To deal with moles in your lawn, it's important to first understand their behavior and diet. Moles primarily feed on earthworms and grubs, eating up to 100% of their body weight every day. In some areas, they can actually help aerate your soil while controlling pest populations. Unfortunately, their tunneling can cause unsightly mounds and ridges in your lawn, which is why many homeowners seek control measures. If you do not see the telltale signs of long under the surface mounds and runs bumping up it may not be moles. You have voles instead.

Here are some methods to manage moles in your yard:

1. Trapping: The most reliable way to remove moles is through trapping. Place traps in the active tunnels, which you can identify by pressing down sections of the tunnel and observing which areas spring back up overnight. The best types of traps are harpoon traps or scissor traps, which can effectively capture moles when positioned correctly [¹, ², ³].

2. Avoid Using Pesticides: Applying grub control products is generally ineffective for controlling moles because these products do not address the food source for moles, and moles will simply switch to eating other insects [², ⁴]. Additionally, harmful chemicals can adversely affect other soil organisms.

3. Cultural Methods: Maintaining a healthy lawn and reducing soil moisture can make your yard less attractive to moles. Keep in mind that moles can be beneficial to soil health by aerating it and helping break down organic matter [², ⁴].

4. Repellents: While there are castor-oil-based repellents available, their effectiveness can be variable, and they often require repeated applications to maintain their impact [⁴, ⁵].

5. Professional Assistance: If the problem persists or if trapping feels daunting, consider contacting a pest control professional experienced in mole removal.

By combining these methods, you should see a reduction in mole activity in your lawn. If you have concerns specific to your region or the effectiveness of these strategies, please share your location for more tailored advice.