your yard with their burrowing and feeding habits. If you’re a resident of Blair, Nebraska, dealing with this issue, here are five proven strategies to help you control and eradicate moles from your yard. Each method has its pros and cons, so you can decide which approach best suits your situation.
- Trapping
- Pros: Trapping is the most effective and practical means for controlling moles in Blair. It results in quick kills and, with reasonable caution, is safe for the user, pets, and other wildlife.
- Cons: Success is highest in spring and fall, especially after rains. During winter and summer, burrows are deeper in the soil and more difficult to locate. Traps need to be set in active travel burrows, and it can be difficult to identify these burrows.
- Using Repellents
- Pros: Castor oil and its products have shown minor effectiveness in repelling moles. One study found that Mole Med successfully reduced mole activity in an area for over 30 days.
- Cons: The repellent must be thoroughly watered into the lawn, and areas that receive extensive irrigation will quickly lose the repellent to leaching. Homemade concoctions may not be as effective as commercial products.
- Applying Fumigants
- Pros: Fumigants can successfully control moles in some situations. They can be placed in runways of the burrow system for best results.
- Cons: Fumigants are subject to a number of legal restrictions. They’re usually ineffective where soils are porous and dry, or where there are extensive feeding tunnels near the surface of the soil. Also, a Fumigant Management Plan must be created before using certain pesticides1.
- Administering Toxic Baits
- Pros: Certain toxic baits, such as Kaput® and Talpirid®/Tomcat®, have shown promise as they mimic food that moles are attracted to.
- Cons: Some moles may not be attracted to grain-based baits. The integrity of the bait (like the worm replica in Talpirid/Tomcat) must not be disturbed, or it will interfere with its effectiveness. More rigorous testing of these products is needed.
- Repairing Mole Damage
- Pros: After eradicating moles, repairing the damage can help restore your yard’s aesthetics and health. This usually involves levelling molehills, reseeding areas where grass has been damaged, and watering the area to reestablish grass and other plants.
- Cons: It may take some time for your Blair yard to fully recover, especially if the damage was extensive. New mole infestations can cause damage again, necessitating a repeat of the process. Some landscaping knowledge is required to effectively repair damage and reestablish healthy lawn growth.
While these strategies can be effective, it’s important to remember that no method is foolproof. What works best often depends on your specific situation in Blair and personal comfort level. Always follow instructions and regulations carefully to ensure safe and effective use. Although home remedies and electronic devices may seem appealing, they usually fail to control moles effectively. Therefore, it’s always best to use proven methods when attempting to control moles in your Blair, Nebraska yard.
For questions, corrections, or additions email blairtoday@mail.com
