If a mole is in your yard, they can dig a hole that is about 2 inches in diameter and up to 12 inches below the surface. 

Once they’ve started digging holes in your yard, it’ll be very hard to get rid of them as your yard just keeps getting torn up more and more.

So how do you get rid of them? We have some of the best tips on how to get rid of ground moles, so make sure you keep reading!

1. Don’t Give Them a Great Environment to Thrive

One of the main reasons that moles get into your yard in the first place is because you created an environment that they love. 

To avoid that, you’ll need to make sure you don’t have a lot of bugs in your yard. Moles love insects and grubs, and it’s their main source of food. But if there are no bugs, they aren’t likely to want to go into your yard in the first place. 

You should also try and not to overwater your lawn. Earthworms love saturated water, which can also draw in one of the mole’s favorite meals. 

2. Use a Repellent

If those preventative measures don’t work, you can always use a repellant to deter them as well. 

Castor oil is a great repellant, and it won’t harm them. If they eat it, it will give them an upset stomach, so it will make them not want to live in your yard. 

To use this as an effective strategy, mix castor oil with some dish soap, and add it to a gallon of water. You can pour this over your yard, but if you already have moles, you can pour it in their home as well to help evict them. 

There are also pellets or sprays that you can buy at your local home goods store that will help keep them out. However, these can sometimes be harmful to the moles and your family or yard. 

3. Set Out Mole Traps

If you do have moles despite the preventative measure, you can set out some mole traps. Some of the best traps are the spring-loaded snares. You can buy some of these on Amazon, and they’re pretty easy to use.

If you get them, you can put them directly into the mole’s tunnel. Make sure that it’s a tunnel they often go into so that they don’t go around it. It can be hard to check if the trap caught them, but normally if the top of the tunnel isn’t fresh, the trap worked. 

While you might catch one mole, there could be a few more that are still hiding in the tunnels. To fully get rid of your mole problem, you’ll have to catch and trap them all. This can be a long process, but if you keep up with it, it can be effective.

However, before you start laying traps, make sure you check with your state’s laws. Some states make it illegal to trap them, which means that you’ll have to find another way to remove them. 

4. Call an Exterminator

If you don’t feel comfortable getting rid of the mole yourself, you can always call a professional come help you.

They have experience in getting rid of moles, and they’ll know exactly what works and what doesn’t. Plus, you’ll be able to rest easy and devote your time and energy elsewhere. 

5. Remove the Mole Yourself

If you don’t want to pay for a professional, you can always try and remove the mole on your own. Besides the traps, there are a few ways to remove the mole without killing it. 

If you have a bunch of mole holes out in your yard, you’ll need three shovels when you go out to investigate them. You’ll also need a lot of patience.

First, you’ll have to take the back of a shovel and flatten out one of the hills that you’ve found. The mole will be able to smell or hear you, so make sure you step away from the shovel after you’ve placed it over the hill. This will make the mole comfortable enough to show itself.

Wait patiently until you see it start to move the soil. It will try to repair the hill that you covered and move your shovel. Once you see it start to move, you can run to the area and put the shovels in the ground to try and grab the mole. 

Once you have the mole, put it into a cardboard box and take it somewhere far away from your property. 

6. Use Natural Barriers

Lastly, you could try and use natural barriers as well to help deter them.

For example, a lot of them don’t like the smell of marigolds, daffodils, or other flowers in the allium family. This makes it a safe barrier to keep moles out, but it also won’t harm your children or pets. 

Plus, it can make your landscape look really great and colorful!

If you don’t want those flowers, there are also barriers you can purchase that are made to keep moles out. They are like a basket, and you can place them around your other plants to stop them from being eaten by the moles.

Discover More on How to Get Rid of Ground Moles

If you’re still wondering how to get rid of ground moles, there are still a few more methods that you could try.

However, if none of these have worked, it might be time to call a professional. Thankfully, we’re here to help you!

If you’re having problems with ground moles, make sure you contact us today!

Once a mole finds a new home in your yard, they often choose to stay there. In many cases, moles won’t simply find a new home. They have to be removed.

