Florida’s warm climate and sandy soils create an ideal environment for burrowing mammals, often leading to damage in residential yards. While these animals serve an ecological function, their extensive tunneling quickly ruins turfgrass and ornamental beds, necessitating effective control methods. Dealing with a mole problem requires an accurate diagnosis of the culprit, followed by a strategic combination of cultural practices and direct removal techniques. Reclaiming a yard depends on understanding the specific behaviors of the local species and employing reliable strategies.
Confirming the Culprit: Mole Identification in Florida
The primary species responsible for yard damage across Florida is the Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus), an insectivore often mistaken for rodents like gophers or voles. Moles are not rodents; they possess large, paddle-like front feet and a diet consisting almost exclusively of earthworms, grubs, and other invertebrates. While they do not eat plant roots, their foraging tunnels cause collateral damage by disrupting root systems and creating raised ridges in the lawn.
Distinguishing mole activity from other pests is simple by examining the soil mounds they create. Molehills are typically symmetrical, volcano-shaped piles of soil pushed up from deep tunnels, with the entrance hole often centered and plugged. In contrast, the Southeastern Pocket Gopher (Geomys pinetis) creates fan-shaped or crescent-shaped mounds with a distinct, plugged hole offset to one side. The mole’s shallow, raised ridges are feeding tunnels just beneath the surface, while gopher tunnels are generally deeper and not visible as surface ridges.
Cultural Control and Non-Lethal Deterrents
Since the Eastern Mole is a dedicated insectivore, manipulating its food source is a primary non-lethal method of control. Moles are highly attracted to yards with plentiful populations of white grubs, mole crickets, and earthworms. Reducing these soil-dwelling insects through appropriate insecticide treatments makes the yard less appealing to foraging moles, prompting them to move elsewhere.
Another common non-lethal deterrent involves applying a castor oil-based solution to the affected areas. Moles find the scent and taste of castor oil repulsive. Commercial or homemade formulas often combine the oil with liquid soap to help it penetrate the soil. To apply, a mixture of castor oil, dish soap, and water is sprayed over the tunnels, coating the earthworms and soil, making the food source unpalatable. For high-value garden beds, physical barriers like hardware cloth or galvanized fencing can be installed vertically, extending at least six inches above ground and two feet below the surface with an outward bend. Less reliable options include sonic or vibrational spikes; these devices often fail to transmit vibrations effectively through Florida’s loose, sandy soil and may be ignored by the moles.
Effective Trapping Strategies for Florida Yards
Trapping remains the most reliable solution for removing moles from a Florida yard. The most effective traps are triggered by the mole’s movement within the tunnel, such as the scissor-style or plunger (harpoon) traps. Scissor traps are effective in loose, sandy soil because they are set over the runway and do not require the trap mechanism to be anchored into the unstable soil.
Successful placement begins with locating the main runway, which is the deeper, straight tunnel often connecting two feeding areas or running alongside a solid structure like a driveway or fence. To confirm the main runway’s location, gently press down a small section of the surface tunnel and check 12 to 24 hours later; if the tunnel has been pushed back up, it is active. Once an active tunnel is found, the trap should be set securely and placed directly over the runway, ensuring the trigger pan is centered in the path. Handling the trap while wearing clean gloves is advised to prevent transferring human scent.
Trapping is most productive in the spring and fall, as moles actively forage for food during these seasons, though they remain active year-round in Florida’s mild climate. Homeowners can perform mole trapping and removal without a permit, as moles are classified as nuisance wildlife by the state. Traps must be checked frequently, at least once every 24 hours, to ensure humane removal. Poisons and toxic baits are discouraged, as they pose a risk to pets and non-target wildlife and are often ineffective because the mole’s diet consists primarily of live insects and earthworms.