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Moles

LynfromSeaLynfromSea Posts: 133
in Problem solving
Help please! I have an army of moles moving in from the field next door. I bought a battery operated device that emits a very high pitched sound but it doesn’t appear to be detracting them and I’m sure they are aiming for our lawn. Everywhere I step on the gravel in my utility area it’s squidgy. They are doing a wonderful job of churning over my soil. Any advice would be so welcomed.
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  • LynfromSeaLynfromSea Posts: 133
    Your comments made me giggle!
    I think I will try the petrol bombs Thank you
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I'm trying the pickles at the moment, I'm a bit worried about putting petrol in the soil. My experience has been, so far, that the only really effective solution is the mole man. You have to harden your heart and accept that it's a choice between everything you have achieved and the life of the mole. You wouldn't hesitate if you had rats or vine weevils and while I genuinely wish to preserve most life in my garden, there are limits.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    Well, I'm generally live and let live, but I live in the country,  too, and in Autumn  the rats climb up inside the walls into the roof-space. I can't accept that!
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Sorry about the moles. We had them in the last garden and nothing deterred them. I tried every method I could find, from electronic to anti mole bulbs, prickles in the runs, petrol soaked cloth, Jeyes fluid. You name it we tried it. The Berberis branches in the runs were hilarious. It stopped them using that run so just just dug another alongside. Neighbours cat was the most useful. He used to catch at least one mole a week. Not that he depleted the numbers though, the hills still were there every morning.
    I gave up trapping the things. There were just too many.
    Round here the Mole catcher is incredibly expensive £50 to come out and £10 per mole caught.
    Have fun!
  • LynfromSeaLynfromSea Posts: 133
    Oh no! I guess I’ll just have to accept them. At least they churn the soil over.
  • IlikeplantsIlikeplants Posts: 894
    I stuck bamboo poles down every hole or suspected tunnel topped with a plastic bottle. Not pretty but I hoped it was a deterrent with the noise made in the wind or if they knocked against the pole. Also used the sonic noise emitters against them and any stray cats. I don’t know if the sonic things still work but touch wood haven’t had evidence if either creatures since.
  • JellyfireJellyfire Posts: 1,139
    Ive recently tried the pickled onions, and so far (tough wood), it actually seems to have deterred them for now
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    That’s expensive,  my OH could make a fortune at that rate.  He’s expert at finding the runs. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    LynfromSea   As it seems you're in a rural area, there'll be someone nearby with a 12-bore shot gun.  As soon as you see a hill moving, my method is to stand astride it - that'll scare the mole away for a few minutes - with the gun pointing straight down at the hill, ready to fire.  After 5-10 minutes the soil will begin to move again and you pull the trigger.  The mole never knows a thing and it's always worked for me.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I'm not sure I want a bloke with a twelve bore stamping about on my borders any more than I want the moles!!! Besides, I have NEVER seen any sign of movement, most of the tunnelling seems to happen at night. Perhaps my moles heard about the twelve bore!
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