# killing moles **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 3, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-moles/531083 "2010-03-03T03:35:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-moles/531083/21 "2010-03-07T01:16:52Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > /sigh > > I was so happy, sitting here watching the snow melt … did you have to remind of what I’m gonna see under there? > > The first thread LSLGuy linked to was mine … see lots of my failed methods there … like, killing the grubs means the moles have to travel farther to find enough worms to eat, therefore, more and longer tunnels … I dream of the [Rodenator](http://www.rodenator.com/rodenator-meyer-industries-idaho). sorry to bum you out. This is exactly what happened to me. The snow melted, and I had paths criss-crossing my entire front yard. Those little bastards. The yard looks bad enough without the mole damage, but with it, it looks horrid. Depressing. ---
**Author:** ![Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kansas_Beekeeper)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-moles/531083/22 "2010-03-07T05:14:28Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Calcium carbide is what you used in old time miners/cavers headlamps. > > Pretty cool stuff. You put water on rocks and you get acetalyne gas out it. > > Army/Navy surplus stores used to carry it pretty regularly as well. If you REALLY are desperate, some caver equipment suppliers can still get it for you. What does acetylene do to moles? It’s flammable to the point of being explosive, but not toxic. If it’s just to suffocate them, propane would be cheaper and easier. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-moles/531083/23 "2010-03-07T15:29:09Z")
A tungsten telephone pole dropped from orbit should take them out. [Rods from God](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment) My folks recently got rid of a gopher by flooding it’s tunnels with a hose. It was relocated. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-moles/531083/24 "2010-03-07T16:08:58Z")
[Jasper Carrott explains how.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fePU5CIHpas) ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-moles/531083/25 "2010-03-08T15:22:15Z")
> [@Kansas\_Beekeeper](#): > > What does acetylene do to moles? It’s flammable to the point of being explosive, but not toxic. If it’s just to suffocate them, propane would be cheaper and easier. Well, we never lit it. Which is odd because On more than one occasion I remember wondering. “Hm, what gas is that and is it flammable? Like would it help kill the moles even more if I lit it?” God looks after fools, I guess. If it’s not toxic then it must just suffocate them. We tried pinch traps and “gopher getter” smoke bombs, stuff with the express purpose of eliminating the denizens of Underyard, but none come close to being as effective as the old calcium carbide & water trick. Probably because it was so fun to do (what kid can resist pouring water on something and watch the resulting bubbles & smoke?) that I’d do it fairly regularly just for something to do. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-moles/531083/26 "2010-03-08T17:41:53Z")
A zany co-worker of mine supposedly used to kill gophers by pumping exhaust into their holes, but it stopped working after he bought a newer pollution-controlled truck. ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-moles/531083/27 "2010-03-08T23:44:03Z")
Get a dachshund or jack russell terrier. I had one of each and they could kill 3-4 a day. They would walk around the yard and stop, cock their head to one side, wait, and then dig like mad. They seldom missed. One good shake and it was over. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-moles/531083/28 "2010-03-09T04:51:21Z")
I echo what **dragonlady** posted. I used to know a guy who leased out his Jack Russell for mole extermination. I once had a cat that would bring home dead moles. They didn’t come from our yard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/killing-moles/531083.md?page=1)