Finding Your First Home

Posted on: 27 October 2016

Everyone knows that moles are powerful and industrious diggers, but you might be surprised to learn how far and deep mole tunnels can actually run. Perhaps even more surprising is the number of other pests that are only too happy to move in once the mole itself is gone. If you have recently successfully cleared your property of moles, you will need to watch for signs of new underground invaders and take steps to prevent them from moving in as well. These are three common pests that follow moles, along with how to get rid of them for good.

Recognizing Signs of Mice and Voles

Mice and voles are both commonly mistaken for moles, since all three are small, furry, and have a fondness for tunnels. Moles are actually not closely related to these two rodents, however, and mice and voles rarely dig their own tunnels or burrows, preferring to carve pathways through grass or take over an existing den. When given the opportunity, they will take control of old mole tunnels to gain easier access to the tender and nutritious plant roots running through them. They are usually managed through trapping or poison, much like moles.  

Discouraging Hunting Snakes

Wherever there are rodents in dark, enclosed spaces, there will likely also be snakes hunting them. If you live in an area with few or no venomous snake species, this may not be an issue and can even help control vole populations, but you don't want to create an ideal habitat for more dangerous varieties. Snakes are typically trapped and relocated when they become a problem, but it may be easier to simply destroy the tunnels they are hunting in and allow them to clear out on their own.

Driving Away Ground Hornets

Ground hornets live in areas with cicada populations, building their nests in old burrows and tunnels. The good news is that these wasps are less aggressive than some of their family members, but they are also large and pack a wallop when they sting. Extracting them often requires flooding their nest or manually digging it up and removing it.

Finding and Collapsing Old Mole Tunnels

If evicting a never-ending string of pesky tenants from your yard doesn't sound appealing, your better option will be to collapse as much of the mole tunnels as possible. Because of how deep and extensive mole tunnels can be, this job is best left to pest control experts, who will be able to trace and collapse the old burrows with the use of a specialized probe. By limiting access to any of the remaining tunnels, you can encourage a healthy, pest-free lawn and garden and avoid providing other moles an easy fixer-upper. 

For more tips and assistance, contact a service like Garrie Pest Control.