Moles are animals that spoil the life of more than one summer resident. Indeed, almost everyone who owns a garden plot is familiar with their “activities” firsthand. Of course, if we take into account the fact that moles live only in good soils, then you can be proud of your garden and the works attached to it. However, these small animals can do tremendous harm to all cultivated plants planted in the country. And these consequences of the life of moles are unlikely to please anyone.
If a lot of earthen piles appear on the site, due to which the landscape of the territory becomes like a lunar surface, then there is no doubt that these "blind workers" dug many passages, tunnels and holes here.
Many summer residents are worried about the question "How to get rid of moles?" In order to immediately begin to eliminate them. Consider the most effective ways to deal with this animal.
Benefit and harm
The name of this small animal belonging to the class of mammals literally means "digger". It is precisely this kind of activity that moles are engaged in all their life, which takes place in dark underground labyrinths at various depths. Mammals dig soil with their large front paws, while rotating around the axis of their own bodies.
Many summer residents, seeing wilted plants on the flower beds and beds, believe that moles gnaw their roots. However, this opinion is erroneous. A small animal that brings so much trouble loosens the soil, penetrating it with its own moves. And this brings far from harm, but to the benefit of man. In the tunnels dug up by the animal, air begins to circulate actively. In addition, the activity of moles contributes to an increase in the drainage properties of the soil, a decrease in its moisture content in the overlying soil, and a decrease in the deeper layers. The land penetrated by such moves is effectively moistened. As a result of the digging activity of animals, those substances that were washed out of it during eluvial processes return to the soil.
According to their moves, moles carry out permanent migration - weather and seasonal. Here he gets his food, which is mainly earthworms. If he can, then he stocks up food for the future. In addition to worms, moles feed on millipedes, as well as the larvae of butterflies, caterpillars, flies, beetles and other invertebrates.
These animals are not interested in vegetation. They damage planted crops mechanically, moving along their underground passages. Because of this, summer residents are trying to find the most effective way to get rid of moles on the site.
Behavior features
Before you learn how to get rid of moles on the site forever, you need to study some of the habits of these animals. For normal life, moles need a large amount of food. That is why they prefer to settle near the holiday village or garden. There are certain reasons why moles suddenly appear on the site. Among them:
- Loose soil on the beds, which also constantly moisten and dig.
- An impressive amount of food. The best treat for moles is eggs with the larvae of garden pests such as worms, beetles, and others.
- Lack of natural enemies. The predators that the mole is afraid of (badgers, raccoon dogs, martens and birds of prey) do not try to catch the eye of a person. This is what the animal uses, climbing to the summer cottage.
Anyone who is wondering how to get rid of a mole in the garden should take into account several points:
- Usually, where you saw one mole, you can find a whole family of these animals, consisting of dozens of individuals. That is why, not far from the hole that has appeared, you need to look for a couple more (they can be in the neighboring area). Such a situation requires the adoption of measures to destroy not one "digger", but a whole brood.
- In winter, the mole sleeps. He digs a hole for himself much lower than his own moves. Here, at great depths, he arranges a small, warm and secluded “den”, which can be found on an impressive mound of dug earth. If there is no such hill on the site, then the mink will be located on the existing hills, from which snow under the rays of the spring sun leaves first. Having discovered such a "den", you can easily get a mole out of it.
- The pest has no abandoned moves. At the same time, animals check their working lines almost every hour. And even if a person accidentally stepped on the place where the move is and sold it, the animal will surely restore it very soon.
- Moles do not like free space. On the surface of the soil, they feel unprotected, and therefore very rarely appear above the ground. But the animal moves along its moves rather quickly, so in this case, to catch it on the move becomes a very difficult task.
- The mole has a very strong body and powerful legs. This allows him to constantly be in motion and dig the ground. It is very important to know for those who decide to catch the animal with their bare hands that it is almost impossible. The mole will not just break out of the hands, but in addition and scratch with its clawed legs or bite. On average, the animal moves underground at a speed of 5 kilometers per hour. In this regard, it is better to use special traps and traps for its capture.
- Moles are intelligent and cautious animals. They adapt perfectly in any locality, not allowing a person to dictate their own rules. If the owner of the site constantly uses the same repellers and traps, the animal will easily bypass the danger that is already familiar to him. Due to obvious vision problems, moles have excellent sense of smell and hearing, which they have developed at the highest level.
