Moles are remarkable animals with enormous productivity. Many garden owners feel this in their own garden when the animal produces heaps of earth in large quantities on the area. But the hills do not necessarily have to be equated with the suffering of gardeners.

Moles are not particularly popular in the garden

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Remove Molehills
  3. How are molehills formed?
  4. recognize molehills
  5. frequently asked Questions

    6. the essentials in brief

    • Fighting moles is forbidden. Disturbing noises and smells scare away the mole, so that the mounds can then be removed.
    • Moles are very active and can spoil an entire garden with mounds of earth. This offers the gardener a number of advantages. They don't go into hibernation.
    • Spotting a molehill is not difficult. The burrowing activity of moles differs from that of voles.

    What to do against molehills?

    Before you eliminate the molehill, you should identify and drive away the culprit. With all measures you have to weigh up whether they really make sense. Otherwise you can quickly come into conflict with the nature conservation law. Therefore, do not use any chemical agents, but use gentle home remedies.

    Fighting forbidden

    The mole is under protection in Germany and must not be killed

    In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the mole is listed as a specially protected species under the Species Protection Ordinance. According to the Federal Nature Conservation Act, it is forbidden to kill, capture or injure specially protected species. Anyone who breaks the law risks high fines in the five-digit range.

    Remedies against molehills

    To get rid of molehills, you need to scare away the mole. Simply removing the molehills further exacerbates the problem as the animals speed up their digging activity. There are some home remedies that will effectively drive away the mole. In order to be successful, the funds must be distributed in the underground passages at regular intervals of a few meters. Provide the mole with an escape route so that it can leave the garden.

    medium application effect
    Sounds buried metal bars frequent tapping with a stone less promising
    smells Plant manure, patchouli oil, cat litter bring evenly into corridors and hills effective with regular renewal
    obstacles Lawn curbs, root barriers Lay in the ground in front of the beds and lawns successful prevention

    Bottles in Molehills

    Empty bottles buried directly in the molehill and in the corridors are intended to disturb the animals. The neck of the bottle protrudes about ten centimeters from the ground, so that the wind generates sounds when it flows in and out. These noises propagate underground in the corridors. In order for the method to prove its effectiveness, the bottles must be distributed over the entire area. Otherwise, the mole will quickly find alternatives where it won't be disturbed.

    'Moles have sensitive senses. They are sensitive to disturbing noises and smells.

    Leveling molehills - caution is advised

    Leveling molehills is not very effective

    The molehills are not just accumulations of excess earth material. They serve as vital ventilation systems so that the mole gets enough oxygen in its underground burrow. The animal produces a lot of carbon dioxide, which accumulates in the tunnels. When you level a molehill, the mole quickly digs new ventilation holes for itself. This way he avoids the danger of suffocation. As a garden owner, you should switch to other measures.

    When the mole is gone:

    • Remove soil and use as potting soil for fastidious plants
    • Spread piles with a rake to provide fresh soil for surrounding vegetation
    • Wash away hills with garden hose
    • Press piles in and kick them flat

    Getting rid of molehills with the lawnmower?

    The heaps of earth can be easily distributed with the lawn mower and, at best, the earth ends up in the grass catcher with the lawn clippings. But caution is extremely important with this measure. When moles push the earth up, small stones can also get into the molehill. These are not immediately visible and leave damage to the knives.

    How are molehills formed?

    A mole in the garden does not meet with the goodwill of most hobby gardeners. Molehills are not welcome in beds or on the lawn. The mammals are capable of piling up to 20 mounds of earth per day. Plant roots can be loosened or damaged by digging underground. Nevertheless, the mole is not a plant pest because it feeds exclusively on animal prey.

    youtube

    digging activity

    Moles dig with their forelimbs modified into digging tools. The palm turned outward pushes away the substrate loosened by the five toes. As the soil piles up, the mole pushes the material to the surface with its head. This is done at a distance of 50 to 100 centimeters depending on the soil conditions. The animals push the earth sideways upwards so that the molehill is created diagonally above the corridor.

