How To Get Rid Of Moles Humanely

If you see fresh mounds of dirt popping up throughout the yard, or you twist your ankle when you sink into a hidden tunnel as you walk outside, it's safe to assume that you've got a mole problem. These chipmunk-sized, nearly blind burrowers, while assisting with insect population control, can do massive damage to your yard and garden if allowed to run free. There are numerous poisons and horrific traps available; however, there are ways to get rid of moles humanely.

Step 1

Look for the active tunnels in your yard. When you see a mole runway, stomp it with your foot to cave it in. Check the next day; if it has been restored, this is where the mole is currently residing.

Step 2

Attempt to catch the mole, alive, by flooding the tunnel. Insert a garden hose in one mound and watch the other mounds to see if the mole surfaces. Gently collect it in a coffee can, then take it to a new location and release it. It may be easier to accomplish this with two people, depending upon how far apart the mounds may be, as moles can move rather quickly.

Step 3

Set a live trap. Dig a hole and remove enough soil to fit a mason jar or coffee can into the hole so that it sits level with the bottom of the tunnel. Cover the tunnel with a board to block out as much light as possible. Check the trap the next day, remove the mole and release it elsewhere.

Step 4

Use a humane repellent, such as Liquid Fence Mole Repellent Worms, that does not kill the mole but disrupts its digestive system and cause it to look elsewhere for more palatable food sources.

Step 5

Set humane killing traps. A humane killing trap is one that will instantly kill the mole when it activates the trap, instead of allowing it to suffer by way of chokin-art.html'>choking or being impaled. While it may not seem very humane, killing the mole is the only guaranteed way to prevent it from continuing to wreak havoc upon your yard and garden.

Step 6

Create gravel barriers around flowerbeds and the garden to prevent the mole from burrowing into those spaces. Dig a trench at least 1 foot wide and 2 feet deep around the perimeter of the bed or garden, then fill with gravel, creating a mound.