- These pests can be called real gluttons. This is evidenced only by the fact that they attack the garden with whole families and dig moves so quickly that they damage the plot within a few days.
Taking into account the above points and seeing clear signs that pests have appeared on the territory of the garden plot, you must immediately begin to fight them.
The main methods of destroying moles
How to get rid of moles in a summer cottage? To fight these animals, you should not destroy the moves they dug. After all, the animal will soon lay new tunnels for itself. How to get rid of a mole in a summer cottage? In order that these small animals do not cause disturbance, they are caught, destroyed or scared away. In this case, you can act in a variety of ways.
Effectively get rid of moles allow repelling agents, chemical and folk. All kinds of traps allow you to clean the area from rodents. Consider these tools in more detail.
Traps and traps
By installing such devices on the site, you can easily catch a mole. And even despite the physical power of the animal, he probably will not be able to escape from the trap or trap. However, in this case, gardeners inexperienced in such a case do not quite understand how to place the device in an underground tunnel. After all, if you set a trap in the ground, the gap is a move, the mole will certainly feel something is amiss and will go the other way. Consider the main types of traps and methods for their use.
If the question “How to get rid of moles?” Arises before the summer resident, then he can use a trap, either made by himself or purchased in a store. Traps are currently offered:
- Acting like spring mousetraps. Such devices crush the victim, interrupting her vertebrae. This is a fairly effective and easy way to get rid of moles. The main difficulty in this case will consist only in the correct installation of the device. Similar molehills are installed in two at once, and in different directions. Install and mask devices in such a way that the part that is intended for pressing the animal does not cling to the arch when the mechanism is triggered.
- Plunger or harpoon. Such traps are quite simply set over the course. After the mole touches the "guard" located in the tunnel, the mechanism is activated, and the sharp spokes of the device pierce the ground, capturing the animal at the same time.
- Scissor traps. They squeeze the mole from the sides. To install such a device, you will need to dig a tunnel, set a trap at the bottom of the course, and then fill it with earth.
- Loopback. These devices are wire traps for moles. In their appearance, they resemble loops, which are placed inside a digged passage. When triggered, the mechanism strangles the animal, which at that moment creeps along the tunnel.
But how to get rid of moles by more gentle methods? For this, it is recommended to use a tunnel or live trap. This is a simple and effective tool that tells you how to get rid of moles, not involving the destruction of the animal. Live traps can be made independently. For this, cans, plastic bottles or other cylindrical objects are suitable. You can buy a live trap in the store. The main principle of the action of this tool is that, once inside the body, the mole is not able to get out of it, since closing valves block it without reverse action. The animal in this case remains alive and can be released to freedom away from the suburban area.
Very often, moles in their moves get to the prey only once. That is why a trap for animals must be installed in those tunnels that they use repeatedly. Otherwise, human efforts will be in vain. The current passages are located in the deep layers of the soil and are distinguished by more trampled ground.
The use of acoustic methods
How to get rid of moles in the country? The humane method that allows you to free the site from the invasion of animals is the use of deterrents. The task of such devices is to create on the site such uncomfortable conditions that would have a negative impact on the well-developed sense of smell of the animal and its hearing. It has been proven that moles are afraid of loud noises. When they appear, the animals tend to leave the noise source as far as possible, tens of meters.
The necessary fixtures can be bought at the store or made by yourself. Consider some of their types in more detail.
Technical devices
The most effective way to get rid of moles and at the same time not to destroy them lies in the use of special devices. Their principle of operation involves the creation of noises that repel the pest.
Similar technical devices are mechanical and ultrasonic. In the first of them there is a mechanism made in the form of a disk, which produces special vibrations. The center of this element is structurally somewhat shifted to the axis of the shaft, which allows you to create a resonance that causes vibration. In ultrasonic devices, the necessary effect is obtained with oscillations of the emitter.
Technical devices are distinguished by the type of power source installed in them. So, there are devices that operate on solar panels, as well as combined, where simple batteries are also used. Of course, the most convenient of them are devices of the first type. After all, they do not require battery replacement. Such a device accumulates the necessary charge of energy during daylight hours, thanks to which it is active even at night.
