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About Your Mole Control Service

This publication is given to RHS's mole control customers; outlines for the customer what to expect about their service.

Summary of Your Mole Control Program:

Mole control is usually a process that often takes time, patience and persistence. There are no proven, consistent methods of mole control in which one application can rid a lawn completely of moles. While baiting is sometimes used to help control moles, the only proven method of control is by trapping. RHS uses the trapping method, and checks the traps on a regular basis, while providing you with a service report at each visit.

Important to Know: Moles can enter the property throughout the year, even after the property has been mole-free for some time. They construct tunnels that they may or may not re-use. There are active tunnels, which moles use more often, and there are probing tunnels that moles may never enter again. The goal is to identify and trap the active tunnels by making repeat visits. This is a process that requires patience and persistence.

The Goal of Mole Control

The goal is to minimize and prevent lawn damage. Since there are no proven preventive mole control measures, moles must be dealt with as they arrive. There are no proven, consistent methods of mole control in which one application can rid a lawn completely of moles. Therefore, the goal is to trap as many moles as soon as possible, while dealing with new mole activity as soon as it arrives. This is the best way to minimize lawn damage.

How many moles are in my lawn? The number of moles present in lawns can vary greatly; there is no formula for determining how many moles might inhabit a lawn. Where mole activity is found, there is usually more than one mole present; usually more moles present than most people anticipate. A female produces 2-6 young per litter in the spring.

How soon will my lawn be free of moles? How long will I need mole control service? There are several factors that come into play here -- the extent of mole activity, the size of your lawn, number of moles present, environment, time of year, weather, and new mole activity -- as well as many other factors all play a role in mole eradication. Therefore, it is impossible to say how long the service will be needed.

What causes the large mounds of dirt in the lawn? Why didn’t you place mole traps on the large mounds of dirt in my lawn? When moles go deeper into the ground, they can no longer push up the soil to create tunnels. Instead, the tunnels are deeper and out of site. The moles then have to “excavate” the dirt by pushing it up to the surface. Trapping the mounds is ineffective, as the moles will not go through the trap. Sometimes when placing traps on mounds, the moles knock the trap while excavating.

Do I need mole control during the winter? Don’t moles hibernate? Moles are active all year long, and do not hibernate. When the ground is frozen, they go deep into the ground, following the food source. Even during the winter in the Cincinnati area, moles can be quite active and near the surface so long as the ground is not frozen. Winter is a good time to trap moles, to help prevent moles from mating and having babies in the spring.

Shortly after you came to my house, more new mole activity appeared. Will you make a return visit sooner?
Should you see significantly more mole activity between visits, please call RHS and we will try to return sooner to help control the moles earlier.

What do moles eat? Will grub control help rid my lawn of moles? Earthworms are the primary food source for moles; it consists of more than 80% of their diet. They also eat grubs, but ridding the lawn of grubs does not prevent moles from entering and staying in the lawn.

How do I know if a trap has been triggered, or “tripped”? The Victor Out O’ Site trap (the trap used by RHS) has two “horseshoe bars” above the ground. When the trap is set, the bars are close together. When the trap is “tripped” or “triggered,” the bars spread apart in a “V” formation. When the trap is tripped, there is usually a mole trapped in it, but this is not always the case, since a person, mower, etc can bump the trap. The aerial picture on the left shows what the trap looks like when it is first placed in the ground; the one on the right shows the trap after it has been tripped:

Trap is set (not tripped; No mole trapped)

Trap is triggered, or “tripped;” means a mole is probably caught.

What precautions should I take with the traps? Are they safe for my children and pets? Please keep children, pets, mowing equipment, etc. away from the traps. Since it is easy for the trap to trigger when tampered with from above ground, and while digging, children and pets should avoid the traps. Mowers can easily bump the traps, triggering them so that it would need to be reset in order to trap a mole. Lawn companies should be informed that the traps are set, noting the flags beside them. Occasions where children and pets are hurt by the traps are quite rare, but possible.

How do I know where, and how many traps were set? Each trap is marked with a red flag. You will receive a detailed service ticket after each visit, outlining the number of traps present, mole activity and control. Should you have any questions concerning the service ticket, contact Redwine Home Services, LLC.

How can I contact Redwine Home Services? Call Paul at (513) 544-7285, or visit us on the web at www.RedwineHomeServices.com, and visit our contact page.

How and when do I make payment for services rendered? You will either receive an invoice after service, or one will be mailed to you. We accept checks, VISA, and MasterCard. Also ask about our Automatic Payment Program.

What other services does Redwine Home Services offer? Are there discounts for using multiple services?
RHS offers lawn an pest services, including fertilization, mole control, aeration, mowing, grub control, pest and termite control. Customers who take advantage of multiple services can receive discounts. We also partner with other trusted service providers, such as the ArborDoctor for all your tree and shrub needs. For more information on RHS’s services, visit us on the Internet at www.RedwineHomeServices.com. You can visit the Arbor Doctor’s web site at www.ArborDoctor.com.

Other Notes:

Lawn Damage -- There is no guarantee as to how much damage the lawn will take due to mole activity. Since other/new moles can enter the lawn throughout the year, there is no way of guaranteeing that future lawn damage will not occur.
Depending on the level of activity, lawns will be inspected and traps checked, moved, replaced, etc. 3 times per month on average. Should more activity occur, or higher amounts of activity persist, you are encouraged to call RHS.
We use the trapping method to control moles in your lawn. For more information about mole biology and control, please ask us for the handout entitled Mole Biology and Control.