I don’t know about you all, but my yard has been a spongy muddy mess for the past three months. It is as if Olde Man Winter took the year off and we just have an extended fall and early spring.

The heavy rains, higher than normal temperatures, and lack of frozen ground have caused the Cincinnati mole populations to stay active even now in mid January. Even the wildlife guy is trying to keep the moles from tearing up his yard!

The Eastern Mole is the most common here in the Cincinnati are. They are not all that large, despite the large scale damage they cause. Weighing in at only around 4-5 ounces and only being 6-8 inches in length, these underground insectivores are voracious eaters and will consume 70-100% of their body weight in worms, and on occasion, grubs and other underground insects.

Despite common old wives tales, applying an insecticide to control the grubs in your yard will not have much if any effect on the mole population. Though moles CAN eat grubs and other in ground insects, their main staple of their diet is earthworms, and unless you plan on sterilizing the soil, there is no insecticide out there labeled for consumer use that will rid your lawn of earthworms. Even if you could rid your lawn of worms, you would not want to as earthworms play a vital role in a healthy and vibrant lawn.

In my 11 years of experience, the most effective way to control moles and keep them from continuing to damage your property is the well planned, well timed, and well executed placement of body hold traps along their runs. Allow me to share with you some “trade secrets” on how to properly plan, time, and place traps for moles.

1. Plan Ahead:

   1. You will want to make sure you have all of the tools and equipment necessary for trapping so you are prepared when the timing is right. Make sure you have at least half a dozen body hold traps and spend some time “dry setting” them in your yard so you are familiar with the mechanism of the trap and how to use it. I personally prefer to use the Victor/Woodstream “Out O Sight” mole trap. (amazon affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2NfqoWb) 

   2. Have enough 5 gallon buckets to pair up with each mole trap. I will explain later, but here is an amazon affiliate link for some cheap buckets: https://amzn.to/384Bu8b 

   3. Depending on the soil composition, sometimes in rocky soil  a “mole spade” is useful in setting traps. Though you can use a hand trowel too.

2. Time Your Trapping:

   1. The BEST time to set your traps is going to be right before a good soaking rain or right after. When the rain thoroughly saturates the ground, it brings the earthworms closer to the surface and provides for easy hunting for the moles. This is why having all the traps and tools necessary before hand are so helpful because we all know that Cincinnati weather is EXTREMELY unpredictable.

3. Set Your Traps:

   1. Set your traps along the “runs” being made by the moles. These are the “lines” they create in the ground, not the large mounds. If the runs are not visible, you will be able to feel them as you walk over the ground. It will feel as though the ground is spongy or collapses under your weight. Set the trap over the run, and then place the five gallon bucket over the trap.

   2. Why the five gallon bucket? Moles are very light sensitive and will avoid a run that has light coming through as it possibly exposes them. When placing the traps, you may create a hole in the ground allowing light in and the five gallon bucket covers the trap and the hole keeping the light out. The bucket also acts as a guard to prevent children and pets from interacting with the trap.

Now all you do it wait 12-24 hours, check your trap for catches, and clear and reset traps as necessary. I suggest continual trapping until you go 48 hours with no catches. 

Of course, if this seems like too much to handle and too much of your time and resources, Huntsman Wildlife would be more than happy to rid your lawn of moles. Our mole removal program starts at $165 for up to a half acre yard. Feel free to click on the “Schedule service” tab and set up an inspection appointment that fits YOUR schedule (no 4 hour time windows to deal with).

Till next time… see ya folks.