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There are a huge number of pests that come to home gardens. This applies not only to insects, but also to animals (moles, shrews, mice, rats). All are good, but moles are the most troublesome. They are capable of destroying crops and lawns, creating earthen hills on them. Therefore, gardeners are wondering how to get a mole out of the garden?
Is there any use for a mole
Before getting rid of moles, it is worth understanding how much harm will be done to the garden due to the invasion of "diggers". When he appears on the garden plot, he will deploy a stormy search for food, in his menu - spiders, various larvae, slugs, earthworms. The mole is an insectivorous animal that is forced to constantly seek food for itself. It damages the root system of plants completely unintentionally.
The dug passages cause the roots to dry out. The destruction of earthworms leads to the fact that the aeration of the soil is reduced, and such a negative effect becomes noticeable very quickly. The well-groomed garden area is covered with earthen mounds, which causes a fair indignation from the owner.
If we talk about indirect harm, it is as follows:
- infertile soil layers appear on the surface;
- rats with mice actively move along the dug passages;
- young trees that have recently been planted dry up.
Moving in close proximity to the surface of the earth, moles destroy the root system of plants and bushes planted in the country.
Before thinking about how to catch a mole in the garden, it is worth mentioning some of the benefits that these animals bring:
- the earth is saturated with nitrogen;
- the larvae of harmful insects are destroyed;
- when loosening the soil, it is saturated with oxygen, which leads to faster growth of some crops.
How to get rid of moles in the area: the most effective way
People have come up with many ways to fight underground inhabitants, some of them can destroy moles completely. There are those who make animals just move to another place. So, how to get moles out in the most efficient way?
Trap
Such an anti-mole device should be installed directly in the burrow. While moving along the underground passage, the animal will touch the valve or spring, which are in the cocked state, the mechanism will work and the trap will react.
Wire trap against diggers is the most effective way. This trap must be used correctly.
The easiest way is to install the Claw, the principle of operation is like that of scissors with a check installed between them. After it is knocked out, the mole will fall between the blades.
The trap effect is 100%, but not everyone is ready to kill an animal and constantly check traps.
Solomon's trap
This method is a humane way to get rid of moles and is very effective. The trap has a cylindrical shape with a diameter corresponding to the average width of the mole tunnel. It is about 0.5 m long. A mole can fall into the trap from both sides, but it will not work out. It remains to install a protective device in the tunnel dug by the animal. The captured animal can be carried away from your site and released.
Use of poison
Moles' favorite delicacy is earthworms. Such bait can be used as a means to get rid of the pest. To remove an animal with bait, you need to follow these instructions step by step:
- Buy a pesticide in a specialized store.
- Dig up the worms and sprinkle them with a poisonous agent.
- While the worms are still alive, they need to be laid out in holes where there are moles, and therefore they must be covered with earth to stop the air supply.
- After the moles eat the bait, they will die from the effects of the poison.
Not entirely humane methods
How else to get rid of garden villains? The following methods are rather cruel, not everyone decides to use them.
- The use of crossbows... Homemade weapons are loaded with nails that kill moles.
- Using current. When the animal appears on the surface, it can be killed using an electric current.
- Large amount of water... If there is actually a well with a sufficient amount of water, it can be used to fill burrows. Moles safely drown, but there is a large consumption of liquid.
Folk art
Not only modern chemicals and various devices make it possible to scare away moles from a chosen place - odorous substances play an important role among folk methods. To get the animals to leave the area, you need to moisten the rags with the following products:
- kerosene;
- ammonia;
- naphthalene;
- rotten fish brine;
- standing urine.
Any of the above remedies causes persistent disgust in the mole. Therefore, rags soaked in such solutions are laid in dug holes located in the garden. Additionally, you can use rotten eggs. The disadvantage of this method is that the mole can simply fall asleep in a bad-smelling course, and dig new paths for itself.
The next method is to tie cans to metal rods. When the wind appears, the tin will rattle and make a piercing sound. Some people make propellers that can be made from a plastic bottle. The noise from a metal stick spreads underground and scares away moles. The disadvantage of this method is that such special sound effects annoy people.
Scarers of "unwanted guests"
On store shelves, there are many products to protect the garden and vegetable garden from pests.
Electronic repeller
Such means can drive away not only a mole, but also other animals. Depending on the model, the device generates ultrasound in addition to vibration. The frequency of the signal changes systematically. Many owners of summer cottages praise the Tornado of domestic development.
The device works as follows: at a depth of 0.2 meters, it emits an ultrasonic or mechanical vibration, which is absolutely not to the liking of underground inhabitants. Wave propagation underground can reach 1000 m.Such devices are not dangerous for people and pets. The average cost is about 700 rubles.
If we talk about the results, then the information here is rather contradictory. Some gardeners say that moles leave forever, but for other owners they calmly remain to live in their old place, without showing any concern. This may be due to the reflection of sound from the foundations of houses or fences, due to which the device loses its effectiveness.
Sulfur checkers
This tool is considered to be the most effective. After the checkers are activated, the animals will leave the chosen territory. However, no one can guarantee that other moles will not dig passages from the neighboring area. It is possible that the mole will simply not close the path with a bad smell and will begin to be active in building new burrows.
Preventive measures
There are means that are used in order to prevent moles from entering the backyard area.
Fencing the territory is an effective way. Slate, metal sheets, concrete blocks must be dripped along the fence. A gravel moat will have no less effect. You can purchase a special net that is buried vertically to a depth of 0.8 to 1 meter.
The mole is an underground animal, almost never appearing on the surface. Upon collision with the net, the mole will simply turn in the other direction to dig a path in the opposite direction. The mesh should be fine-mesh (galvanized or durable plastic). When digging in the fence, you must make sure that no gaps remain, otherwise the mole will overcome the obstacle. It is advisable to use lawn metal nets laid in a horizontal plane and slightly recessed. However, this option is not suitable in those places where there are beds or flower beds.
You can plant an imperial hazel grouse (plant) on the site, whose smell can scare off a mole, but such a remedy is not reliable.
When a mole appears on the site, it remains only to choose any of the suitable methods to combat the underground resident, or even better, without waiting for adversity, to take care of the safety of your territory.