Did you know there could be sneaky pests infiltrating your backyard through a series of underground runways and tunnels? That’s right, you could have a mole situation on your hands. It’s best to eradicate the problem before too much damage is done. Follow these mole control techniques to help save your yard.

Detecting a Mole

Before you jump to conclusions at the first sight of damage, you’ll need to do some investigating to determine if there’s a mole in your yard. To properly control them, follow these preliminary steps:

1. Locate the entrance to the main tunnel. This would look like a mound of soil at the end of a raised track.
2. Level the mound and search for the opening. This short passage is a few inches deep and leads to the main tunnel.
3. Place a bait trap in this tunnel. If it works, you’ll catch a mole! If it doesn’t, continue.
4. Follow the straight path of the raised trail to another mound. Repeat steps 1-3.
5. Still no luck? Search along fences, concrete sidewalks, wooded perimeters, or other borders. Nests are typically set up in a more protected area like under hedges along a fence.

If your bait or trap still comes up empty, another indication you have a stealthy mole is if you’ve leveled the tunnel mound, but it’s been rebuilt in the same spot or somewhere else along the path.

Mole Control Techniques

Once you’ve determined you have a mole somewhere in your yard, you can prepare the proper control solution. If baits and traps haven’t worked, there are alternatives.

• Insecticides. While these won’t work on the mole, they will work on their main food source: insects. If you can make your lawn less desirable for the mole, there’s a good chance they’ll leave in search of a more accommodating location. However, ridding your lawn of surface grubs and worms may initially cause the mole to dig deeper into your lawn in search of food. This could last a week or two before they eventually move on.
• Repellents. Apply a granular or liquid repellent in the spring and fall, the prime seasons for mole activity. These products are usually made of a mixture of castor, citronella, and garlic oil to drive the moles out of the area.
• Gassing. If all else fails, you could try bombing the tunnel with specially formulated smoke bombs for treating rodents. These may not be as effective if you haven’t located the main nest. Repeated applications may be necessary.

Patience or Professional Pest Control

When dealing with any kind of pest control, your first attempt may not be as successful as you’d hoped. Patience and persistence are key when trying to gain the upper hand. Timing is just as important as the method you use. If you feel you’ve exhausted all methods of control, contact a professional pest control company. The experts at Cardinal Lawns can help determine where the main mole tunnel is located and the best course of action.