For many Homeowners “How To Get Rid of Moles in Yard” is an all too common question. After all, you can spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on lawn treatment and Lawn Equipment – only to have it ruined in one day by Hungry moles.
This Guide includes the Best way to get rid of moles in your yard. Some methods are humane but less effective – while others are specifically designed to kill moles in lawns – and take care of the problem quicker.
Today we describe both methods for how to remove moles from your lawn.
The first thing to do is determine whether you have moles and not some other varmint in your lawn and, if they are moles, how to find and mark Active mole tunnels.
Video: How to Identify “Active” Mole Tunnels in your Yard:
Once you confirm active moles in your yard, it’s time to take steps to remove them.
Knowing How to remove moles in your lawn can be tricky, requiring determination and patience.
As you follow the guide below, which includes the five best options for removing moles, we’re sure one of these methods will be the right option for you and your lawn.
Best Way To Get Rid of Moles in Yard (No-Kill)
These are the two best “No-Kill” methods to Get Rid of Moles for those who prefer to remove moles from their lawn – without harming them.
Both methods involve locating live mole tunnels and capturing them alive. The captured moles are then released to a remote location away from your home.
Option #1 – Catch and Relocate Moles (No-Kill)
Perhaps the Most Humane (and challenging) Way to get rid of moles is to Trap moles “Live” – and relocate them to a field or somewhere far away from your yard.
Step 1 – Gently flatten the raised tunnels you see in your yard with the back of a shovel.
Step 2 – Sit quietly and downwind for moles to return to their tunnels. Be aware that moles are extremely sensitive to sound and movement above ground, so if you or your kids are stomping around your yard, you’re unlikely to see any movement from moles.
Step 3 – Quietly move to the raised tunnels with two shovels to a raised tunnel and plunge the shovels into both sides. Dig between the shovels, and remove and relocate moles from your yard.
This process will require handing moles with gloves or a small bucket. Repeat until they’re gone.
Option #2: Use “Live” Mole Traps (No Kill)
Another more humane Way to get rid of moles is to capture them using “Live Traps.”
This is another safe way to remove moles without killing them. Live Mole (Mouse) Traps are placed in an active tunnel without disturbing more dirt than neccessary.
Bait the trap with worms or grubs, or crickets. The moles enter but cannot exit the trap. Remove and relocate captured moles.
One of the best options we’ve found is from CaptSure, (pictured above), which is sold with two traps that can be used for mice, moles, chipmunks, or moles.
Best Way to Kill Moles in Your Yard
The following mole removal methods involve either poisoning or killing moles with spring-loaded traps.
For those who prefer to catch and release moles instead – we recommend you skip the following two options – but check out Option #5 below.
Option #3: Kill Moles with Killer Worm Bait
Using Mole Worm Bait – such as Tomcat Killer Worms is our first choice as the most cost-effective and expedient way to get rid of moles.
I have used Tomcat worms on several occasions and with great success, and while it may take a few more days to completely rid your lawn of moles, it Works.
- To use mole killer worms, seek an active tunnel (look for fresh raised dirt).
- Using a long stick, poke holes in the tunnel’s center about 4 feet apart.
- Use rubber gloves (never bare hands) and place approximately 1/4 of a killer worm in each hole.
- Sit back and wait for any New mole activity, then repeat until the activity is gone.
- The moles will eat the worms and then die in a tunnel, composting in place.
Caution: Keep this product OUT of the Reach of Children. They resemble gummy worms – And are poisonous.
Option #4: Kill Moles with Spring-Loaded Traps
Another very effective but less humane way to “remove” moles is using Spring Loaded Metal Traps.
The most effective trap we’ve discovered is the Wire Tek – Easy Set mole trap (sold as a two-pack).
We like this contraption the best for three reasons: 1) It is by far the easiest mole trap to set up and use; 2) If you are going to kill moles, we think this is the quickest and most humane way of killing moles, and 3) It Works!
Check out the Wire Tek “Easy step” video below:
Spring-loaded metal traps such as the Victor “Out-of-sight” mole trap (video below) are sold individually and are designed to grab and pinch moles in place until their dead. The Victor trap is effective, but in our opinion, is less humane and requires considerable time (and digging) to set up.
To use spring-loaded traps, look for fresh mole tunnels and carefully flatten down a small section. Set the traps by activating and setting the spring fully cocked.
When a mole returns to dig the tunnel again, the trap is activated and propels the device downward and into the tunnel – killing the mole.
Option #5: Kill The Moles “Food Source”
Moles have huge appetites eating up to 70% of their body weight daily.
A mole’s favorite diet is earthworms, but moles also eat their share of centipedes, millipedes, grubs, snails, and crickets. Most of which can be controlled by pesticide lawn treatments.
Once you have killed the mole’s source of food, it won’t be able to eat and will move elsewhere – Like the Neighbors yard 🙂
Conclusion
As we were able to cover in this short article, there are many options to choose from when you want to get rid of moles in your yard.
For some homeowners, the idea of killing moles is off the table – however, they still need to know how to relocate the little varmints safely.
For others who may be a little less “squeamish,” the answer to their mole problem may be to find a way to exterminate moles as quickly as possible.
We hope one of the five options we provided suits your approach and helps you discover How to get rid of moles in your yard fast!
References & Additional Resources
- Identifying and Removing Ants – University of Minnesota
- How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs – Besthomegear.com
- How to Avoid insecticide poisoning in dogs and cats – Petcarerx.com
- What happens when a Queen ant dies? – Sciencing.com
- Blow Ant Piles Away a Cordless Leaf Blower – Besthomegear.com
- How To Get Rid of Gnats Indoors – Besthomegear.com
