- The mole as a beneficial creature
- What is butyric acid?
- Use butyric acid against mole
- Use buttermilk against moles
- Use buttermilk or butyric acid
Moles have a very keen sense of smell, so repelling them with scent is a common method. Below you will find out whether repelling moles with butyric acid is a good idea, what to consider and what alternatives there are.
Butyric acid is corrosive and can hurt both us and the mole
The mole as a beneficial creature
Even if the mole leaves unsightly mounds in the garden, it is a wonderful beneficial creature because it prefers to eat garden pests such as grubs, larvae, caterpillars and worms. It also digs up the soil, making for tasty, healthy soil. In addition, he is under protection and must therefore not be killed, chased away or injured under any circumstances. Gentle expelling is permissible; questionable is whether it makes sense given the benefits of the mole.
What is butyric acid?
Butyric acid is a fatty acid called butanoic acid. It occurs naturally through butyric acid fermentation, e.g. when milk goes bad or during digestion in our stomach. In its pure form, it is colourless, corrosive and reacts with oxygen and water. The reaction produces corrosive gases that can irritate and damage the skin and mucous membranes - not only ours, but also those of the mole!
Use butyric acid against mole
Butyric acid is therefore not a "gentle" method to get the mole to change clothes, but a very aggressive variant that can harm the mole under certain circumstances. In addition, the smell sticks strongly to skin, clothing and the floor and is difficult to remove and can of course also harm people, pets and the like. Therefore, we advise against butyric acid against moles. However, there are interesting alternatives.
Use buttermilk against moles
As already mentioned, butyric acid is produced during the fermentation of whey products. Therefore, simply buttermilk can be used to disperse the mole. This will start to stink as it ferments, which the mole won't like. Unlike butyric acid, the substance is not concentrated here and is therefore not caustic and irritating. The method works best in combination with other smelly substances such as garlic or mothballs.
Use buttermilk or butyric acid
To use buttermilk or (not recommended) butyric acid against the mole, do the following:
- Carefully dig up several tunnels with a shovel.
- Soak scraps of cloth in buttermilk or butyric acid and stuff them in the aisle.
- Dig up the passage again.
- Mark the aisles with stinky bits of cloth so you can remove them later.
tips
When applying butyric acid, be sure to wear gloves, long, old clothes, and a respirator.