So I Have Moles. Do I Care?

I have what I assume to be moles in my backyard. There are clumps of fresh dirt in short lines in two different spots in the yard.

I get my front yard treated, including grub control, but not the back because I don’t want my dog around the chemicals (and don’t want to pay for organic treatment). My back yard is a quarter acre of grass and crabgrass. I don’t grow any flowers back there or anything. My uncle keeps a vegetable garden but not this year.

It’s basically a big fenced in running yard for my dog that I mow once or twice a week.

So, other than clumps of dirt and the occasional dead mole brought in by my dog, what does a mole infestation mean to me? Do I need to take care of it?

They tend to make walking in the yard an adventure as you stumble over holes and collapsed tunnels. I’ve almost tripped or twisted an ankle numerous times.

They give me garden problems (however unintentional on the mole’s part) but that doesn’t seem to concern you.

Over the winter, they seem to have burrowed between the soil and snow line or something as, when the snow melted, I had little trenches all over my yard. Would have been great if I still played with army men.

If your back yard is just a mess and you don’t care, I guess the uneven surface is your biggest concern since I assume you’ll still be walking out there to mow the grass, get the dog, etc.

But, if not dealt with they will multiply and spread, probably to your front yard.

I thought this was going to be about melanomas.

they will eat your root crops… plant enough to share.

Moles don’t eat plants. They eat worms and grubs. They may disrupt your plantings and their roots in going about their hunting, but they don’t eat them. If something’s eating yer 'taters, it’s more likely pocket gophers.

I wouldn’t mind a mole on my face.

I know there are a lot of variables, but in general dogs should be mowed at least every 2-3 days.
mmm

Know what fits into a mole hole really easily? A dog’s foot. If you’d prefer to limit the chances of your dog breaking its leg, I’d limit the number of mole holes out there.

No I don’t care either, I have a naturalized yard, an emergent growth forest now…and my neighbor mows his yard/empty lot. This makes his yard hardpacked and dusty by summer. The moles, voles, shrews from my yard visit his to dig it up, which makes it soft again and the turtles like that soft unobstructed slope for burying their eggs. Two snappers and a huge painted spotted so far!

Moles can be trapped. It’s much more effective than chemical treatment, and eliminates any danger to your dog.

You can but them yourselves for $10-15, or get an exterminator to come out and do the job for about $100. The exterminator will have 100% success and probably a season-long guarantee. Do it yourself depends on your ability to spot the traps well.

Left untreated, the moles will wreak havoc and make your yard an unpleasant place for your dog.

I don’t mind moles. They are good for the soil. Others hate them. My father used to go nuts trying to get rid of moles (think Caddy Shack). The only reliable method I’ve heard of for getting rid of them is pesticides that kill off their food supply. My father had some results from mole traps. You stick them in the ground straddling the hill formed from a tunnel. A a paddle pushing down the mole hill triggers a set of spikes that drive into the ground and kill the mole if he comes through the tunnel again. Trouble was, there were a lot of moles. Killing a half dozen that way didn’t seem to make much difference.

My Dad moved to a new place that had moles around the walnut trees. He also had an outdoor cat, who took the opportunity to hunt and bring the results to the front door mat. Dad was originally annoyed, but then thought.

He bought some canned cat food. If the cat brought a mouse or a mole, he got a can of food on the mat as soon as discovered. Otherwise he got dry food in a dish in the garage. Birds and lizards were not rewarded. Within two weeks, the cat was concentrating on the mice and moles. Within two years, there were no visible moles.

Of course, that might not be an option in the dog’s area. But it’s a Dad and mole story.

Thanks, this is great info. I figured there was a non-chemical way to do it but I didn’t want to have to do it myself!

Good info, all. I will take care of the mole problem to save my doggy’s ankles.