Lawn Care Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Gophers/moles……I want them gone!

Jump to Latest
21 - 40 of 43 Posts
#21 ·
Youngandfree said:
I put down Grub killer in my own yard, with a few poison worms. No trapping, and the next spring no evidence of moles anywhere. Installed with 2 areas of tunnels, with a tunnel in between them. Nothing at all last year.
Click to expand...
I’m curious - did you actually check for grubs before doing a grub app or did you just base your app on the mole activity?
 
#22 ·
sidemouse said:
I've taken a piece of rebar, pound it in the ground somewhere in the turf area where moles abound...
Then stick a windmill made for the purpose on it.
Mole chasing windmill, that is.
They are specifically made for this, the noise it makes when rotating propagates through the rebar into the soil and keeps rodents away.
You have to be careful with your hands, the edges of the blades is rough unfinished steel so it can cut you if you're careless around the device but it works like a charm.

And it's low impact, no damage to the environment, once and done, relatively inexpensive.

View attachment 510914
Click to expand...
Your basis is correct. Moles do not like disturbances or sunlight. It might take 100 windmills in your lawn to rid them tho. Most of the tunnels you see are feeding tunnels. They rarely use these tunnels on a regular basis. If you set up on a main tunnel from the nest to the feeding area, you might see better results but I’d assume they’d just dig a new tunnel.
 
#23 ·
Cut n Strut said:
Your basis is correct. Moles do not like disturbances or sunlight. It might take 100 windmills in your lawn to rid them tho. Most of the tunnels you see are feeding tunnels. They rarely use these tunnels on a regular basis. If you set up on a main tunnel from the nest to the feeding area, you might see better results but I’d assume they’d just dig a new tunnel.
Click to expand...
No man, you're overthinking this.
Just set it up, one windmill covers a certain area mostly in a circle... You may need more than one and even several but I've only ever used one myself, you'll want to read the instructions.

On another note they love soft soil and thus will be far more prevalent in irrigated lawns.
Yes, those customers with the perfect lawns with their irrigation systems, annual core aeration, all that actually softens the ground... So another way to slow them down is to curb the watering, especially if like some customers they water daily or even twice a day.
Shady areas where the soil stays moist is another area they love.

On the watering, if I have things my way my customers water 2 maybe 3 days a week.
Deeper, longer, but far less frequent.

Deterrents, we're not going to war with the underground tunnelers.
We're just gently guiding them out of our way.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#25 ·
sidemouse said:
No man, you're overthinking this.
Just set it up, one windmill covers a certain area mostly in a circle... You may need more than one and even several but I've only ever used one myself, you'll want to read the instructions.

On another note they love soft soil and thus will be far more prevalent in irrigated lawns.
Yes, those customers with the perfect lawns with their irrigation systems, annual core aeration, all that actually softens the ground... So another way to slow them down is to curb the watering, especially if like some customers they water daily or even twice a day.
Shady areas where the soil stays moist is another area they love.

On the watering, if I have things my way my customers water 2 maybe 3 days a week.
Deeper, longer, but far less frequent.

Deterrents, we're not going to war with the underground tunnelers.
We're just gently guiding them out of our way.
Click to expand...
I’m not overthinking anything. You’re doing this on your lawn, I do this on 100+/- lawns and charge for the service. I can’t charge someone with “maybe” results.

Not too mention, I’m sure my customers would absolutely love me putting up several windmills, not aerating, and practically letting their nice lawn to into a windmill farm. No bro, just no.
 
#26 ·
Cut n Strut said:
I’m not overthinking anything. You’re doing this on your lawn, I do this on 100+/- lawns and charge for the service. I can’t charge someone with “maybe” results.

Not too mention, I’m sure my customers would absolutely love me putting up several windmills, not aerating, and practically letting their nice lawn to into a windmill farm. No bro, just no.
Click to expand...
Me too so how about telling us what it is you do and leave it at that instead of going around throwing shade on everyone else's posts, we're only here to help. If you don't like the way we do things that's fine but there's no one method that's perfect. Trapping isn't perfect either but it works for you, that's great, windmills are what I use so you have to do what works for you and we throw the ideas out there and the OP can then decide.

And I'll save the world water shortages vs proper agricultural irrigation practices discussion for another time.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#27 ·
sidemouse said:
Me too so how about telling us what it is you do and leave it at that instead of going around throwing shade on everyone else's posts, we're only here to help. If you don't like the way we do things that's fine but there's no one method that's perfect. Trapping isn't perfect either but it works for you, that's great, windmills are what I use so you have to do what works for you and we throw the ideas out there and the OP can then decide.

And I'll save the world water shortages vs proper agricultural irrigation practices discussion for another time.
Click to expand...
Not throwing shade, just sharing my knowledge. I never said you were wrong. Nor did I discuss anything irrigation wise. No need to get all sideways. Your windmill method could work, it’s just not practical for most, that’s all I was saying.
 
