You can deter moles with a mole repeller that sends vibrations or sound into the ground; if you really want to be rid of them in a field or lawn, a mole trap in the active tunnel is the usual method. There is equipment here for both: the Knock Pest solar mole repeller and Knock Pest mole traps (galvanised, zinc-plated and with chain), the Farmer Super mole trap, the Yankee Junior and Super with handle and the scissor-type mole and water vole trap.
Deter or catch?
A repeller is animal-friendly and takes little work, but the effect varies with the soil and the mole, and a deterred mole often looks for a spot right next to the old one. That is fine in a garden with a neighbouring plot where it does no harm. Trapping is the choice on grassland where molehills contaminate feed or damage mowing machines. A trap kills quickly if it is placed correctly.
Which trap?
- Pincer trap (such as the Knock Pest traps and the Farmer Super): a classic trap that you set in the tunnel. The version with chain can be pegged down, so you can easily find it again.
- Trap with handle (Yankee Junior and Super): you set it from above and your hands stay out of the tunnel.
- Scissor type for moles and water voles: suitable for the wider tunnels of a water vole.
Finding the active tunnel
Tread down the fresh molehills or probe with a stick between two hills to find the tunnel, and check a day later which one has been reopened or raised again. Set the trap in that tunnel, not in the hill itself. After setting, make the opening dark again with a piece of turf, because a mole avoids light and draughts. Many trappers wear gloves, so as little scent as possible is left behind. Check the trap daily.
Rules and more
In the Netherlands, catching moles on your own land or with the land user's permission is allowed; if in doubt, check your province's current rules. In other countries, check the local rules before you start. For mice and voles in the garden, there are separate mouse traps. Moles and martens together are in moles and martens, all pests in pest control.
Frequently asked questions
Does a solar-powered mole repeller work?
Sometimes. The effect depends on the soil and the mole itself, and a deterred mole often only moves a short distance. On grassland with a lot of damage, trapping is more reliable.
Where do I put a mole trap?
In an active tunnel between two fresh hills, not in the molehill. Then cover the opening well so no light gets in.
Am I allowed to catch moles?
In the Netherlands you may catch moles on your own land or with the land user's permission, though rules can differ per province. In other countries, check the local rules first.