I should have named my dog after the author Jules Verne, or one of the characters found in “Journey to the Center of the Earth” as it appears she is doing her best to dig her way down through a number of locations in the backyard. However, in reality she is defending the homesite from incursions of the infamous mole.
North Carolina has three different species of mole: eastern, hairy-tailed and star-nosed.
The star-nosed mole is listed by the state as a Species of Special Concern. Star-nosed moles are aptly named for the 22 rays that surround their nostrils. Moles and voles are perennial problems for folks in my area. These moles can be found in soils around wetlands in the mountains and coastal plain.
What is the common damage by moles? Moles can cause turf damage from mole hills around tunnel openings or from surface runways. Moles are primarily carnivores eating grubs, worms and other insects.
Often, moles are blamed for damage to gardens and roots of plants, but this damage is usually caused by vegetative-eating voles or other small rodents that are using the larger underground tunnels made by foraging moles to gain access to our gardens’ plant roots.
Solutions?
So what can we do about these pesky paddle-pawed excavators palpating their way through our garden paradise? Well, there are non-lethal options and lethal options. Non-lethal options include education (learn how to prevent conflicts and get along with wildlife) and exclusion (in small areas) that includes using small grid metal hardware cloth to prevent moles from having access.
To be effective, the hardware cloth needs to be buried at least 12 inches into the ground and have a lip bent outward at a 90-degree angle.
Lethal options are a bit more involved and proper pest ID is key. Eastern and hairy-tailed moles are considered pest species and under GS 113-200.2, “it is lawful to use any pesticide registered by the Pesticide Board to control any species of mole other than the star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata parva), provided that (i) all rules regulating the application of pesticides adopted by the Pesticide Board are followed and (ii) pesticides used to control these species are applied in a manner that minimizes hazards to nontarget species.”
When applying pesticides for moles a depredation permit is not needed. In order to apply pesticides to another individual’s property a pesticide license is required. If applying pesticides, remember that “The Label Is The Law” and ensure that they are being applied in accordance to the label.
Please note that using pesticides in any way other than what is described on the label breaks federal law. Moles can be trapped and removed but a depredation permit is needed for trapping moles.
Repellents are of interest to the package of approaches, and products containing castor oil are up near the top of the list, although more definitive research providing scientific evidence is needed to explain the physiological effects regarding “why this appears to work.”
It’s important to recognize that castor bean contains both ricin and castor oil. Ricin is known to be a very dangerous toxin, while castor oil is known to have repellency against several animal, insect and mite species, but is considered non-toxic when ingested.
When using repellents, consider how to drive the rodents off your property or away from the areas being treated to untreated areas. The goal is to start the repellents at one point on your property and gradually move pests toward an exit point off your property, creating protected barriers moles and voles will avoid. As with any hungry pest, once-and-done treatment is not typically the reality. Where there’s food, there’s going to be food eaters.
Makes me think of when my kids were ravenous during school sports season. Reapplication intervals vary depending on the situation and rodent pressure. As I mentioned above, this approach needs more research before conclusive evidence can be collected for an endorsed recommendation.
If you decide to try it yourself, please let me know what your experience is. Contact me at minda_daughtry @ncsu.edu. As much of a Jules Vern fan as I am, I’m curious too.
Minda Daughtry is N.C. Cooperative Extension Agent-Horticulture, Jackson County Center.
