Provided

Moles are definitely a big problem for this area.  Since moles are a mammal they are a little harder to control than insects or other things that bother us in the yard.  You have to be careful not to harm other mammals in your yard like children and pets.

I recommend a three prong approach when controlling moles:

1.Kill the mole

2.Manage its food source

3.Repel other moles from your yard

Moles tunnel through your yard looking for food. They usually have several main runs through your yard as well as secondary tunnels. The secondary tunnels are where they collect their food and once they have  gone down a secondary tunnel they will not return to that tunnel.  In order to kill a mole with bait or a trap, you must be able to locate the main tunnel.

The best way to locate the main runs is to take a stick and poke holes in the tunnels in your yard.  Next, mark where you made these holes. The next morning come and check to see if the holes are plugged, then you know you have a main tunnel. The mole will only plug holes on the main tunnel.  That evening, open up one of the holes that the mole plugged the night before and place bait 5 feet on either side of the hole that you reopened. When the mole comes back to re-plug the hole, it will have to walk right over the bait. These baits are very tasty to the mole so it will usually eat the bait and die.

Three baits that we regularly hear good results about are Mole Patrol, TomCat and Talpirid.

Controlling the food source is the next most important factor in managing moles on your property.  Using a product like Lebanon Insect Control on a monthly basis will do a good job in managing the mole’s food source.  Monitor your insect populations with a soap solution to determine how often you need to apply insecticides. Use two ounces of lemon dish detergent in a five gallon bucket of water and pour slowly over your soil in the areas where you think you might have insects and see what comes to the surface.  

Castrol products (Mole Repellent, Holy Moly) and other repellents (Mole Stopper) work well as perimeter treatments to keep moles from re-infesting your property. Make a 10-20 foot band treatment around the perimeter of your property.

If your yard is free of moles right now, you can skip No. 1 and just manage their food source and repel them at the perimeter of your property.  Be sure your yard is free of moles before you skip No. 1 in this process.  If you take away the mole’s food source and he is in your yard already, he will really tear up your yard looking for food!

As it gets cooler, it is the time to kill them. Try to take away their food source, and try to repel them from your property and you should have good luck against the moles. Beware, moles usually get more active as the temperature cools.

(Bill Lamson-Scribner can be reached during the week at Possum’s Landscape and Pest Control Supply, 481 Long Point Rd in Mt. Pleasant (971-9601), 3325 Business Circle in North Charleston (760-2600), or 606 Dupont Rd, in Charleston (766-1511).  See more columns at www.moultrienews.com.)