The effectiveness of both devices lies in the formation of special sound vibrations. They are not heard by people, but they are a special barrier for moles. The propagation of ultrasonic waves occurs in the range of 36-45 m.
Those who have moles in the country can get rid of moles in a humane and fairly simple way with the help of special technical devices. They simply force the animal to leave its habitat, which will save the future crop. Among the shortcomings of such a technique, the need to invest significant financial resources can be noted. After all, devices are not cheap, and even for a small area they will need to buy several units at once. In addition, when the device is turned off, moles are able to return to the site again.
DIY repellers
How to get rid of moles yourself, while applying a humane way to preserve crops from animal invasions? Self-made noisers or noise installations help quite effectively deal with underground diggers. They are turntables made of empty cans, as well as rattles and empty bottles buried in the ground. All of the above devices can be made with your own hands. For example, from a plastic bottle you get a beautiful spinner. To do this, holes are cut in the tank, bending the strips of plastic in the form of blades. Such a device is mounted on a metal pin. It is stuck into the soil to a depth of approximately 20 cm. The pin will transmit the sound of a rattling bottle into the ground.
In the same way, a tin can can also be placed on the site. Being on a metal pin, it will begin to rattle with the slightest breath of wind. Noise will also be transmitted to the ground.
Another tool to get rid of moles is a glass bottle, which is buried in the soil at an angle. In this case, the animals will be scared away by the howling of the wind. Sometimes summer residents burrow banks in the ground into which wound-up alarms are placed. The noise of various agricultural implements (for example, lawn mowers), as well as loud music, will scare away animals.
It should be borne in mind that the methods described above for getting rid of animals depend on the presence of wind. In calm weather, they become ineffective.
Odor use
What is another way to get rid of moles? If for some reason the acoustic method did not work, then try to drive the animals away using unpleasant odors. There are various folk remedies, how to get rid of moles forever, in the list of which are some products and substances that have a pungent smell. Among them:
- Kerosene. 100 mg of this substance is dissolved in a bucket of water. In the resulting mixture, rags or tow are moistened, placing them in molehills.
- Castor oil. The smell of this product is not like many animals. Castor oil is used, pouring it into small containers, which are then distributed over the entire area of the site.
- Naphthalene. This substance is distinguished by a strong and persistent odor that effectively repels rodents.
- Antifreeze or fuel oil. These potent substances are able to maintain their aroma for a long time. As a rule, rags and tow soaked in such a liquid are used.
- Wormwood and peppermint. These herbs contain a significant amount of aromatic oils. In order to get rid of moles on the site with folk herbal remedies, it is enough to pick up these odorous bunches and spread them in the area of passages and holes. Herbs should be changed as they wilt.
- Acetic essence. Such a substance perfectly repels pests, but its effect is short-lived.
- Ground red pepper. The powder perfectly repels moles, but only as long as it is dry.
- Chlorine bleach. Such a rapidly evaporating substance will perfectly scare away animals. When using it, the liquid is poured into any container of small size and lowered into the mole.
- Cigarette butts or their infusion. They emit a smell of tobacco that animals do not like.
- Herring heads. If a mole has appeared on the site, how to get rid of folk means from this intruder? To do this, it is recommended to lay herrings on dug animal tunnels and moves. In the process of decay, they will begin to produce an unpleasant odor, which will scare away the pest.
- Snuff. It is effective, but only in the dry state.
- Rotten vegetables or rotten eggs. The unpleasant smell of such products perfectly repels pests. However, it should be borne in mind that people will not be delighted with him. In addition, getting rid of such aromas will subsequently not be easy at all.
- Tear gas. This method will require some preparation. Before using it, a person should put on overalls and provide for respiratory protection. Spray cans containing tear gas are sprayed directly into the hole. It is important to comply with the norm. Those who overdo it will not scare away, but will kill the animals.
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Planting scare plants
How to get rid of folk moles from moles on the site? You can scare away the animals with the help of the aromas of some plants planted on the beds. Moles do not like legumes, that is, peas, beans and beans. The smell of marigolds and daffodils, the imperial hazel grouse and Siberian woodland, lavender and castor oil, milkweed and calendula, onions and garlic, goatskin and black root frightens them away.