Mole eradication and prevention

OP
jjohnsonElknewbie
Joined
Mar 16, 2021
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3,654
Location
Western Iowa
poison smoke bombs done correctly is the first thing to try. every customer whose yard I have done with those the moles go bye-bye....I can do an average size yard here in an hour. e-z $.
How do these work?" Do you dig a hole in the run to expose the tunnel and then stick the smoke bombs in there?
 
Joined
May 16, 2012
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3,472
Location
Fargo ND
Are they pocket gophers that are leaving mounds? If yes see above.
If the small voles that tear up the turf especially under the snow in the winter then apply Fall Weed and Feed granular fertilizer. For some reason they hate it. Took care of the issue for me.
 
OP
jjohnsonElknewbie
Joined
Mar 16, 2021
Messages
3,654
Location
Western Iowa
I'm pretty sure these are your garden variety moles. I killed one with a spade several years ago as I happened to see it push up the dirt while I was in the yard. Ugly buggers...
 

3forks

WKR
Joined
Oct 4, 2014
Messages
897
Nothing helpful to add but this discussion reminded me of this guy blowing up his yard with a DIY removal attempt.

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*zap*

WKR
Joined
Dec 20, 2018
Messages
7,763
Location
N/E Kansas
How do these work?" Do you dig a hole in the run to expose the tunnel and then stick the smoke bombs in there?
You 'poke' a hole with your finger into the run.....may have to dig just a little. smoke bomb goes in the hole...have some dirt handy. Light fuse and cover bomb with dirt so no smoke comes out of the hole. The smoke is heavier than air so start uphill. Put one every 15' or so. Then no more moles. Menards around here sells them. You need the bombs, a very small garden trowel and a 5 gallon bucket of loose soil. Make sure you purchase enough smoke bombs and if there are runs everywhere start with eth fresh runs....
 
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OP
jjohnsonElknewbie
Joined
Mar 16, 2021
Messages
3,654
Location
Western Iowa
You 'poke' a hole with your finger into the run.....may have to dig just a little. smoke bomb goes in the hole...have some dirt handy. Light fuse and cover bomb with dirt so no smoke comes out of the hole. The smoke is heavier than air so start uphill. Put one every 15' or so. Then no more moles. Menards around here sells them. You need the bombs, a very small garden trowel and a 5 gallon bucket of loose soil. Make sure you purchase enough smoke bombs and if there are runs everywhere start with eth fresh runs....
Sounds great and thank you. After walking around yesterday, I'm gonna need full court press with traps and bombs. I will check Menards in Des Moines.
 

*zap*

WKR
Joined
Dec 20, 2018
Messages
7,763
Location
N/E Kansas
Sounds great and thank you. After walking around yesterday, I'm gonna need full court press with traps and bombs. I will check Menards in Des Moines.
The main thing is to make sure they burn completely and no smoke escapes the run. The fuses burn fine under loose dirt. Wait an hour and check a few for complete burn.
 

yfarm

WKR
Joined
Apr 24, 2018
Messages
668
Location
Arroyo City, Tx
Had a Dachshund that could sense them either smell or sound and would pounce, dig and kill. Hilarious to watch her work. Brother knew a guy in the country would stand in his yard with a shotgun and shoot when he saw a tunnel move. Had a neighbor that put a spike on a rake handle, would stand over a tunnel and stab downward on movement. Would leave the carcass on a pole in the front yard with a skull and crossbones sign that said death to moles. Crazy attorney.
 
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