How to Naturally Repel Moles

Mole repellents are usually toxic and dangerous to children, ground water, soil grubs, birds and other wildlife so they are not beneficial to use. To naturally repel a mole does not mean it will move far away but it will cause it to move to another area so you can at least keep your lawn and garden mole free. Moles are actually beneficial to the soil and mankind as they aerate the soil and eat large amounts of pesky insects, sometimes even wasps and yellow jackets, but they are also known to eat bulbs and seeds so that can be a problem along with mounds of dirt everywhere. This is one of a few safe methods to repel these little critters.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton balls
• Essential oils

Instructions

1. 

   ~~Buy Some Mint or Eucalyptus Essential Oil~~

   Either peppermint or spearmint will do as well as eucalyptus oil which is a strong smell that moles do not like. While you are out getting the oil, pick up a bag of cotton balls also, if you don't have any at home.

2. 

   ~~Find the Mole Entrance~~

   Take some cotton and a bottle of oil with you as you find out where the entrance to their tunnel is by following the trails of softened dirt. A single mole can travel at the speed of 15 feet an hour so there may be many tunnels that lead to an entrance. The entrance is usually near the center of the mound and slightly covered but you can put a stick in it and dig out some of the dirt. Other times the entrance is quite visible as just a hole in the ground.

3. 

   ~~Put Oil on the Cotton~~

   Pour enough drops of oil on the cotton to get it fairly moist so the smell will permeate the entrance and down into the mole tunnel.

4. 

   ~~Push the Cotton Down as Far as You Can~~

   Shove the saturated cotton down into the tunnel as far as you can with a stick. Do this to all entrances that you find and then you can even push small pieces of the moistened cotton through the dirt into the trails at various spots to keep the smell repelling the mole as it travels underground.

5. 

   ~~Cover the Hole Back Up with Dirt~~

   Take a stick and push some dirt over the entrance after pushing the cotton down into it. Repeat every few days to give the mole a strong repelling smell and a hint to move along to different territory.

Tips & Warnings

• The best time to concentrate on repelling moles is in the early spring or late winter before the babies are born.

• To help control moles, you should step on all the tunnels to cave the dirt back into them and plant wood hyacinths and other bitter root bulb flowers around the garden and areas of the yard.

• Other natural repellents include Castor oil and dish soap mixed together and sprayed on the tunnels and plants, chili powder or red pepper and garlic powder sprinkled into the tunnels every few days, and any variety of hot peppers packed into the openings and tunnels.

• Never use moth balls or anything else poisonous as children could easily digest these.

Resources

• Living With Wildlife