Moles Creating Holes in your Lawn?

Moles are part of a healthy ecological system.

They indicate that the soil is strong, and that beneficial insects and organisms are present. But if you’re like most home owners, you’d rather not have them burrowing under your yard or garden.

There’s a lot of debate about the best methods to get rid of these clever, persistent pests. Ideas in vogue range from castor-oil/liquid detergent solutions and trapping to using the noise of a lawn mower to scare them away.

There are seven varieties of moles in the Pacific Northwest. Moles, which eat worms, slugs and soil insects, play an important ecological role. They dig tunnels underground, which create channels for air and water to move through the soil. The problem is that the tunnels create weak spots and holes in a lawn. The moles also push mounds of soil to the surface.

What you can do

• We think the best solution is to tolerate moles when possible, since they play such a beneficial role in the ecology.
• You can stamp down the mounds moles make in your lawn and reseed them.
• If you must get rid of moles, the most effective way we know is trapping. We don’t offer this service ourselves, but there some companies in the area that specialize in trapping moles. A few good companies are Mole In One (425.823.4094), Mole Patrol (425.483.8894) and The Mole Guy (425.483.1775).
• If you want to do trapping yourself, the best time is in the early spring when the first burrows are seen, or after the first fall rains. Trapping in the early spring can eliminate pregnant females, thus reducing the possibility of having to contend with a family of moles.
• Traps should be set in active burrows (you can tell by rolling or tramping down the ridges and then observing which ones are raised again). If a trap is not sprung in two days, move it to another location.
• Don’t use pesticides, which can harm other wildlife, pets and children as well.
• Use a physical barrier. If you know the moles are coming from a certain area, dig a trench and insert bamboo cloth or flattened metal trenches. The barrier should be at least 6-12 inches deep.