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Although the Extension office fields phone calls about moles all year, it seems like the greatest number of calls come in January through March. Whatever the reason for the obsessive tunneling, homeowners often find the ridges and mounds enough of a nuisance to seek a remedy.Since mole poisons are not legal in North Carolina, the only other option, other than consenting to share your territory with the mole, is a mole trap. A mole trap is a spring-loaded set of spears which must be set over an active run, or tunnel. The first trick then, is locating a good tunnel. Go around the affected area and flatten tunnels in several locations, flagging each spot so you can find it again. In one or two days check for a tunnel that has been pushed back up. Now flatten it again and set the trap. A few more words of advice are warranted at this point. First, these traps are not that easy to set – it takes some muscle – so some gardeners may need help from a friend. Second, there is no guarantee the mole will come back and trip the trigger. If the trap has not been sprung in a few days, start over. All of this can certainly be a test of your persistence and determination. But take heart. You may only have one mole in the yard. According to the literature (which we can only hope the mole has read) moles are territorial and a single mole can cover a territory of a half acre. For more information, call Buncombe County Cooperative Extension at 255-5522.
(Image provided by Wikipedia.)
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