Mole invasion urgent help needed

[John85]

As strong poisons are no longer for sale does anybody have a effective way of getting rid of the moles .
 I trap them but they invade from my neigbour pasture quicker than I can catch them .The sonicdevices don't work.The naphthaline balls send them just a few meters away just under the next precious plant.Has somebody tried poisening worms with a plant juice like digitalis or aconitum.I am NOT joking.May be there is a pharmacist among the members who can help.
Desperate gardener.

[Brian Ellis]

John the only way is to keep trapping them until there are none left.  As soon as they find that a run is empty one of the remaining moles will take it over, so every time you get rid of one that will be one less.  Otherwise you could have a word with your neighbour about the problem you are having and pay for a professional to come in and eradicate them yourself - it will probably be worth it for a quicker solution.  Good luck

[ArnoldT]

John:

Have a look.

http://www.extension.org/pages/Pocket_Gopher_Damage_Management

[David Pilling]

In my experience, people recommend "mole trees", Euphorbia lathyris, and the moles seemed to leave the garden alone after these were planted, but not necessarily cause and effect.

[zephirine]

From my own experience, I must warn you against getting rid of the moles. In my first garden, we had some, and my husband just couldn't stand them. He trapped them again and again (I sometimes could save them and carry them to an out-of-the-village new home, but not all...).
The result? Three years later there were hardly any left, but...the VOLES took over the now desert galeries...and they started to  do a lot more damage than the moles, as they ate the roots of the plants (moles disturb them, but only look for worms, in fact).
Popular wisdom, in my village, taught me to try to live with the moles. Once they have settled in, and dug enough galleries for their hunt, they only dig a new gallery occasionnally, and living together proved acceptable...
But your situation might be different, I'm not trying to say it is always possible...

[Gail]

A friend has tried poison, shotguns etc etc.  Paid a lot of money for a molecatcher to come in and gas them.  All efforts are only temporary; new moles move in to vacant land.  I think gritted teeth and learning to live with them are the only options - tell yourself how useful all than finely worked soil will be for potting mixtures and if you are lucky enough to see one, moles are very beautiful!

[John85]

thank you all
Zephirine I don't fear the voles.For those I have what is needed to control them.
Euphorbia doesn't work.I have tried that.
I don't know if zinc phosphide is available here.Thanks for telling me.I'll try to find it!!!!!
Gas is very tricky to use( and expensive) as the mole make quickly a stopper in his passages.
Has anybody tried more smelly things than naphtaline balls.I tried exhaust gasses.Ii worked for....two days.

[David Pilling]

Maybe this ancient Jasper Carrot will make the problem seem funny

[ArnoldT]

John:

I once saw a dispenser for zinc phosphide.  It was an inverted 'T' made of PVC.  It was wired to a post.  The size of the opening only allowed a small mole sized creature to enter.   The zinc phosphide was stored  in the long part of the 'T' This prevent any accidental animals from getting the zinc.

[Lesley Cox]

In my experience, people recommend "mole trees", Euphorbia lathyris, and the moles seemed to leave the garden alone after these were planted, but not necessarily cause and effect.

Besides, Euphorbia lathyris, while handsome as a young-to-mature plant, especially in a colony, looks very scruffy as it begins to set seed and the seed gets EVERYWHERE, by the thousands. The latex-like juice from the stems burns too.

John you could follow Anthony's excample and emigrate to New Zealand. We have no moles.

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks for the Jasper Carrot link David. I hadn't met him before. People running from all over the house to see what the roars of laughter are about. Insurance claims.

[PDJ]

Is there any chance of digging a deep ditch between you and your neighbour.  They don't care for water as it floods their tunnels and the soil at the base of the ditch is two soggy for burrows.  

[Armin]

Maybe this ancient Jasper Carrot will make the problem seem funny

David,
I laughed oneself to tears

[John85]

Lesley
Your immigrating services refuse visas for people older than 45!!!!!!!!

[Armin]

John,
I don't have a prove it works but according to an old advisor book moles dislike the smell of human and dogs hair.
The advice is to fill the mole holes with unwashed hair. The smell shall evict the moles.
How many days it is effective and how often you have to replace the hair wasn't mentioned.
Maybe it is a soft way to eliminate the problem. Worth a trial I believe.