Zapping Moles

[Norm]

  My whole back yard is dug up by moles!

  Is there some kind of simple windmill that you

 can make that will generate some really mole

shaking vibrations that will really really drive

moles away?

    I've read that whirlygigs make a vibration but

 they get used to the sound and come back.

     Maybe a brick rubbing across a woodstake

drove in the ground. (My uncle used to do this

to get worms for fishing...really brings up

worms!)

    ....or maybe a weight like a mini-piledriver

dropping on the ground?

           I don't want to use traps or poison...I have a dog and the neighbors have pets...

                 Well anyway I'm open to l

               any humane suggestions.....  

.            Norm.

[tinker]

This is the recipe I use, it works very well to make them move on, I usually have to apply it 2 or 3 times a year.

It keeps them out of the yard most of the spring and summer depending on how much rainfall we get (Kansas).

It won't kill them but will probably make them move to your neighbors.

Safe and Simple Formula:

1. cup castor oil (Use a Cold Pressed, Cold Processed Castor Oil)
   
1. cup liquid dish soap
   
   

Put in 20 gallon sprayer attached to water hose. The sprayer does the

proper ratio and the water evaporates.

This formula is perfectly safe and natural and will not harm pets, lawn,

lakes or streams.

[phil b]

I put 1 pound of HTH, a.k.a. powdered swimming pool bleach, in the hole and cover it with the soil from the mole hill. You can get it anywhere that sells pool supplies. It probably doesn't kill moles, but they don't come back anytime soon. The calcium hyperchlorite? combines with water in the soil and liberates chlorine gas that will travel through their tunnels. Your pets will smell it and won't touch it. Be sure not to put it around your roses or other plants unless your tired of them.

Some people connect a pipe to their lawn mower exhaust pipe and our the other end in the mole's hole. But I haven't tried this. The HTH seems safer and less time consuming than watching my mower run for several hours.

[ghurd]

Wonderfull Harbor Freight sells a mole windmill, about 5' tall, 16" blade dia.

I think it was under $15, tower and all! I looked at it for a while (Why shouldn't I take this home?), but don't recall how it worked at all.

[finnsawyer]

If you want to use a windmill try setting up a system that puts a small current through the ground.  The varmints might detect it and not like it.  Problems with leakage currents in dairy barns sometimes bedevil farmers and reduce milk output.  If this works you can manufacture it and sell it.  Come to think of it, try it without the windmill.  I'd try a 12 volt system for safety.  Bury metal screens or wires in the ground on two sides of the area and then put the voltage across them.  Try both ac and dc.  Have fun!

[Chagrin]

Aside from using traps that kill them this castor oil / liquid soap formula is about the only decent way of getting rid of them.

Also, consider an insecticide to cut down on the available food for the moles.

The best you can ever really hope for is to make your lawn less appealing to the moles.

[iFred]

you sure you don't wanna use a 30 odd 6 and hav some fun with target practice?

Jus kiddin....

but it would be more fun! LOL

I heard that some sounds in the ultrasonic region can make the varmints disappear or at least become annoyed to the point of leaving.. I know they use the for insect repellent and also for some varmints. Look for ultrasonic pest control under the search engines. Works day or night, no chemicals needed, just lots o batteries.

[Norm]

    Chlorine gas huh? I can see where that would get 'em. I used to work in a plant that produced

 chlorine gas(it's one of the elements in salt) we had to wear charcoal filter mask, but ever once in awhile you would get a real whiff of it ....down to the dispensary you would go coughing and choking....one time I got it so bad that I couldn't sleep for about 12 hrs. everytime I would start to doze off I would stop breathing automatic breathing mode had shut down temporarily....Yeah I can see why animals like to steer clear of the stuff!

     Thanks for the help!

[ghurd]

Was down at the Harbor Freight store. The Mole Chaser wind mill tower is a hunk of conduit with a plstic bushing. The blades are flat metal with a kink. The hub has a loose fitting plastic bushing.

I don't see how it would do anything but rust. But it is on sale for $5!