Four ways to clear off moles from your farm

Vincent Shibachi explains how he uses his innovative technology to trap moles in his farm at Mukango village in Ikolomani, Kakamega County.

There are several methods of control but for best results, use a combination of techniques.

Moles cause significant problems in the farms. Moles are insectivores, and the reason they invade your farm is to get the worms, grubs and other soft insect larvae in the roots to feed on. Moles do feed on your crops. But, it is their burrowing activity that concerns farmers. The ridges make mowing difficult in case of lawns, and for crops the root system is affected. Their activity can contaminate hay and silage with dirt which slows down curing.

The first step in controlling the moles is detecting their presence and tunnels. So how do you tell their presence? Mountains of soils that they leave behind as they create their tunnel. There are several methods of control but no single one has proven fail-proof. For best results, use a combination of techniques.

Use of baits

Moles can be effectively controlled using poisoned baits. Proper placement of the bait is key for success.

First, locate the tunnel, then drop the bait into the hole. Close the hole gently using a clod ensuring the soil does not filter through to cover the bait. Place at least three to four baits in holes with fresh mounds. Continue placing baits if the new mounds appear. Grains laced with toxicants are available in agro vets however, they are less effective because moles do not prefer grains as their meal.

Because moles are insectivores, they feed on earthworms and insects, and for that reason, worm-shaped baits are recommended. The bait mimics the mole’s natural food source and has the same size, shape and feel as earthworms.

Trapping

Use of traps is the most common and reliable mole control method. To effectively trap the mole, you need to understand their behaviour. The trap must be set to trap the mole underground, that is it should be set to straddle or encircle the tunnel so that it is not noticed by the mole. A carelessly set trap often will cause the suspicious mole to back up and burrow around or under it. Before setting mole traps, determine which runways are in use.

Moles dig a system of deep tunnels that are more or less permanently used as well as a network of surface runs used for feeding. Some of the surface tunnels are only temporary, so they may not make a good trap set.

Moles are more likely to be trapped in the deep runways, which they reuse almost permanently. This method requires persistence and patience. Some farmers have reported that use of cow dung mixed with pepper gets rid of moles.

The mixture is burned in the burrow to smoke them out. Also planting of Tephrosia vogelii which has poisonous roots that emits chemicals, repels moles from the farm. Urine from pigs and cows can also be used. It is poured into the holes continuously and its smell sends the moles away. Moles don’t like the taste and smell of castor oil. Make a mixture of castor oil and soap and spray in the tunnels. You can also plant marigolds whose smell repels the moles.

Mole repellents

Commercially sold mole repellents, usually castor oil solutions, are also available. Research on the effectiveness of these castor oil commercial repellents has shown some efficacy However, repellents work by moving animals from one location to another by deterring their presence in the area where the repellent is applied. As such, moles will simply move to neighboring lawns and gardens and will continue to cause damage in these areas.