- Ants“I spray every year for grubs and I still have moles!.” Pesticide manufacturers have in the past targeted white grub as the moles chief source of food, which their chemicals might control. In fact 80 to 90% of the moles daily diet is met by the organically beneficial, gardener approved soil maker the earthworm. The rest of the moles diet can be millipedes in mulch, ants, pillbugs and other insects found around home foundations, rocks and landscaping timbers. In some areas of the east and midwest moles can feed heavily on periodic cicada (17 and 13 year locust) for the better part of the cicada’s life span. Mole populations will decrease significantly after cicada have emerged and in residential properties, may not be problems for 9 to 10 years after the cicada have emerged.
- MillipedesThe common mole is an insectivore, not a rodent. Its diet is restricted to ground invertebrates such as grubs, millipedes, ants and the like. However, the mole’s primary food source is earthworm, so trying to control white grub and lawn insects is no protection from mole activity. The activity in certain lawns can simply come and go throughout the season. On large properties the activity may gypsy from one part of the lawn to another. This movement or migrating is controlled by climate and ground moisture. Moles will adapt to changes in food supply and source as different insects become available in different places and at different times throughout the year. Moles will jump homerange and readily recolonize other existing or deserted tunnels. Moles may leave an area if disturbed but will usually return when you least expect it. Even without disturbance mole activity may last only a week or two in a particular area. This here-now gone-tomorrow behavior is probably the root of most of the subjective misconceptions that make some home remedies including moleicides appear credible. Test results using chemicals as a control can also be distorted. Two that come to mind were both done in part by the same entomologist at the University of Michigan. He considers some poison baits (chlorophacinone) and Mole-Med to be effective in controlling moles.
- HornetsDeeper mole tunnels can be used by mice or chipmunks once the moles have been removed. This is common when the moles tunnels are around the foundation or in the mulched areas around houses. Ground hornets or yellow jackets often nest in old mole tunnels.
- Yellow Jackets
- Moths
- Moles“Tom Schmidt has studied the animal very thoroughly. He probably has a lot of insight into mole behavior and mole control that even university experts don’t have, because he’s out there on a regular basis working with these animals.”
- Wildlife1997, September 22 – Southeastern Nuisance Wildlife Management Workshop Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina by Clemson University’s Dept. of Aquaculture, Fisheries and Wildlife Entomology Research Services and Cooperative Extension Service.
- RodentsI get a lot of questions concerning poison baits and pellets (strychnine sulfate or alkaloid). These products always list pocket gophers or gophers along with moles on the label. Pocket gophers and gophers are rodents. They have upper and lower incisors especially suited to gnawing hard objects like hard grain type baits and may well consume this form of rodentcide. Moles on the other hand are insectivores. They do not have the dental structure to gnaw grain baits even if they had a taste for them. They probably will not or cannot eat chewing gum (another fairly common home remedy) either. The popular brand of gum seems to be Juicy Fruit with any brand of bubble-gum running a close second. The only controversy that the gum enthusiasts share is weather or not to chew the gum first or leave it unchewed. Since moles can’t eat either, why worry.
- Mice
- Gophers
- ChipmunksMoles are about the size of chipmunks and can weigh anywhere from three to six ounces. Total length can be six to eight inches. Moles have one litter each year. Litter size can be two to six depending on the health of the female. Latitude seems to play a large part in the timing of male rut and litter deliveries. In Cincinnati, I can expect males to run from about the last week in February through the first week in April. Gestation lasts about five to six weeks, which means I can expect litters anywhere from mid April through May.