I didn't know where else to stick this thread so I'll put'r here. I got a bad case of the moles and I've pretty much used everything that I can find to get rid of them. They have taken up residence under the foundation of my building and forays out into the yard. I used a bottle of CO2 to choke them out, poured gasoline into an open hole setting it on fire to suck up the oxygen and even found a deal on the net to fed them Juicy Fruit gum. The first two made them disappear for 3 or 4 months and then their back, I don't know if its a new mole or the same one they won't leave their name when they visit. To add insult to injury we have a doksin, docksin,docksen, a dog that I have broken the habit of digging again and again but every time the mole shows up here we go again. I've also used killer spikes and poison to no avail. I have thought of using that stuff made by Green Light that has the pepper base to it, its not any good for the garden or yard to keep out mosquito's and such but its hell on wheels for fire ants, maybe it'll burn out the mole if it comes in contact with it. Anyway I would appreciate any suggestions on the matter if you have any.
Thanks; Don
Moles
I have moles also, I let them live. I figure all animals have that right unless they are causing to much harm. So there are holes mounds and trenches in my yard. I rake them down or just mow over them. I hope the owls will find them tasty. Occasionally we have wild pigs come in and root up the ground and make a real big mess (just part of living in the country) I don't kill copperheads either but I would kill a coral snake or a squirrel that tries to chew through my eaves.
So my advice is just to live with them but I doubt most people would agree with me.
-Chris Stewart
InspiredHabitat.com
The problem is the foundation of the building they are digging under, I'm starting to develop some fair sized cracks in the floor and I am beginning to think they are removing the soil from under the foundation.
Don--
We don't have moles down here but I think if they were possibly endangering your foundation I would call an exterminator. If they can handle rats they should possibly know about moles too. I'd consider foundation repairs to be too much harm (at least on the budget).
Plant casterbeans around the area next year - they hate it (Wormwood too.. ) You can also pour boiling water in their holes - they get out before it gets them most of the time but hate having to get out and move on after a few tries. Last trick we used back in OK was to set the traps in the holes and wait. . it will get there one of these days.
Good advice everybody!! I have one more thing to add, the DFW Wildlife Coalition will help people with animal problems. Call 972-234 wild, from 7am. to 10pm. daily, or go to www.dfwwildlife.org they will tell you what to do, or they will come out to help.
I hope you get the help you need, please let us know how it works out.
Josephine.
Well Don,
If you find a solution do pass it along. Moles, gophers, whatever them varmits are called...wreak havoc at the ranch too. The yard and back field looks like a miniature mountain range!!! Those varmits make holes all over the place!!! You have to watch your step too because they've also dug tunnels close to the surface and you'll step into soft soil and twist your ankle.
We've tried those peanut butter poison laced pecans...nothing. We tried smoke bombs for moles...nothing. We've even resorted to buying flares and sticking them into the holes thinking the smoke/sulphur fumes would use up the oxygen and suffocate them...nothing. Castor beans haven't worked, a mixture of all kinds of peppers and tobasco sauce doesn't work either. We've tried pouring every conceivable concoction down their holes (even urine from a male dog - don't ask - but small coffee cans by the territorial marking posts for those wondering) - nothing worked.
Had planted two 24" hibiscus plants in the yard...next day one was completely missing...wondered where the heck that went?! A few days later Mom was walking around the yard and sees the other hibiscus getting pulled down into the ground!!! A dratted varmit dragged the whole plant into the hole!!!
ARGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
The blue heeler dog gave up digging for them long ago. Aside from sitting by the hole with a shot gun we have no earthly idea what will work. Am wondering if stuffing a few rattlesnakes down the holes would work...then again, we'd end up with rattlers in the yard?!
~ Cat
Call the exterminator if they bother you, yes, but if the foundation is cracking after these dry summers, I would suggest calling a professional that specializes in foundations. I suspect that you may have damage due to expandable soil more than the sightless varmints. Just my opinion... pod
I understand,
I can say from experience that with our expansive soils houses move a bit and it has nothing to do with moles.
-Chris Stewart
InspiredHabitat.com
Thanks one and all. I have had it suggested to me to wait until I have an open, hole back the car up to it and put a hose from the tail pipe into the hole. I have thought about the soil movement I reside in a 30 X90 foot building and only the south end where the infestation is greatest is moving, the soil here is of extremely hard clay at a depth of about 8", I dug a trench once 60' long to bury conduit 1 foot under ground and it took me 4 days of hard digging to get it there, so I'm not sure if its ground movement causing my foundation problem. My neighbor tried an exterminator spending $500 with no real results and most exterminators told me they don't guarantee the moles extermination.
Maybe I should invest in a mongoose.
I might have a solution for you TexasPuddyPrint my daughter in law told me to put pin wheels in the ground because they don't like vibration I can attest to this due to one time I caught a mole in action near an open hole so I got a shovel to get the little bugger when he came to the surface, he obviously could feel me standing on the ground above him, I stood there for 45 minutes I figured he had left so I walked away less than a minute later the hole was back filled and he vominoused out of there. I don't want pin wheels near the building I'm afraid they will stay under the foundation and then I won't ever be able to get at them. Gave thought to vibrating my floor but how I have not figured out yet. Any way you might give the pin wheels a try or something along that line.
Good luck
Don
Do you have cats? I have never seen a varmint around my house exept for in between my cats teeth or eaten and the pelt left to rot. I have found rats,mice,chipmunks and a mole. My part bengal momma cat cought a big old rat one time but she dropped it when she saw me coming and I don`t know if it made it or not but he seems to be gone. I notice the squirrels stare over the fence and explore in the trees but they do not dare venture in my yard. Momma cat and her side kick Amber the bobtail are sitting there and the squirrel is smart enough to stay in the tree and seems to have an escape route back where he came.
The only drawback to the cats is I have to use wire caging to protect some of my potted plants and whenever I have baby plants I put a small cage around them temporarily until they get established and to prevent the cats from using the fresh dirt for a toilet and disturbing my new plant. I have to say the kitty pest plant patroling I do is much easier than varmint extermination. I couldn`t make it without my cats.
Btw,sorry if I`m not supposed to post in the TX Gardening section. :)
Oh no, Gardener 2005, please post away, everyone is welcome to the Texas forum.
Josephine.
They sell coyote urine at some of the specialty nursery shops--pretty pricey. Not sure what its supposed to repel, maybe dogs.
This is the latest product on the market. OSU testing says it works. Might want to try it.
http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/talpirid-mole-bait.htm
Ted you always have the best advice for pests of the 4 legged variety. I'd try his idea.
I'd love to try cats or about anything else living gardener2005 but we have a coyote and bob cat problem around here so all they become is bait for those higher up on the food chain I'm afraid.
Thanks for the link TARogers5 I read it and sounds like it just might be the ticket. Apparently I have the deep tunneling kind of critters, I haven't seen any subsurface tunneling at all.
Well Don--obviously the coyote urine idea's out since your local ones are having no luck chasing them away--LOL
Living close to wildlife does create some complicated problems doesn`t it? Good luck with the remedy.
The coyotes I can almost live with but 2 years ago we had an aggressive male bobcat that moved in to the woods that are only 10 feet from the back of the building that was the size of a german shepard and I have 2 grandsons living here that were 7 and 6 years old that loved playing out back near the woods. I finally had to get aggressive back and made him move on to another location which he made sure to let me know that he did not appreciate it. I have cleared the woods of all its under growth since to make it less inviting to all the larger wild life.