By JAMES L. CUMMINS
Special to The Sun-Sentinel
Although the mole is seldom seen, the damage they leave has caused many headaches.
These small mammals — with their soft, brownish-grayish fur and paddle-like forefeet with prominent toenails — spend most of their lives underground. They do not have external ears and their eyes are so small that they appear to be missing as well. Moles have elongated heads, short necks and strong legs that allow them to “swim” their way through soil.
Moles prefer the moist, sandy-loam soils found in gardens, lawns, pastures and golf courses and generally avoid the heavier, clay-like soils. Moles construct elaborate underground tunnel systems with shallow surface tunnels from spring through fall and deeper, permanent tunnels for winter.
All this activity is fueled by a huge appetite. Insectivores, moles eat 75 to 80% of their weight daily, feeding day and night on mature insects, spiders, snail larvae, small vertebrates and sometimes, very small amounts of vegetation. However, earthworms and white grubs are their favorite delicacies.
Moles breed in late winter to mid-spring with gestation lasting about four to six weeks. Annual litters of two to five young are then born anytime from March to May. Though born hairless and helpless, young moles mature very quickly and typically leave the nest about four weeks after birth.
So, how do you control these critters? Since moles are insectivores, the use of insecticides will help by killing off their food supply. Though somewhat limited in its effectiveness, the thought follows that the moles will either leave or starve.
There are also repellents available that may potentially prevent damage, but in using repellents, always follow the directions and application rates provided on the package label.
Moth flakes or mothballs have also been suggested as an effective repellent. Though there have been no documented studies as to their effectiveness, it is believed that placing them into the mole’s runways will cause the mole to leave.
Aluminum phosphide, calcium cyanide and gas cartridges are federally-registered fumigants for use against moles. These are more effective if placed into the deep tunnels, but most of these are restricted-use pesticides and since state-pesticide registrations vary, you should contact your Extension agent.
The most successful and practical method of getting rid of moles is trapping. There are several excellent mole traps on the market and if handled properly will give good results. These traps all depend on the same spring-releasing mechanism so they are comparable in overall value. These traps can be found in general hardware stores or can be purchased online.
James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi, a nonprofit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. The website is www.wildlifemiss.org.
