Deterring Moles and Voles

Distinguishing Moles from Voles

Before implementing any deterrent strategies, it’s crucial to correctly identify the garden pest. Several methods can help determine whether moles or voles are causing the disturbance.

1. Examine the Mounds: Carefully remove the freshly pushed earth. If the entrance hole is directly beneath the mound, it indicates a mole’s tunnel. Voles, on the other hand, create side entrances, and their tunnels run more shallowly away from the mound. Molehills are typically larger than those created by voles.
2. Tunnel Probe Test: Gently probe the soil around the mound with a stick until a tunnel is located and the stick sinks. Dig open approximately 30 centimeters of the tunnel. If the hole is refilled within a few hours, it is likely a vole. A mole, however, will create a new tunnel beneath the damaged section.

Once the culprit is identified, appropriate measures can be taken.

Deterring Moles

Moles are protected under German law and cannot be harmed. While they can be considered pests due to the unsightly mounds they create, moles are beneficial to gardens. Their diet primarily consists of slugs, grubs, and other garden pests. The soil they excavate is also of good quality and can be used for enriching flowerbeds.

Since lethal methods are prohibited, humane deterrents are the recommended approach:

• Scent: Moles have a highly sensitive sense of smell. The odor of garlic is particularly offensive to them. Crushed garlic cloves placed directly into molehill entrances can be effective, especially in the early stages of infestation.
• Sound: Moles are also sensitive to noise. Burying empty bottles halfway into the ground can create a sound disturbance when wind blows across the openings, which then propagates through the soil. Hitting an iron rod embedded in the ground with a hammer regularly can also generate unsettling vibrations.
• Alcohol: Empty alcohol bottles, with their openings facing inward, can be inserted into molehill entrances. This may deter moles, as they are not fond of the smell.
• Whey and Buttermilk: These dairy products can also be poured into molehill entrances, as their smell is reported to be unpleasant to moles.
• Ultrasonic Devices: Solar-powered ultrasonic repellents are available. These devices are inserted into the ground and emit high-frequency sounds that are inaudible to humans but disturbing to moles.

Deterring Voles

Unlike moles, voles are not a protected species, and traps are legally available for their removal. Voles are considered garden pests as they feed on the roots of young vegetables and plants.

Many of the methods recommended for deterring moles can also be applied to voles, though their effectiveness may vary.

• Live Traps: Live traps can be used to capture voles without harming them. Captured voles should then be released far away from the garden. For persistent vole infestations, more direct methods may need to be considered.