    Why gardeners benefit from the mole:

    • Substrate is loosened and aerated over a large area
    • finely crumbly excavation is ideal as growing soil.
    • Moles eat vermin

    tips

    Robotic lawn mowers are supposed to drive away moles, because the animals react sensitively to the continuous noise and vibrations.

    molehills in winter

    Moles continue to dig diligently even in winter

    Moles are also active in winter because they don't hibernate. During the winter months it is more common for the animals to create a so-called mole castle. This consists of a central mound, which is significantly larger than the surrounding heaps of earth. The mole builds its nest under the castle.

    In particularly wet weather, the upper soil layers are softened, so that more worms and insects can be found here. Moles forage near the surface and produce more excavation than in drier times. In this weather, the mole moves its nest and builds an above-ground swamp castle.

    digression

    Peasant rules around the molehill

    Animals have a special meaning in peasant rules, because weather forecasts can be made based on their behavior. The proverb "If the molehills are high in the garden, a harsh winter is to be expected" refers to the typical mole castle that the animals create in the winter months.

    The farmer's rule "if the moles dig deep, it will be a hard winter" can be interpreted in the same way: in severe winter months, the ground frost moves deeper into the earth, so that moles have to retreat further into the ground.

    recognize molehills

    Finding out who caused the mounds in the lawn and bed isn't just for the satisfaction of interests. Identification is the first step in taking action. Since the mole is a protected species, careless control methods can result in high fines.

    Vole hill - difference from mole hill

    It is not uncommon for vole hills to be traced back to the digging activity of moles. The heaps of earth of both garden dwellers look confusingly similar at first glance. Pay attention to whether there are plant remains and roots in the piled up soil. Such remains indicate the activity of voles feeding on plants. Molehills are free from plant remains.

    • passage cross-section: cross-oval in the mole, high-oval in the vole
    • mound shape: rounded in the mole, elongated and flatter in the vole
    • tunnel system: Voles burrow directly under the turf, moles burrow in deeper layers of soil

    rooting test

    The rooting test gives you a clue as to who caused it. Stick a stick into the ground in a circle around the mound of earth to feel it. If you come across a cavity directly under the turf, there is a high probability that a vole is responsible for the mounds of earth. To substantiate this suspicion, open a section of the tunnel system over a length of 30 centimeters. Be careful not to let the tunnel collapse.

    Since voles are very active, they will seal the hole again within the next few hours. Moles take their time with the repair work. They show fear and perceive the destruction as a threat. Only in rare cases do moles close the duct opening. They usually avoid the open tunnel and dig an alternative passage.

    tips

    Put on gloves for this measure, because the vole can also be influenced. She perceives human body odor as a threat.

    frequently asked Questions

    How do moles survive the winter?

    Moles stock up on worms for the winter

    The animals create an underground food supply consisting of live worms. The mole bites off the front body segments of the invertebrates so that they can continue to live and no longer escape. If the earthworms don't survive this type of storage, the mole won't touch them again.

    How deep does the mole dig?

    The tunnel systems are not directly under the turf but at a depth of between ten and twenty centimetres. If the conditions in this area are not optimal, the animal retreats to deeper soil layers. Its tunnel system, which can be up to 200 meters long, often extends to a depth of up to one meter.

    Do molehills have an ecological purpose?

    The digging activity of the animals indicates a healthy soil. The more hills there are in an area, the more species-rich is the soil life. The mole proves to be a natural pest controller, controlling the populations of various insects. Through its corridors, it loosens and drains the soil. The mounds ensure an optimal growth base for plants that cannot gain a foothold on a closed vegetation cover.

    Do moles have specific activity times?

    Since the animals live underground, they do not follow a distinct day-night rhythm. The activity of the European mole is divided into three phases of sleep and wakefulness. The animals are active for about four to five hours in the morning, afternoon and around midnight. When they are not sleeping, they dig more tunnels and hunt for prey. Their activity is year-round and is not interrupted in winter.

Category:

Animals in the garden