When dealing with a mole problem in your yard, Deborah Giraud, a U.C. Cooperative Extension Farm advisor said: “There’s a couple approaches, but only one that truly works, that would be the mole trap. They are different than a gopher trap. They are specific to moles.” Traps can be found at your local garden center or feed store. Some people put earthworms on the trap because moles are carnivores.

First, you need to know what you are dealing with. Moles make their tunnels just under the surface, so it will feel spongy around the tunnels. Moles push straight out of the ground so it looks like a volcano, where as gophers come up at an angles and throw the dirt in a horseshoe shape.

Drowning the mole doesn’t work; they just push the dirt and go somewhere else.

“Some people say they catch more moles in gopher traps then mole traps. It’s really an art to trap well.”

Before you go about getting rid of the moles consider that, “The moles are aerating the soil. They aren’t disturbing the plant. Cosmetically, they are very annoying, but that’s really the only problem.” Gophers are a different story.

If you wish to remove moles from your face you should phone animal control.

For more information on removing moles and other pests check out http://Ucipm.ucdavis.edu (integrated pest management)