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Moles
Moles are mammals that live almost entirely underground. They belong to the family Talpidae. They are classified in the ancient order Insectivora (literally “Insect-Eaters”). Using their cylindrically-shaped bodies and webbed, clawed feet, moles practically swim in the dirt under your lawn in search of food. This search results in tunnels and mounds of dirt in your lawn/grass.
Moles are insectivores and their principle food source is the earthworm. Grubs, larvae, beetles, snails, slugs and other subterranean insects effectively constitute the remainder. Moles have a high metabolic rate and must consume large quantities of food in order to meet the extreme energy requirements which excavation demands. A 4 oz mole will eat approximately 40 lbs of food per year and must consume an amount equivalent to 60-100% of its body weight daily.
Moles are insectivores and their principle food source is the earthworm. Grubs, larvae, beetles, snails, slugs and other subterranean insects effectively constitute the remainder. Moles have a high metabolic rate and must consume large quantities of food in order to meet the extreme energy requirements which excavation demands. A 4 oz mole will eat approximately 40 lbs of food per year and must consume an amount equivalent to 60-100% of its body weight daily.
In just 20 minutes, a mole can excavate 10 lbs of soil or an amount equivalent to nearly 50 times its own body weight! As a point of reference, a 200 pound man (a mole guy) would have to shovel approximately 10,000 pounds of earth!
Moles don’t hibernate, but will tend to go deeper during times of colder weather. They are active year round. Moles will not go away, at least, not on their own and will continue to add on to their tunnel complexes. The system of burrows represents a tremendous investment of energy and are therefore closely guarded by means of scent marking. Once vacated, either through natural mortality or “Trapping”, the tunnel system is subject to reoccupation by another mole. This re-colonization can occur quickly. |
Get Rid of Moles
A Professional Pest Control mole removal expert will know the best methods of how to get rid of moles. The most common way is to trap the moles. This can be tricky since moles create various types of tunnels and do not have an entry and exit point since they rarely come above the ground. Trapping moles may sound easy, but it requires the proper equipment and knowledge to pinpoint the “travel” tunnels to effectively trap the mole.
Resolving a small mole problem is critical in preventing a large mole problem. How to get rid of moles is often the question gardeners ask since they can cause a lot of damage to gardens by uprooting plants. The best way to prevent moles from taking over a space in the Washington area is to trap the mole, which often requires the expert knowledge of a mole specialist. Professional Pest Control can recommend ideas on how to prevent a mole problem and how to get rid of moles, contact Professional Pest Control.
As part of our service, we will come to your home and identify the mole activity. Then, we install traps in the ground and check them every several days. Once the mole activity dies down, we pick up our mole traps and leave your yard to recover from the activity. We then depend on you to let us know if they start acting up again.
Resolving a small mole problem is critical in preventing a large mole problem. How to get rid of moles is often the question gardeners ask since they can cause a lot of damage to gardens by uprooting plants. The best way to prevent moles from taking over a space in the Washington area is to trap the mole, which often requires the expert knowledge of a mole specialist. Professional Pest Control can recommend ideas on how to prevent a mole problem and how to get rid of moles, contact Professional Pest Control.
As part of our service, we will come to your home and identify the mole activity. Then, we install traps in the ground and check them every several days. Once the mole activity dies down, we pick up our mole traps and leave your yard to recover from the activity. We then depend on you to let us know if they start acting up again.
Voles
Voles, also known as field mice, are small rodents that reproduce quickly and can cause extensive damage to gardens and landscaping. Voles are often mistaken for other types of rodents, like moles or gophers, but they are in their own class, with over 155 species throughout the world.
Voles can grow to be 4 to 8 inches in length. They have light brown to gray fur and have shorter, thicker tails than mice. Voles are prolific breeders and can average litters of 5 to 10 young, up to 10 times a year. Voles will burrow in yards and will also make use of abandoned burrows, causing homeowners to mistake voles for moles or gophers.
Voles can grow to be 4 to 8 inches in length. They have light brown to gray fur and have shorter, thicker tails than mice. Voles are prolific breeders and can average litters of 5 to 10 young, up to 10 times a year. Voles will burrow in yards and will also make use of abandoned burrows, causing homeowners to mistake voles for moles or gophers.
Voles have a diet similar to other rodents, but like shrews, they will eat dead animals. They will also eat tender roots and bulbs, tunneling expertly so their detection is almost imperceptible until the damage has already been done. Voles will also eat the bark around young trees and shrubs. This process, called girdling, will kill young plants.
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Controlling Voles
Voles live for only a few months and have a number of predators, including owls, raccoons, hawks and cats. However, the sheer number of these pests can overwhelm yards and gardens quickly. Despite their short lives and numerous predators, a vole infestation can devastate gardens.
Controlling voles is very difficult. Placing snap traps near burrow entrances can help with infestations. Spring and fall are the seasons when most voles are active, so trapping during these periods is often more successful. If you have an extensive vole problem, contact Professional Pest Control. Our professionals can often diagnose rodent trouble and determine the best ways to eliminate voles safely and effectively. |
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