If your yard provides them with the atmosphere and food they need, then they’ll make themselves comfortable. 

Mole damage in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky can create more problems for you other than a damaged yard. Mole damage can also result in collapsed above-ground pools, driveways, and more. 

As the years pass by, the moles will reproduce, creating even more problems for your yard. This is why it’s essential for you to address and treat the problem before it gets worse. The best way to rid yourself of ground moles is to know the signs of moles in your yard.

What does mole damage look like? 

In the guide below, you’ll find out about a few different signs that there’s a mole problem in your yard. Continue reading below to learn more!

1. Dying and Dead Patches of Grass or Plants

Have you walked outside recently and noticed dead patches of grass or dying plants? This could be a sign of moles!

Moles make their way around your yard by digging tunnels under the top layer of grass and dirt. As the moles dig, they begin to remove the roots of plants and grass in their paths. Because of this, dying and dead patches of grass or plants in your yard is a common sign of moles. 

If not treated quickly, the moles will continue to dig their way around your yard, killing more plants and grass in their path.

2. Molehills or Mounds of Dirt

Although molehills or mounds of dirt aren’t as common as some other signs of a mole problem, you should still be on the lookout for them. Molehills appear when a mole forces dirt and other debris up to the yard’s surface as they dig in a deep tunnel. When searching for molehills, however, don’t be on the lookout for tall hills of soil.

Instead, look for volcano-shaped mounds about six inches tall. The mounds will most likely be connected to a tunnel system visible on the surface of your lawn. 

3. Tunnels Visible on the Surface

How do you know if there are mole tunnels in your yard? You should be able to see them on the surface. Because moles uproot all grass and plants in their way, they’ll leave paths on the surface of your yard with brown, dead, or no grass. Your lawn will look a bit raised in these areas as well, giving it a bumpy appearance. 

You can also use the tunnels to give you a good idea of how bad the mole problem is. Unfortunately, moles won’t normally use the same tunnel more than once. Because of this, there will be new tunnels throughout your yard each day. 

Once more moles inhabit your yard, there will be even more tunnels than before. 

4. An Increase in Weeds

Have you noticed an increase in the number of weeds in your yard as well? Tying a weed problem with a mole problem might not seem sensible, but here’s why it is: uprooting plants and grass gives weeds a chance to sprout. 

As the moles tear up your yard and uproot all your plants and grass, weeds will then try to take over. If not caught in the early stages, the majority of your yard can quickly become covered in weeds.

5. Visual Spotting of a Mole

Other than looking for signs of mole damage, you should also look for the moles themselves. Spotting a mole in your yard is a sure sign of a mole problem. What do you need to look for, though?

Moles are small mammals with dark brown fur. Their bodies are shaped almost like a potato, and they have small beady eyes. Their muzzles are pointed, and they have wide front flippers for feet. 

These flippers help them create a swim-like motion to get them through the soil. The best time to catch them in your yard is during the spring or fall and during the evenings or early mornings. These are the times when they’re most active. 

You should also try to catch them moving about after a rainstorm on a warm day. They tend to make their way to the surface afterward. You should also note that moles are only about seven inches long and only weigh about four ounces. 

6. Soft and Damp Dirt 

It’s important to know what type of environment moles like in order to determine if your yard is the perfect home for moles or not. If your yard contains soft and damp soil, then there’s a good chance there are some moles nearby. Moles like this type of soil because it’s easier for them to dig through.

You should avoid overwatering your lawn to prevent the ideal mole environment. Moles also feed on grubs and other insects. They don’t feed on actual plants in your garden. 

Grubs and earthworms will attract moles into your yard. If you can control the moisture level and the number of grubs or earthworms in your yard, then you might have a better chance of encouraging them to leave. Unfortunately more times than not, the moles will find another food source to eat and will need to be physically removed from the yard. 

How Can You Prevent Mole Damage?

After reading through these signs listed above, are you convinced you have mole damage in your yard? If so, then you’ll want to remove them as quickly as possible to prevent more damage from occurring. 

Let the mole professionals in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky help you. 

Click here for a free quote and to schedule an appointment!