Comments on: mole patrol http://awaytogarden.com/mole-patrol Organic gardening inspiration from Margaret Roach Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:21:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Margaret http://awaytogarden.com/mole-patrol/comment-page-1#comment-24309 Margaret Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:18:30 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/?p=213#comment-24309 Welcome, Theresa...and are you sure you're not talking about *my* basement? :) The moles are so tricky because they are harder to catch in the traps, I think -- at least they seem to be here, but that's the only remedy I know: lots of traps, changed all the time and so on. They can dig quite deep so the other "solution" is to try to identify the entry point and cement it or stuff it full of hardware cloth or some other deterrent material. My foundation is so old and full of holes, it's a nearly impossible dream. Welcome, Theresa…and are you sure you’re not talking about *my* basement? :) The moles are so tricky because they are harder to catch in the traps, I think — at least they seem to be here, but that’s the only remedy I know: lots of traps, changed all the time and so on. They can dig quite deep so the other “solution” is to try to identify the entry point and cement it or stuff it full of hardware cloth or some other deterrent material. My foundation is so old and full of holes, it’s a nearly impossible dream.

]]> By: Theresa Jones http://awaytogarden.com/mole-patrol/comment-page-1#comment-24306 Theresa Jones Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:36:56 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/?p=213#comment-24306 We have a mole problem in our basement. Help!! We have a sump pump and a trench that runs to it behind a basement wall. They seem to get behind this wall and disrupt our peace. ( hear it moving around day and night) We have caught with a mouse trap in a two year period 3. One in a connecting tool room. Two, we put a trap behind the wall by making an opening. Now we are hearing movement again about 2 weeks after catching one behind the wall. This one seems to be moving in an opposite wall. Help! We have a mole problem in our basement. Help!! We have a sump pump and a trench that runs to it behind a basement wall. They seem to get behind this wall and disrupt our peace. ( hear it moving around day and night) We have caught with a mouse trap in a two year period 3. One in a connecting tool room. Two, we put a trap behind the wall by making an opening. Now we are hearing movement again about 2 weeks after catching one behind the wall. This one seems to be moving in an opposite wall. Help!

]]> By: Margaret http://awaytogarden.com/mole-patrol/comment-page-1#comment-18708 Margaret Sun, 04 Jul 2010 14:57:38 +0000 http://awaytogarden.com/?p=213#comment-18708 Welcome, Nancy. Thanks for your kind words. How nice of Abi to alert you! If you have moles, which are mostly insectivorous (eating grubs and worms and such), then have a read of <a href="http://awaytogarden.com/mole-patrol" rel="nofollow">this older post about "mole patrol"</a> and the related links in it. Reducing their food source by tackling grub populations underground may reduce the attractiveness of your garden as a place to live (as would more predators like those local birds of prey and cats and so on). As would snap-type mousetraps, but you say you don't wish to harm them. If you don't want to use snap-type traps there are "live" traps (Havahart types) and also various repellents (even the Havahart company now makes one nontoxic brand), but I find it all very impractical, as I'd need a thousand dollars' worth of it to make a dent here. I will also mention that it's not legal in various areas to move live wildlife without a license, so even if you use the live traps...then what? A tricky topic, which I generally turn a blind eye to (and just plant "extra" for the animals, figuring there will always be some losses) except in years when things are so out of control that I start to feel murderous. Wish I had a better answer for you. Welcome, Nancy. Thanks for your kind words. How nice of Abi to alert you!

If you have moles, which are mostly insectivorous (eating grubs and worms and such), then have a read of this older post about “mole patrol” and the related links in it. Reducing their food source by tackling grub populations underground may reduce the attractiveness of your garden as a place to live (as would more predators like those local birds of prey and cats and so on). As would snap-type mousetraps, but you say you don’t wish to harm them.

If you don’t want to use snap-type traps there are “live” traps (Havahart types) and also various repellents (even the Havahart company now makes one nontoxic brand), but I find it all very impractical, as I’d need a thousand dollars’ worth of it to make a dent here. I will also mention that it’s not legal in various areas to move live wildlife without a license, so even if you use the live traps…then what? A tricky topic, which I generally turn a blind eye to (and just plant “extra” for the animals, figuring there will always be some losses) except in years when things are so out of control that I start to feel murderous.

Wish I had a better answer for you.

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