Еarthworms, slugs, and insect larvae form the basis of moles' nutrition. Larvae of May beetles occupy a special place in the diet.
Moles do not eat vegetable food.
General information about moles and the damage they cause
These underground animals lay their burrows mainly in moist chernozem, well–fertilized soil with organic fertilizers, that is, in places where there is a lot of food - earthworms, larvae.
And, of course, there is also a garden bed, the plants on which the mole undermines, which often leads to the death of cultivated plants.
Also, a mole is able to turn a yard or mowing into a real mountain range – dug bushings have to be constantly leveled, stones removed.
Moles make two types of moves – temporary surface (at a depth of 1-5 cm) and permanent (at a depth of 15-20 cm).
The nests that the female equips for the birth and rearing of cubs (there can be up to 9 pieces in one litter) are pulled out by moles at a depth of up to 1 meter.
In search of food, animals make numerous passages through the beds, damage the root system of plants, destroy earthworms useful for the garden, can completely dig the plant out of the soil and fill up the young shoots with soil.
In defense of moles, it is worth saying that they also bring considerable benefits by eating pests.
How to get rid of a mole on the site
There are several proven ways to control the pest, but none of them will get rid of the mole forever. Over time, another blind handsome man will come to the unoccupied territory, and everything will start anew.
Method 1. To scare away with the help of a sharp smell.
Moles are very sensitive to odors, so you can put a piece of smelling substance or a rag soaked in it in his burrow.
The mole does not like the smell of:
- diesel fuel (gasoline, kerosene);
- herring (summer residents often use the herring's head to scare away);
- tar;
- naphthalene;
- carbide , etc.
Just remember that the mole will make another move, bypassing the unpleasant smell.
Method 2. Mole traps.
The same as mousetraps, only a slightly different shape and principle of operation. You can buy it in an agricultural store or make it yourself.
The mole traps are installed in pairs in horizontal permanent passages, with the back side to each other, in order to catch the animal from which side it would not go.
Permanent moves can be found by focusing on the bush of molehills.
Method 3. To ambush.
If you notice that a mole is digging the ground, you can pry it and throw it to the surface with a private pitchfork.
You can also pour water into the mole (you need a lot of water to flood the passages), then the mole itself will jump to the surface.
Prepare a bucket in which you need to quickly put the animal, otherwise it will quickly bury itself back into the ground.
Method 4. To set a trap.
Bury a bucket or a three-liter jar under the mole tunnel, you can use a cut-off plastic bottle for 5 liters.
Check the trap in a couple of days. In this way, you can catch the whole family of moles and even mice that use ready-made underground passages.
Modern production supplies many drugs and devices designed specifically to scare away pests.
Starting from liquid solutions and ending with devices that distribute ultrasound that repels moles.
Therefore, if there is no desire to bury buckets in the suburban area, you can try new means of combating moles. Many (but not all) of them receive flattering reviews.
