Struggling with ground-dwelling animals in your garden or
landscape can be a tedious task that can quickly turn disastrous if left
unchecked. Once you see the first signs of these subterranean creatures it’s
best to act quick. First figuring out exactly which animal is causing issues
and then determining the best strategy to manage them. The most common
problematic ground-dwelling animals are Moles, Gophers, Shrews, and Voles.
While Moles only eat soil insects most others are vegetarian and will devour the
roots of your prized plant species. When it comes to removing these pests there
are many different methods, each with varying degrees of success. In this
article, we will cover some of the most commonly used methods and compare their
effectiveness against different animal pests.
1. Poisons Or Bait
Poisons or “Baits” are typically designed for specific types
of pests and laid in or near the entrance of their tunnels. Their effectiveness
is disputed and largely depends on the pest, poison, and specific location.
Usually, the poisons are formulated to resemble the natural food sources of
select animals, and thus choosing the right poison is important if you decide
to choose this method. Mole Poisons for example are made to mimic worms which
is the primary food source for moles. Many of the risks associated with poison
make them controversial and not the most recommended form of pest control.
Pros: Easy and
may be effective for some animals.
Cons: Often
ineffective and poses risks to pets and wildlife. Oftentimes poisoned animals
will become the food source for pets or larger predatory animals who will then
suffer from poisoning after consumption of the pest animal. Could also pose a
risk to small children and cause soil contamination.
Effective Against: Gophers,
Moles, Shrews, and other ground-dwelling pests.
2. Traps
Traps are a favorite pest control method for many property
owners and certain types are considered highly effective. They are most
commonly placed at the entrance of a burrow, sometimes relying on the instinct
of the animal to break through anything blocking their entrance. Some traps are
meant to exterminate the creatures while “humane” traps capture the live
animals for relocation. There are many designs for traps but it’s most
recommended to find a design specifically intended for the animals you wish to
remove.
Pros: Relatively
effective and easy to set up.
Cons: Considered
inhumane by some homeowners. Relocation of animals using “humane” traps is
extremely stressful for the animal and often foreign habitats may not be
suitable for survival. Once removed other animal pests of the same species can
quickly replace the habitat if no other precautions are taken.
Effective Against: Moles,
Voles, Shrews, Groundhogs, and other Ground Dwelling Animals.
3. Vibration-Based
Repellents
Vibration-based repellents are some of the most
sophisticated and effective ways to repel underground animal pests. They are
small electronic devices that make vibration, like punches in the ground which
creates a fear response in animals. This causes them to flee and makes the
habitat unfavorable for many different types of animals. Pest Control
Specialists will recommend finding models that are 100% Waterproof, Solar
Powered, and offer a large coverage area. Some units are capable of being
effective for up to 200 square feet! For larger properties, one can easily
install multiple units throughout the property. For increased effectiveness,
multiple units can be placed within an overlapping range. One of the most
attractive features of these devices is that they can help repel Snakes!
Pros: Easy to
install, Safe for Children, Effective against a large diversity of pests,
Humane, and low maintenance.
Cons: May require
internet delivery as high-quality systems are not yet readily available. In
some instances, it may take weeks before becoming effective.
Effective Against: Moles,
Voles, Shrews, Groundhogs, Snakes, and almost all ground-dwelling pests!
4. Pest Control Smoke
Bombs
Smoke Bombs are composed of flammable and toxic compounds,
whose purpose is to create toxic smoke within the burrows of pest animals. They
are typically lit by flame and thrown into the burrows where they poison and
suffocate the animals, most often with toxic sulfur oxides. They commonly come
in packs of 4-6 bombs and are easily found in local garden stores. While they
can be effective at eliminating pests, they don’t always work and take multiple
attempts to be successful.
Pros: Easy to
Use.
Cons: Toxic
Gasses and other residues can be harmful to the soil, plants, and people. There
is also a risk of fire in fire-prone areas. Many times are unsuccessful and
you’ll find the remnants of the smoke bombs thrown out of the burrows by the
very animals you intended to kill!
Effective Against: Shrews,
Voles, Moles, Groundhogs, and other Ground Dwelling Pests.
5. Inundation with
Hose
This is one of the most common tactics employed as an initial attempt to
get rid of moles, gophers, and other ground-dwelling pests. It works just as
the name implies, sticking a hose in their tunnels and filling it with water!
