How to get rid of moles – 4 humane ways and the harmful methods to always avoid

Seeing your perfectly manicured lawn torn through by a mole is less than ideal to gardeners. But, while these creatures can be nuisances, moles are harmless and should be removed humanely.

In fact, harming or killing moles is not recommended as they can be beneficial to the environment by removing pests that can destroy plants and ensuring the balance of local ecosystems, as well as naturally aerating soil. Any damage they cause to plant life is incidental to their lifestyle.

Here, we provide four ways to get rid of moles in your yard naturally and two ways you should avoid at all costs.

4 ways to get rid of moles in your yard humanely

The first step to getting rid of moles naturally is identifying that it is actually moles responsible for tearing up your yard.

Moles are common spring garden pests and summer pests but luckily, when there’s a mole problem, you are likely only dealing with one because they are solitary animals - unlike when you're getting rid of mice or getting rid of rats,

Common signs of moles include surface tunnels, dying grass and plants as the moles tear up roots, an increase in weeds, and round molehills. These are piles of dirt under six inches tall and shaped like small volcanoes.

Most damage caused by moles can be found in shady, damp areas where more grubs and earthworms are likely to thrive - food sources for moles.

Having spotted these signs and being confident a mole is residing in your yard, you can try these methods to get rid of moles humanely:

1. Get rid of grubs to eliminate a mole's food source

While some grubs, such as earthworms, are beneficial to your yard, cutting back on insects can help limit a mole's food source and force it from your garden.

A good way to do this is by applying beneficial garden nematodes, also known as roundworms, in your yard. Nematodes are tiny, harmless parasites that can combat a variety of pests that moles love to feed on, but leave earthworms alone.

It is important to select the right nematodes when applying them to your garden, as some varieties can damage plant matter. This pack of beneficial nematodes from Amazon is a good choice.

A quicker way to remove surface pests is to make your own homemade bug spray. Whilst this doesn't remove soil grubs, it will reduce a mole's food options and may encourage it out of your yard.

2. Plant marigolds, alliums, and daffodils to discourage moles 

Unlike getting rid of squirrels, moles are easily discouraged by certain plants. Planting marigolds, daffodils, or alliums is an easy and beautiful way to deter moles.

These plants are non-toxic alternatives to the ‘mole plant’ or castor beans, which can be poisonous to other animals. This method works because these flowers, marigolds in particular, are pest-repellent plants producing a pungent fragrance that dissuades moles from making a home in your yard.

Marigolds are also fantastic for companion planting, which means your fruit and veg will benefit from their presence, too.

3. Catch and release the mole 

Catching and releasing a mole yourself is one of the more difficult ways of removing the animal since they very rarely come to the surface. However, it is the most effective and sure-fire way to ensure they have moved on.

The first step is to determine the active runway the mole is using. This can be done by poking holes in the top of a tunnel and keeping an eye on it - you can use anything to do this, like this garden trowel from Amazon. If the hole is repaired within one to two days, you have found an active tunnel.

Placing the trap depends on what kind of trap you are using but all traps should be placed within these active tunnels. This humane trap from Amazon would work well.

Once caught, move the moles a significant distance away from your yard and release them – the best place to do this is in woody and shaded areas so they can thrive and are more unlikely to return.

4. Install solar repellents 

An easy, non-invasive method to deter moles is using a solar-powered mole repellent (from Amazon). These small additions to your garden emit a low-frequency vibration through the soil, which aims to mimic the sound created by another animal digging through your yard – such as a competing mole or predator.

Because moles are generally solitary creatures, the implied threat of another animal should be enough to encourage them to move on, and continued use could prevent further moles from intruding into your space.

2 methods to avoid when getting rid of moles

These methods are used for getting rid of moles, but there are good reasons for avoiding them.

1. Don't use castor oil to deter moles  

Castor oil is a common home remedy for deterring moles due to its strong, distinctive smell. Whilst castor oil will not seriously harm animals or plants, there is some debate over its effectiveness. What’s more, most people use this homemade concoction to try to kill moles, rather than drive them away.

Castor oil can upset a mole's digestive system and cause them to itch. Causing any pain to moles is not an effective way of dissuading them from your yard.

2. Don’t use mothballs to deter moles  

Mothballs are a solidified form of pesticide that has been used to deter moths for years. They work by deteriorating slowly and releasing pesticides in gas form.

Whilst these gases are not as harmful to moles as they are to moths, they will not completely remove the mole problem. Instead, they are more likely to force them to dig alternative tunnels. Due to mothballs' toxic nature, they are also likely to harm the plants you are trying to protect.

FAQs

What brings moles to your yard?  

Moles are insectivores and burrow to feast on a variety of grubs such as earthworms, ants, and crickets. They require quite a lot of food to survive and can therefore dig immense tunnels and holes in your yard in search of insects in very short periods. A high insect and grub population in your soil will attract moles to your yard. Moles will not tend to leave an area on their own until their food source runs out.

After reading this guide, you might realize it isn't actually a mole causing damage in your yard. You might need our guide to getting rid of voles, instead, which are animals that also dig tunnels and surface runways.