"If you are an experienced mole trapper, you are already engaged in the most effective way to rid an area of moles. Effective trapping does require patience and persistence because nearby moles often move into established tunnel systems replacing those that have been removed by trapping.
Many other methods have been used to control moles, but none of them are very effective and some are potentially hazardous to people and the environment. As you have noted, chewing gum and gas bombs do not work. Here are some other methods that are available:
1. Surround the area to be protected with buried hardware cloth. The barrier may stop moles, but installing it requires digging a trench 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide around the area.
2. Kill soil insects. The idea is to reduce the mole food supply. In the short-term this may actually stimulate tunneling activity as the moles search for the dwindling population of soil insects. Soil insecticides are hazardous. Milky spore is sometimes used to eliminate grubs, but results are unpredictable and it may take more than one season for the spores to make much of a difference in the grub population. The with this method is that the primary diet of moles is worms. So killing grubs and other lawn insects MAY work to eliminate moles ONLY if your soil lacks sufficient worms to make the mole's effort not worthwhile. Note, however, that there are plenty of people who have moles whose lawns don't have grubs.
3. Use a castor bean-based repellent. Spraying such a repellent on the area to be protected has proven effective in some cases. However, the effect is short-lived and continuing applications are needed. I have seen this product at local hardware and garden stores.
4. Mole poisons are available. Talpirid/TomCat has the best reported success. Don't use poison peanuts as moles don't eat grain or peanuts. Remember to follow the toxicant label's instructions as the label is the law.
There is no evidence that devices purporting to use sounds or vibrations to drive away moles affect anything other than the wallets of those who sell or buy them.
Finally be sure the mounds you see have been caused by moles and not pocket gophers. Visit Moles and Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
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