While it makes sense that this would at the very least annoy or possibly drown
the animals, it rarely does anything at all. Most ground-dwelling animals are
prepared for rain and strategically design their burrows so their children and
food reserves will be protected from extreme rain events. Most burrowing
animals are also excellent swimmers! This may be a good tactic if you are
seeing the formation of a completely new tunnel system and you still have a
chance to scare them off before they’ve settled in.
Pros: Easy and no
outside equipment needed.
Cons: Most often
completely ineffective.
Effective Against: None
6. Odor Based
Repellents
Odor based repellents come in various forms such as
granules, liquids, or sprays and are applied in and around the animal pest
tunnels. There are many natural products such as those made with Castor Oil,
Citronella, Garlic, or other plant-based oils. Less natural repellents like
Moth Balls are also common. These serve to create noxious odors that are
intended to make the regions in which they are applied uninhabitable for animal
pests. While these may work temporarily they are rarely 100% effective and
animals may become accustomed to the odor. Certain animals will move mothballs
and other solid repellents away from their tunnels!
Pros: Easy to
apply and readily available.
Cons: Not always
effective and rarely a permanent solution. Applications will have to be made
routinely to have any long-term effect. Odors may be unpleasant to humans and
some are toxic.
Effective Against: Gophers,
Moles, Voles, and Other Animal Pests.
7. Chicken Wire,
Mesh, Fencing, and other Physical Barriers
If you’re setting up a garden then designing it with an
integrated subsurface barrier can have great results in protecting your plants.
It takes a bit more effort to install since you should dig around 2 feet into
the ground to properly install the barrier but this investment can be greatly
worthwhile. The barrier is usually made of chicken wire, mesh, or other
permeable material and placed along the bottom and sides of your bed.
Unfortunately, if you already have your garden installed this may not be an
option. Lawns are usually too large for this method to be implemented.
Pros: Works well
when properly installed.
Cons: More
work-intensive to install and not suitable for developed gardens or lawns.
Effective Against:
Voles, Moles, Shrews, and almost all ground-dwelling animals.
8. Ultrasonic Devices
While Ultrasonic Devices have become popular for repelling many different
types of animal pests their effectiveness for underground pests is disputed.
Many pest control experts claim they are not very effective for underground
pests because Ultrasonic waves are not easily transmitted through the soil and
thus cause little to no effect on the animal pests.
Pros: Easy to install.
Cons: Not considered effective for
underground animal pests.
Effective Against: While above
ground units may repel some animals, underground animal pests are largely
unaffected.
9. Insecticides
Insecticides are primarily targeted towards Moles who primarily feed on insects
like grubs and worms that live in your soil. This will not work for other
ground-dwelling animal pests who primarily consume plant roots and other
vegetation. Insecticides will kill these insects thus removing the food source
for moles. Unfortunately, this method has negative impacts on your soil biology
and may have negative long-term impacts on the health of your plants. Moles may
also cause more damage to the surrounding areas in a desperate search for more
food!
Pros: Removes food source for moles
and may cause them to flee.
Cons: Negatively
affects soil and plant health, temporarily increases disturbance by moles, and
is not a long term solution as moles will eventually come back.
Effective Against: Moles
10. Ignition or
Explosion
This method is ABSOLUTELY NOT RECOMMENDED but mentioned
since it’s commonly brought up in the pest control community. This method suggests
that one should use gasoline or other flammable substances and place them in
the animal burrow for ignition. Other sophisticated systems have been designed
that fill gopher tunnels with highly flammable gasses which are then combusted
using specialized equipment. These methods are highly ineffective and pose
major fire and contamination risks.
Pros: None
Cons: Ineffective and poses a major
fire risk. Pouring gasoline into the soil is never recommended and causes
serious contamination.
Effective Against:
Largely ineffective against most animals.
When it comes to underground pests it’s important to act
fast or you could quickly see damage to your plants, lawn, or the garden space
you treasure. It’s also important to consider finding methods that will not
only get rid of existing pests but also deter them from your home in the
future! For this reason, traps, poisons, and other methods to remove pests are
not recommended because after their removal they can quickly be replaced by
pests of the same species. If you live in an area where you know there are
underground pests one of your best options is using physical barriers in the
design of your garden space. Unfortunately, this takes a much greater energy
investment and cannot be installed in developed gardens. Vibration-based
repellents are highly recommended for their effectiveness, versatility, and the
fact that they are extremely easy to use. If you’ve had lots of difficulties
removing underground animal pests from your location, having overlapping units
of vibrational repellents can be an excellent option! Pest control experts may
use several methods to ensure the removal of underground animal pests.