Moles damage the root systems of plants and grasses throughout the lawn. They do not eat at your shrubbery, but rather tunnel under it, uprooting the plants. Moles are searching for worms to ingest, which are friends to the soil and your plants. Trapping moles is the most effective way to rid the yard of them without harm to your pets or children. Those mounds of dirt in the middle of the lawn lead to tunnels that are carrying these furry pests around.
Research your state's laws to make sure trapping moles is legal in your state. Some states prohibit this activity.
Set the traps in the spring when mole activity is first identified. Purchase a scissor trap for the most effective mole trapping experience. There are other trap varieties available, but a scissor trap will work the best in the tunnel.
Inspect the lawn for the most active mole tunnel and path. This is usually in a straight line against the curb or border of the lawn. Tunnels with curves and bends are for food hunts and storage.
Dig a hole the width of the trap to expose the tunnel below. Place a mound of compacted dirt in the center of the tunnel, acting as a roadblock.
Set the trap according to the package directions. Apply the safety hook when the trap has been “cocked.”
Align the trap with the hole in the tunnel so the mole will have to pass through one set of the trap jaws before encountering the dirt roadblock in the center of the tunnel. Unhook the safety hook and back-fill the hole lightly with loose soil to seal out light from entering the tunnel.
Wait 24 to 48 hours and check the trap for mole activity. Remove the trap, discard the mole and repeat the trapping process. Continue this until all mole activity has ceased in your lawn.
