Mole Pesticide Update

For a long time, moles have been one of those problems with no good answer. But times have changed. During my five years in Onslow County, I have been informing clients that moles were not considered a pest by law and that one species, the star-nosed mole, is actually a species of concern in North Carolina. This meant that your options for control were limited. The primary recommendation was to control the mole’s food source (focusing primarily on white grubs) in the hopes that the moles would move to another location.

In 2014, the North Carolina Pesticide Board declared eastern moles (Scolopus aquaticus) and hairy-tailed moles (Parascalops breweri) as pests, and made it legal to use pesticides to control them. Manufacturers have been submitting their products for registration. Some products have already been approved for use and other products are still awaiting approval.

This means that you can use pesticides registered to control the eastern mole and the hairy-tailed mole in turf in the following areas: residential; commercial; government property, excluding federal and state parks; golf courses, driving ranges, and golf instructional facilities; sod farms; athletic fields; and/or visitor centers and cemeteries. Mole pesticides can not be used in pastures and should not be applied within 100 feet of natural or man-made bodies of water, including but not limited to, streams, rivers, ponds, swamps, lakes, and wetlands or at elevations of 4000 feet or greater.

Some of the products that are registered include Motomco Mole Killer, Talpirid, Tomcat Mole Killer, and Victor Moleworms. Information from the University of Missouri indicates that the efficacy of toxic baits is questionable. One issue is that many toxic baits rely on a grain, seed or nut bases to deliver the chemical. However, since moles do not prefer grains as a meal, instead focusing on prey such as white grubs and earthworms, the effectiveness of these baits may be limited. Products that mimic a grub or worm may be a better choice.

If you choose to use pesticides to control moles in your yard, read and carefully follow all label directions. Be sure to use these products in a way that prevents children and pets from coming in to contact with them.

Even with the use of pesticides, moles are not likely to be a problem with an easy answer. Due to the nature of these creatures, even if you succeed in killing one, another may quickly take up residence in your yard. Consider white grub control as appropriate and walking down tunnels as they appear. When all else fails, appreciate moles for their value as predators feeding on the white grubs and other pests in your turf.