Voles versus Moles

The main difference between voles and moles is the type of havoc they wreak. Moles primary diet is earthworms making them insectivores. They also like to have a few grubs and insects tossed in. Since they don’t eat plants, their landscape massacre is really the accompanying damage of tunnels and runways dug into lawns while on their never-ceasing search for more squiggly worms.

Voles, on the other hand, are plant-eaters. They enjoy feeding on grass and perennial-flower roots, they’ll even eat seeds and bulbs. In winter especially, when other foods are scarce, they’ll even girdle the bark off trees and shrubs.

Unlike moles, voles are rodents that look much like mice, only with shorter tails. They’re dark brown in color, about 5 inches in length and have eyes and ears that you can readily notice. Among the various types of voles are those that do their damage above ground (i.e. meadow voles) and some that do more insidious root- and bark-chewing from underground (i.e. pine voles).

One of the best ways to control voles is to send out a cat to patrol the vole infested area. Cats love hunting for rodents, and they’re often so proud of their conquests that they’ll bring dead prey into the house just to show you what good hunters they are.

Unfortunately, killing moles is the most effective long-term control. Most say it is the only way to control their populations. This can be done either by trapping or baiting.  Both scissor-type and harpoon-type traps are available in most garden centers. To use these, locate active runs by tamping down tunnels and then watching to see where the tunnels are raised back up a day or two later. These are good spots to insert traps. When the mole comes swimming through, it trips the mechanism that will be their fatal demise.  Below are a few other “home remedies”:

• Gas cartridges lit and inserted into runs
• Flooding the burrows with water
• Dumping used kitty litter down the burrow
• Inserting lava rocks soaked in onion and garlic solution in burrow

A type of mouse trap called Snap trap is also pretty effective at catching voles. A half & half mixture of peanut butter and oatmeal is a favorite bait, as well as small apple slices. For the best result, place traps along active runs and disguise them with an inverted box and/or leaves and grass (with the vegetation out of the way enough that it doesn’t impair the traps).

Whether you have voles or moles invading your property Gopher Patrol, the pest control experts, are here to help. Call 888-466-4674 immediately!

Essential Mole Control Tips

Moles aren’t nearly as destructive as gophers, but they can still turn your beautiful yard or garden into a mess of dirt mounds and burrows. To keep these pesky critters from destroying your lawn, you need to take immediate action at the first sign of mole activity. While professional mole removal is the best way to ensure that your lawn is protected, there are some DIY remedies you can attempt yourself (though the results are not guaranteed).

In this video from eHow.com, you will hear about one popular method for DIY mole control. Mix soap, pepper, and castor oil together and spray into your lawn. Moles will detect this spicy mixture and, hopefully, turn the other way. Click play to learn more.

If moles are running amok in your lawn, contact the experts at Gopher Patrol. After years of fine-tuning our mole control service, we have perfected the art of effective mold removal. Our mole removal methods generally will involve two visits approximately one week apart. To schedule service or learn more about our mole control solutions, contact us online or call us at (888) 466-4674.

All You Need To Know About Moles and Rodent Control

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.