All You Need To Know About Moles and Rodent Control
Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 3:47PM The activity of moles tends to reek havoc among homeowners, due to its inherent destructive nature on lawns. Moles dig intricate tunnels in which they live, hunt, and move around in. These tunnels form ridges which can turns lawns upside down. They kill plants, cause the yard in which they are built to become spongy and unstable, and build large mole hills where their tunnel exits above ground. These small creatures are hard to get rid of once they have taken up residence in a yard. The main control methods are through lethal traps, as live traps are ineffective rodent control for moles.
Moles are small subterranean creatures that only weigh about 3 ounces and 6 inches long when full grown. They have a life span of 2 to 3 years. The three main types of moles that are common pests are the Eastern Mole, Townsend's Mole and the Star-Nosed Mole. All mole's have a diet that consists of mostly earthworms, another subterranean creature. Gardner's with rich soils full of earthworms will naturally attract moles, as these areas make great hunting grounds. Mole's digging, however, can uproot and kill plants, as well as make the garden look lumpy an odd. When this happens, the unhappy yard owner must seek out rodent control.
Once established, a mole is hard to deter. The most effective way of dealing with these pests is with a poison called Talpirid. While traps are highly effective, they take a certain finesse in order to set and trap effectively. Taliprid on the other hand has been shown to be very effective at eliminating moles.
Castor oil has also been used as a mole deterrent. There are many commercial formulas available on the market. Mole repellents are used to treat the ground. Yard owners must keep the area where the repellent is applied regularly watered so that is permeates the soil. One treatment is sometimes not enough, so it may be necessary to reapply several times. Use cation when using mole repellents if you have young children or small pets, as a chemical that can kill a mole is sure to cause harm to other small living creatures.
If a mole colony is not dealt with, it can eventually over run your yard. Moles breed in January and produce between 2 to 4 young each, so mole colonies have the potential to grow quite large. Treating a mole colony before they reproduce will mean there are less moles to deal with. Check with a rodent control professional in your area if you think you have a mole problem. They can help to determine the most effective rodent control solution for you specific problem.
Reader Comments (3)
It is important to stop up and seal any place in which rats can enter the home. Rats may be able to access your home through the plumbing or duct work. This is where a professional is very useful s they know exactly where and what to look for.
It may be necessary to use special seals as nailing wood over openings may not be enough. A professional will use spray foam, escutcheon rings, steel wool and even steel sheets.