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Pest & Rodent Control In Sarasota & Bradenton

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Mole Control in Lakewood Ranch

Mole hills at a Lakewood Ranch home
Mole Hills at a Lakewood Ranch home

A drive down The Masters Ave in beautiful Lakewood Ranch winds through some of the nicest communities and homes that Lakewood Ranch has to offer. It borders Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club and Country Club East. Because I own a pest control service, I became aware of something much different than what most other Lakewood Ranch residents see. I noticed many mole hills on both sides of The Master’s Ave in the common areas. That observation led me to write this blog about mole control in Lakewood Ranch to help inform the residents of this community about moles.

It only stands to reason that if the moles are in the common areas, that the residents of those neighborhoods will have the same problem soon, if not already. 

Can Moles Damage My Lakewood Ranch Yard? 

A mole’s diet consists primarily of earthworms in the soil. Their burrowing behavior can indirectly affect the aesthetics and health of your lawn and garden. While moles can be a nuisance in the yard, they are not damaging the vegetation directly. Instead, their activities can result in secondary issues that impact the visual appeal and functionality of the lawn and plant roots. 

A mole has come up out of his tunnel in the ground in Lakewood Ranch.  There is a joke in the caption of the mole talking that says "It's a bad day to be a yard". There is a Rodent Solutions and Pest Control Logo stamped on the pictures also

Two ways moles can damage a yard: 

Mole Tunnels 

Moles are small burrowing animals that usually cause damage out of our sight. Mole tunnels consist of shallow runways and deeper burrows. The shallow tunnel systems are directly beneath the soil and primarily used for finding food, while the deeper burrows are used for nesting and protection from the elements.

Due to their sheer size and intricate tunneling patterns, these can extend throughout the entire yard, creating various intersections. Each mound they push up from the bottom can be several inches long.  This often causes many of our new customers to be upset as the appearance of the piles ruins an otherwise pleasant-looking yard. 

The anatomy of a mole makes them specialists when it comes to digging. A mole can cover up to 18 feet of tunnel per hour. Their ability to tunnel at such a fast rate can lead to heavy damage to your lawn in a short amount of time. For most of our customers, the rapid appearance of many piles of dirt, hill-shaped mounds, or a well-manicured lawn leads to high anxiety. 

Many customers contact us, stating they have gopher mounds. While gophers are found in Florida, they are typically found further north of our location. We have yet to run to gophers in the Lakewood Ranch Area. 

Root Disturbance 

While most people are first to point out the molehills that pop up throughout the yard, those are primarily cosmetic. The real issue is caused below the surface where mole tunnels preside. On average, a mole may eat about 70 to 100 percent of its body weight in food daily, which creates the need for more extensive tunneling below the surface. 

While moles are not herbivores and do not feed on plants directly, their tunneling activities can indirectly impact plant root systems, leading to concerns about potential damage to lawns and gardens. 

Another vital factor to consider when dealing with potential yard damage from moles is the frequency with which you water your lawn and garden. Saturated lawns or areas that hold a few inches of water will oftentimes have more mole problems due to the following reasons: 

Causes of Increased Mole Activity 

A few things can lead to increased mole activity and the need for Mole Control in Lakewood Ranch.  

Increase in a Mole’s Food Source 

A common question is, “Can we eliminate their food source?” The answer is no. 

Insects, earthworms, larvae, and small invertebrates all play a role in a mole’s diet. Over 90 of the time, moles feed on earthworms. Earthworms are beneficial for soil health and aid in a healthy lawn. Earthworms much prefer damp soil compared to dry soil.

They are much less active if the soil dries out and tends to burrow further down. The lower the earthworms go, the lower the moles tend to go. This leads to less visible tunnels and a loss in the benefits they provide for the soil. 

Soil Aeration 

While this may not always be considered a negative impact, excessive tunneling can disrupt the structure of the soil. If extensive tunneling occurs throughout the yard, excess aeration in the soil can lead to diseases in the lawn and garden. 

Mole Control Methods 

The most effective mole control in Lakewood Ranch can involve an integrated approach, combining several strategies to address the underlying factors that attract moles to your yard. 

Baiting 

Baiting has become a more popular method with the development and EPA approval of mole baits over the years. Our staff prefers poison baiting to get rid of moles. We’ll first need to locate active mole tunnels. Once located, we’ll gently open up a small portion of the tunnel and insert a replica of an earthworm bait into the tunnel. Because moles live underground, any treatment for them must be placed into their active runways. 

Mole baits usually contain toxic substances that are attractive to moles. The most common active ingredient is bromethalin, a potent rodenticide that impacts the mole’s central nervous system. The mole bait we use contains specially designed enhancers that attract moles. Once consumed, the bait will kill moles in 3-5 days. Once applied, you should monitor for new activity within 14 days and retreat if necessary. 

Mole Trapping 

Trapping is widely considered one of the most effective methods for controlling moles. While trapping is usually the preferred method throughout America, it is not always possible in every location. Areas with sandy soil that don’t have much soil structure are difficult to trap since the mole tunnels will typically collapse on themselves. 

Mole traps typically rely on the soil a mole pushes to set the trap off. The Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Sarasota, and Parrish areas we cover have soil that tends to be very loose and sandy. That sandy soil usually does not provide significant pressure on the trigger to set off the trap. Because of this limiting factor, we avoid mole trapping. Another drawback to trapping is that it involves aggressive traps, which can be dangerous for pets roaming the yard. 

Repellents

Don’t waste your time or money on this method. Mole repellents are a marketing gimmick and an old wives’ tale. Castor oil-based repellents can effectively make the soil less palatable to moles, but how are you going to soak “all” of the dirt and grass with castor oil? 

Another widely used waste of time is cayenne pepper. At best, it will make the mole dig a new tunnel. Repellents do not hold up to moisture, so any tiny benefit they may bring is quickly washed away with the rain. 

Habitat Modification 

Improve drainage to reduce moisture in the soil. Moles prefer moist soil, and dryer conditions can make the environment less appealing. Another option is to reduce the availability of food by implementing pest control measures for soil-dwelling insects, such as grub treatments. 

However, it’s important to note that 90% of a mole’s diet is earthworms, so a grub treatment will not get you the best bang for the buck. 

Call for Mole Control in Lakewood Ranch

If you suspect that moles are infesting your yard, it’s worthwhile to call us to treat your mole tunnels. Mole pest control is best left to the specialists at Rodent Solutions. We can identify areas of high activity and treat those areas to eliminate your mole problem. We have two different programs to help prevent moles. Contact us today for more details.

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