#29 · (Edited)
Of course, you can pump high pressure water into the tunnels--and then wait for the moles to surface--coughing and sputtering.
The challenge is finding a way to charge the customer for this. Maybe you have a "special solution" that contains mole repellant ( surfactant, plus insecticide, maybe that coyote urine product, blue dye?). He will not come back.
Be ready to hit it with a shovel or soil probe.
Or better, set a couple spear traps, just before you start the pump.
There must be a way to train a dog to catch moles.
Are there guys who will use a dog? Train your own dog?


AND
www.homedepot.com

Just Scentsational 8 oz. Bottle of Coyote Urine Small Animal Deterrent RS-8 - The Home Depot

8 oz. bottle of Coyote Urine. Predator urine is one of the best ways to frighten away unwanted small animal pests including rabbits, deer, raccoons, skunks, possum, squirrels and chipmunks. The scent of an active predator in the area is a deterrent to most animals of prey. Coyote urine has long...
www.homedepot.com

Can you make a big noise in the tunnel? Eagle scream? Fire cracker?
 
#31 ·
Cut n Strut said:
Your basis is correct. Moles do not like disturbances or sunlight. It might take 100 windmills in your lawn to rid them tho. Most of the tunnels you see are feeding tunnels. They rarely use these tunnels on a regular basis. If you set up on a main tunnel from the nest to the feeding area, you might see better results but I’d assume they’d just dig a new tunnel.
Click to expand...
Any tips on how to find the nest and main tunnel to the nest?
 
#34 ·
We moved to 5 1/2 acres back in Oct. The previous owner had a pretty bad mole issue. So far I’ve killed 17 with the easy set trap. I’ve found that the moles work mostly after 3pm or that’s when I would notice the most activity. I would do my walk about 3 and set traps on anything that I didn’t walk down the day before. Usually the next morning the trap would be sprung.

For the deep digging moles that leave the big mounds of dirt I’ve had(atleast I think I have because of lessened activity) really good luck with the Talpirid bait worms.

Good luck killin the varmits
 
#35 ·
Crazy 4 grass said:
Any tips on how to find the nest and main tunnel to the nest?
Click to expand...
I usually locate them under sheds, in flower beds, practically anywhere youy bot running a mower over or the least used part of a lawn.

I use a dowel rod and poke holes in every “run” on a property and flag the open holes. Come back in 24 hours and see which tunnels they blocked with dirt. Remove all the flags that are still marking the open/unused tunnels. The remaining flags will show you the main tunnel and a few feeding tunnels(most traveled tunnels). Those are the “runs” I set traps in.
 
#36 ·
Crazy 4 grass said:
I've tried the nash loops, the spikes, so far I've had the best luck with the step on easy set traps.

One of my cats actually caught a mole the other day. I was amazed and thrilled!
Click to expand...
The scissor traps catch the most moles for me. I also use an underground trap, it’s like a glorified mouse trap. You have to dig and set those traps in the tunnel. I cover the opening with a piece of pvc board(can cover with practically anything that will block the sunlight). I use the underground traps along sidewalks, edges or for tunnels that are deeper than the scissor trap can go.
 
#37 ·
Cut n Strut said:
The scissor traps catch the most moles for me. I also use an underground trap, it’s like a glorified mouse trap. You have to dig and set those traps in the tunnel. I cover the opening with a piece of pvc board(can cover with practically anything that will block the sunlight). I use the underground traps along sidewalks, edges or for tunnels that are deeper than the scissor trap can go.
Click to expand...
I agree on the scissor traps. The step on easy set traps are of the scissors variety. Thanks for the tips sir.
 
Discussion starter · #38 ·
Todays update.
I swear this is true. I did a smoke/gas stick on a hole earlier this morning. Even did the blower method on it…
Anyhow, this evening, a new mound appeared right where I was earlier this morning. So I walk down to see what’s up, And I sh!t you not, the used gas stick was sitting right there on the lawn right next to its mound.
I mean come on….that’s some caddyshack stuff right there. I had to call my girlfriend down to see it, just so someone could share in my pain/frustration.
 
#39 ·
Garrett1234 said:
Todays update.
I swear this is true. I did a smoke/gas stick on a hole earlier this morning. Even did the blower method on it…
Anyhow, this evening, a new mound appeared right where I was earlier this morning. So I walk down to see what’s up, And I sh!t you not, the used gas stick was sitting right there on the lawn right next to its mound.
I mean come on….that’s some caddyshack stuff right there. I had to call my girlfriend down to see it, just so someone could share in my pain/frustration.
Click to expand...
I feel your pain man. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve showed up to check a trap and the stupid things tunneled around the trap. It drives me insane.
 
21 - 40 of 43 Posts
About this Discussion
42 Replies
15 Participants
Last post:
Trees Too
Lawn Care Forum
posts
7.2M
members
230K
Since
1999
A forum community dedicated to lawn care and landscaping professionals and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Lawn Mowing Pesticide & Herbicide Application 🔧 Mechanic and Repair Business Operations Lawn Mowing Equipment