Before calling in an exterminator, many homeowners look to mole control products to solve their garden pest condition. Like most do-it-yourself pest control projects, you basically have three categories of pest control products to choose from:
traps, poisons, and repellents. While traps are the hands-down favorite in terms of success-rate, it is worth going over all of your options so you can decide what is best for your particular situation.
Mole Removal Traps
Since traps are the most effective mole control products on the market, we will begin with a list of the top three designs. Traps are popular not only for their performance but also because they provide a naturally organic pest control solution. Note that some traps are easier to use than others or have certain soil requirements. If you decide to purchase a trap yourself and attempt some do-it-yourself pest control, be certain to follow the directions very carefully and do not skimp on any safety measures.
- Harpoon traps are best when used in clay or sandy soils and they require a strong pair of hands for proper set-up. Once the trap is in place, the mole will trip a set of spikes that effectively exterminate the pest in one quick motion.
Product Suggestion: Victor Plunger Style Mole Trap
- Choker loop traps are said to provide the easiest clean-up and are also the simplest to install. The choker mechanism works in any direction and the entire mole trap fits completely underground.
Product Suggestion: Nash Choker Loop Mole Trap
- Scissor traps are thought by many to be the best of all the mole control products because of their versatility and effectiveness. The scissor mechanism is quick and kills the mole fast. Scissor traps are also good for use in any type of soil, but they could provide an installation challenge for someone new to do-it-yourself pest control.
Product Suggestion: Victor Out O’Sight Mole Trap
Mole Repellents
If you prefer to simply re-route the mole out of your yard and garden, then repellents are the mole control products to look for. Repellents work by making your lawn an unfriendly environment for the pest. As an added plus, most repellents provide the homeowner with an organic pest control solution.
Granular mole repellents usually use a combination of some inert material, like corn cob, along with castor oil. The castor oil slowly makes its way into the mole's system, giving it gastrointestinal problems. All you have to do is sprinkle the granules onto your lawn, or just in the areas where the mole has been digging, and wait for the granules to work into the soil below. Here are some examples of granular mole repellents you can purchase directly:
- Mole Out- Mole Repellent Granules
- Repellex Mole and Gopher Repellent Granular
- Mole Scram Granular Mole Repeller
Liquid mole repellents work much like the granular mole control products. The active ingredient is usually castor oil, but this time you spray the solution for quicker soil penetration. The following products can be found in more hardware stores:
- Liquid Fence Mole Repellent
- Whole Control Mole Repellent
- Sweeney's Mole and Gopher Liquid Repellent
Electronic pest control devices are still a rather untested form of do-it-yourself pest control. These electronic pest control devices emit pulses of sound that are supposed to drive the moles away. Again, these provide an organic pest control solution, but the reviews on their effectiveness are decidedly mixed. Yet, if you want to try something that doesn't require a lot of cleanup or effort, then these mole control products are worth giving a try.
- Sonic Molechaser
- Sweeney's Mole and Gopher Sonic Spikes
- Solar Mole and Gopher Chaser
Mole Poisons
Using poisons for a do-it-yourself pest control project is always a dicey subject. Poisons come in granules, liquids, and even smoke bombs that you drop into the tunnel. Although all of these are potentially very potent mole control products, they also come with a variety of hazards. That being said, below are some mole poisons that you can find available in local hardware or lawn and garden stores:
- Tomcat Mole and Gopher Bait
- Sure Stop Mole and Gopher Repellent (not a true repellent but a lethal poison)
- Sure Stop Mole and Gopher Bait
- Revenge Mole and Gopher Smoke Bombs