How do you get rid of moles in your house?

Moles can be a frustrating problem for many homeowners. These small mammals burrow underground tunnels in search of food like grubs and earthworms, leaving unsightly ridges and holes in lawns and gardens. While moles do help aerate the soil, their tunnels can damage plant roots and lawns. If you have noticed mole tunnels or molehills in your yard, you likely want to find ways to get rid of them.

Why are there moles in my yard?

Moles are attracted to yards and gardens that provide good habitat for their prey. Some common reasons that moles may take up residence in your yard include:

• Grub infestations – Grubs are a favorite food source for moles. If your lawn has a large grub population, it can draw moles to dig tunnels and hunt for their meals.
• Good digging conditions – Moles prefer soft, loamy soil that is easy to tunnel through.
• Ample shelter – Areas with plants, shrubs, debris piles or woodpiles provide cover and protection for moles.
• Moisture – Moles require moist soil to survive, so well-irrigated lawns and gardens make ideal habitat.
• Food sources – The presence of worms, snails, slugs and other invertebrates can attract moles searching for food.

If your yard seems to offer the right environment for moles, taking steps to modify their habitat can encourage moles to leave and look for a better food source elsewhere.

Natural mole repellents

There are many natural substances said to repel moles and make your yard less inviting. These remedies may be effective in some cases, but results can vary depending on the size of the mole population and other habitat factors.

Castor oil

Castor oil contains the compound ricinoleic acid which is said to irritate moles. Diluting castor oil in water and spraying it over affected areas of lawn may help discourage moles. However, rain can wash away castor oil so it may need to be reapplied regularly.

Garlic

Moles have a strong sense of smell, so planting garlic or rubbing peeled cloves of garlic into tunnel openings may deter them with its pungent odor. You can also try making a garlic tea by steeping crushed garlic in hot water, then pouring the strained liquid into tunnels.

Cayenne pepper

Sprinkling ground cayenne pepper into mole tunnels and molehills may discourage them from digging in those areas again. Be careful not to get the irritating pepper powder on your skin or eyes.

Onion and garlic juice

Making a homemade repellent by blending onions and garlic and straining the pulp can create a strong-smelling juice you can spray around mole tunnels. Reapply after rain.

Mint oil

The strong scent of mint may help mask the smells that draw moles. Buy pure mint oil and dilute a few teaspoons in a gallon of water, then pour it into active mole tunnels.

Vibration deterrents

Moles are very sensitive to vibrations. Placing wind chimes, pinwheels or vibrating stakes in areas where moles are active may disturb them and drive them away.

Mole traps

Trapping is an effective way to get rid of active moles in your yard. There are two main types of mole traps:

Harpoon or spear traps

These utilize spring-loaded spikes to instantly kill moles when triggered. They are placed directly into active mole tunnels.

Choker loop or scissor jaw traps

These use a noose mechanism to choke or strangle moles when tripped. They can be placed in tunnels or nesting areas.

When setting mole traps:

• Identify main tunnel systems by flattening down ridges and observing which tunnels are re-dug.
• Wear gloves to avoid getting human scent on traps.
• Follow package directions carefully when placing and setting the traps.
• Use at least two traps per tunnel system.
• Check traps daily and replace in fresh locations if not successful.

Properly used traps can eliminate the mole or moles responsible for damage very quickly. Since traps pose a risk to pets and children, use caution when setting them in your yard.

Mole bait worms

Worm-shaped bait chew treats can effectively poison and kill moles when they ingest the bait placed in their tunnels. Two types of mole bait worms are available:

Toxicant baits

Containing the active ingredient zinc phosphide, these react with stomach acid to produce deadly phosphine gas when eaten.

Anticoagulant baits

A chronic type of poison, these interfere with a mole’s ability to produce vitamin K and cause it to die from internal bleeding over several days.

Follow all label safety directions when using bait worms. Apply into at least five areas of each active tunnel system. Wearing gloves, re-apply more bait every 3-5 days until mole activity ceases.

Installing mole barriers

Physical barriers can be placed in your yard to block moles from gaining access to certain areas. Common mole barriers include:

Wire mesh barriers

A wire mesh such as hardware cloth can be installed around gardens or flower beds to exclude moles, should be buried at least 12 inches deep.

Vibrating spike barriers

Stakes that produce vibrations unpleasant to moles placed every 10 feet can keep them away from flower beds or small lawns.

Plastic tunnel barriers

Flexible plastic tubing, windsocks or tree root guard tubes buried at least 6 inches can block moles from tunnelling under driveways, patios and foundations.

Check installed mole barriers regularly to ensure they remain undamaged and properly positioned. Using two different types of barriers can improve effectiveness.

Mole repellent plants

Certain plants may help make your yard less inviting for moles when planted around susceptible lawn areas. Some options to try include:

Plant	What it does
Castor bean	Emits odor from roots to repel moles
Garlic	Strong odor masks scent trails
Daffodils	Unpalatable to moles
Alliums	Pungent smell disguises mole trails

Planting these around lawn edges, in beds near foundations, or along prime tunneling zones can make the soil environment less hospitable for moles.

