Mole Removal: The Options

Download as a PDF
 
With a plethora of control methods available, consisting of traps, repellents, and much much more it can be hard to know where to start. Added to this is the huge volume of conflicting advice available from many different sources. Here, we help you sort the wheat from the chaff.
 
At Beagle, we like to think that our traps are the best out there, but we also guarantee to give you 100% honest and impartial advice when it comes to choosing the best way to get rid of your moles.
 
So, to business… the options can essentially be broken down into the following categories.

Click on a category (right) for more details, or see the full summary in the table below.
Found another way? Please let us know.
 
Method Rating   Verdict
Repellents      
Sonic / Sonar Stake   In a small garden with occasional or intermittend problems this may be worth a try. Don't rely on it in the long term, and expect to resort to other methods.
Mole Smokes   An expensive, non-reusable, and probably hopeless option.
Windmills, Tin Cans, Bottles   Unless you particularly like the aesthetics of a wind mill or a baked bean can on a bamboo stick in your garden, don’t bother.
Castor Oil Spray   Whether it works or not, an expensive and labour intensive method of mole control.
Plants   As long as you like the plants, there is little harm done. However, it could be expensive and hard work to encircle a large property. Some plants can be poisonous to pets / children.
Nasty Substances   Definitely don’t bother!
Killing Traps      
Arouze (Wire) Trap   Simple and will last for ever (if you don’t lose the trigger). Unlikely to catch reliably and fiddly to set.
Duffus (Barrel) Trap   A good trap with very powerful springs. Be careful not to lose a finger when setting!  The Best available for the practiced professional.
EasySet Mole Trap   Very easy to set correctly, and unlikely to injure children / pets. The best for the home user.
Explosives   Expensive, dangerous, and Illegal in most countries! Avoid.
Mole Gun   Expensive, dangerous, difficult to set accurately, and Illegal in most countries! Avoid.
Mouse / Rat Trap   A waste of time. Use the correct tools for the job.
Penetrator / Spear Tarp   Easy to set, but usually misses. If it hits, the result is a bloody mangled mess. Only for shallow runs.
Scissor Trap   Fairly easy to arm, but the trigger mechanism is usually too stiff to go off reliably. Difficult to set and bury correctly.
SuperCat Trap   Not specifically designed for moles, so the dimensions are too small. Difficult to place correctly. Avoid.
Talpex   With a lot of practice setting correctly and in soft non-stony soils this could be a good choice. Second best for the professional mole catcher.
Talpirid 'Step-on' Trap   A fairly expensive and complex product that rarely hits its target and crushes the mole run in setting. Only for shallow runs.
Trichter Trap   Due to a manufacturing / design defect, they are almost impossible to set. Avoid.
Twist Spring Trap   They do occasionally work, but they are dangerous to set and many moles will be put off by so much metal in their tunnel. Careful not to lose a finger setting it!
Water Trap   Can work, but labour intensive and needs a large hole! Also a cruel death. Don’t bother.
Live Capture Traps      
Live Bucket Trap   Can work, but inhumane, labour intensive and needs a large hole!
Traditional Tube Trap   It can work, but it is cruel, inhumane, and a lot of effort.
Booby Traps      
Assorted...   A significant chance of injury… to yourself. Also generally ineffective and cruel.
Environment Modification    
Flooding / Gassing   At best a waste of water or petrol / diesel.
Burning   Dangerous and Stupid.