Mole Holes and Voles
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Mole Holes and Voles
Mole Holes and Voles Go Away
Yes, I also have a few tunnels even in my soil-challenged Missouri hillside. That’s because I have wood-chipped lined paths that have been decomposing and turning into soil. The soil then is home to some of the vole’s favorite food. But wait, I am getting ahead of myself.
It is helpful to first confirm that you have moles and/or voles in your garden. Hard to do since we usually don’t see them but they do leave tell-tale signs:
Moles leave those holes with raised piles of soil like tiny volcanos.
Voles make those long skinny tunnels of soil.
Are they bad? Years ago my hillside soil was so rocky I appreciated the few voles I had. They helped loosen the little soil I had so I used their runs to plant but they didn’t stay long. I didn't have enough food sources for them. They didn’t eat the plants but apparently they didn’t want their lair decorated with plant roots.
Some of my gardening friends have tried some traditional vole and mole deterrents:
Vole and Mole-repellent plants such as marigolds, alliums and castor beans. Mixed results on how well those worked.
Soil repellents, which usually include castor bean oil. Again mixed results.
Vibrating stakes and wind-powered pinwheels; moles and voles are sensitive to vibrations. Again mixed results. I have always suspected those pinwheels produced electricity for mole and vole washer dryers so never used them myself.
Burying hardware cloth around a garden perimeter can be hard to do but can work as long as the wire underground can reach about 3 feet underground. Impossible to even try on my limestone hillside.
Dogs and cats can work well to keep out unwanted garden visitors. I prefer to see cats inside so they don't also prey on birds but dogs can be a good mole and vole deterrent.
Another friend has tried dropping coffee grounds and hot pepper flake mixtures into their holes. She said they’ve either left or developed a taste for a hot morning brew, she’s not sure which one.
What has worked is treating soil with cayenne powder poured into their hole making living conditions unappetizing. Other smelly items in the same vein include garlic or onion, fish, rotten food especially cheese and yogurt. Make sure it’s down south of your deck and open windows or you may be tempted to leave, too.
The best strategy to encourage moles and voles to leave is to take away their food source, grubs. Treating your soil with nematodes will remove the grubs. Grubs will eclose into Japanese beetles so they may be worth the investment to keep your garden free at both ends. It can take a season but once the food source is gone, the moles and voles should leave as well.
What is your favorite mole and vole deterrent?
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Charlotte