Eliminate food sources

Because moles primarily eat earthworms, grubs and other soil-dwelling insects, getting rid of their food supply can make your yard less attractive. Recommended ways to eliminate mole food sources include:

Use beneficial nematodes

Natural grub predators that kill grubs can be applied to soil to reduce the grub population. Target grubs in early summer before they pupate in late summer.

Avoid over-fertilizing

Excess nitrogen fertilizer can increase earthworm and grub populations. Have soil tested to determine actual fertilizer needs.

Alter soil pH

Moles prefer neutral soil. Adding lime to make soil more alkaline can discourage moles.

Remove food debris

Clear away fallen fruit, dog food or spilled seed that can attract insect prey. Store compost piles far from susceptible lawn areas.

Cutting off their food supply can force moles to look elsewhere to find adequate prey to feed on.

Use mole repellent fertilizers

Specialty fertilizer products are available that claim to repel moles and other burrowing pests. These contain irritating ingredients like castor oil, garlic oil, capsaicin or sulfur. When worked into soil, they can make the environment unpleasant for moles.

Apply these mole repellent fertilizers in spring and fall according to label directions. Reapply if heavy rains occur. For best results, target areas with the most tunneling activity visible.

Kill mole food sources with pesticides

Applying insecticide products containing trichlorfon, carbaryl or imidacloprid can kill grubs and other insect prey to deprive moles of their food source. Although chemical pesticides are effective, they must be used carefully according to label instructions to avoid environmental and health risks.

Only treat areas with high mole activity rather than entire lawn. It may also be best to have a professional licensed pesticide applicator treat your yard versus doing it yourself.

Remove mole tunnels by aerating

Regular lawn aeration can help break up shallow mole tunnels and make the soil less hospitable for their shallow digging. Rent an aerator 2-3 times per year and go over areas with mole tunnels to break them up. Fill in any remaining depressions with topsoil after aerating.

Use a mole repellent sprinkler

Motion-activated sprinkler deterrents detect the vibrations when moles begin tunneling underground, causing the sprinkler to turn on and startle the moles with a burst of water, encouraging them to leave your yard. These can provide 24/7 monitoring and repellent action without the hassle of traps or other remedies.

Try mole vibrators

Battery operated mole vibrators placed in the ground will shake the soil vigorously when moles start to dig. This creates an unpleasant environment that repels them from the area.

Level and compact the soil

Moles prefer loose, airy soil that is easy to dig through. Eliminating air pockets by raking, rolling and compacting soil can deter moles from digging there.

Set up owl decoys

The presence of an owl decoy with large eyes can scare moles away by making them think a daytime predator is watching the yard. Place several around your property for maximum effect.

Play mole distress calls

Special solar-powered devices are available that emit recordings of mole distress calls and their natural predator sounds. These can trick moles into thinking danger is nearby so they’ll avoid the area.

Use mole repellent lighting

Special ultraviolet or strobe lighting installed around yards can make moles uncomfortable, as they prefer total darkness. These operate automatically through the night when moles are most active above ground.

Stop watering lawn areas

Moles require moist soil, so allowing lawn areas with heavy mole damage to dry out can promote tunnel collapse. Reduce or stop watering in sections with chronic mole burrows.

Release mole predators

In some states, it may be legal to purchase and release mole predators like weasels into your yard to naturally control mole populations. Research your state laws first and check with local wildlife agencies before considering this option.

Accept a certain level of damage

Even with control efforts, you may still have some mole tunnels. Consider tolerating minor cosmetic damage in low-visibility lawn zones, focusing control efforts only in highly visible areas or where tunneling threatens plant roots.

Combine multiple mole control strategies

Because moles are difficult pests to eliminate entirely, experts recommend integrating 3-4 different repellent, exclusion and elimination methods to obtain the best results. Attacking moles from different angles gives you a better chance at stopping damage.

When to call a professional exterminator

For severe mole infestations, or if DIY methods have failed to significantly reduce tunneling damage, contacting a professional pest control company may be warranted. An exterminator has access to stronger fumigants and insecticides, and can perform deep burrow gas injections to kill moles and grubs more effectively.

Professional mole control costs $100-$200 on average depending on the size of your property. This investment can provide immediate relief from extensive mole damage that has proven difficult to control on your own.

Mole damage prevention tips

Once you have succeeded in removing existing moles, there are some steps you can take to make your yard less appealing to new moles:

• Avoid overwatering lawn areas
• Eliminate potential food sources like grubs and insects
• Limit fertilizer use to avoid increasing your soil’s attractiveness
• Keep yard free of piles of debris or mulch
• Mow lawn frequently at a short height
• Install physical barriers like wire mesh or tubes around vulnerable garden beds
• Use repellent plants around lawn perimeters

Being vigilant in monitoring your lawn for new mole invasions and prompt in addressing new tunneling activity will help sustain results long-term.

Conclusion

Moles can be very difficult to permanently eradicate from a yard, but a variety of remedies exist to control populations and limit damage from tunneling. Combining repellents, habitat modification, trapping, barriers and removal of food sources offers the best chance of success. Being persistent with whichever mole control methods you choose to employ is key to keeping your yard protected.