Moles + Golden Retrievers = a huge mess!

[Miss Mary]

I am going crazy! We've had moles in our yard but in the very back, near a wooded area. Out of our Golden's range (she has an instant plug in electric fence, that emits a 90 ft. circle). People have said get a dog, you won't have moles. Ha! Now a neighbor ran off her mole population and they decided to inhabit my dog's area. She began digging a few weeks ago. We reduced her circle, so she couldn't get to this area. Which was fine but I just looked outside - she just dug another hole! I now have 6 and one is a trench, 5 feet long. It's look as if an inexperienced gardener was trying to plant shrubs and can't decide where to put them!

I finally went out for wooden stakes and caution tape. I was going to rake the turf she's flung all over the place up, put down new soil and reseed. Stringing along this very attractive temp stake fence so she'd stay away (she's a skitzy, easy frightened dog, so I'm hoping this will scare her off).

And now a new hole, I just dragged her sorry butt in the laundry room and shut the door. I'm so mad at her (really, I do love this dog!).....

Questions....

Does anyone know an effective way to get RID of moles? I've heard you need to kill the grubs they eat. Is this true? If so, I also heard you apply that grub killer in the spring.

In the meantime, Hope is going back to her old chain around a tree. She'll be mad!

Thanx...

Mary

[GalvestonDuck]

Try an insecticide to get rid of the grubs (your local nursey would probably know the best one to use). Then, try bobcat urine powder (also at a nursery or hardware store). It acts as a natural repellent because, even though the moles can't see the predator, their survival instincts tell them to keep away from that area because it "smells" as if a bobcat or fox has been there.

[Miss Mary]

Shawn - are these safe around a pet?

Still frazzled, she's still in the laundry room. I need to go wash her paws for the umpteenth time in 2 weeks. LOL

Thanks.

M.

[GalvestonDuck]

Hmmmm...that, I'm not sure about. Seems to me the urine powder would be safe since it's a natural repellant. As for the pesticides, you'll probably want to ask for something organic or guaranteed pet-safe. I wish my daddy was still around -- I'd ask him. He worked for Ciba-Geigy (pesticide/herbicide company) back in the 70's and was working on getting his Ph.D. in ag when he died. He taught my mom lots of stuff about livestock meat and gardening. I'm sure I would have absorbed more of his wisdom if he was still here.

but because he was a great guy.

[Skywatch_NC]

Mary,

HOLEY MOLEY, WXBUDDY!!

I wish you the VERY best with this situation!!

Can only imagine what Hope must be thinking, too, from a lovable canine companion's viewpoint.

Eric

[Miss Mary]

Eric - yeah, I'm sure she's thinking I have to rid my family of these varmits - let me at 'em! You should see her dig, man she sticks her nose way down, so far you'd think a mole would bite her. No fear in this area. Part of this is her breed, she's trying to retreive something - and she can see the grass blades move as they tunnel further. It drives her crazy. Then partly my fault b/c when we started seeing mole evidence at the park, she wanted to dig so I thought why not? It's out in a field, not a nicely landscaped area. Oops, I let her think this was okay!

Shawn - aww, I'm sure you miss your dad. Sounds like the perfect father! Like you, in gardening and such, I wish I had paid attention to my dad's carpentry skills and renovating know how. And did I? Oh no, I wanted to yack on the phone and go out with friends. Sigh, my dad was from the old school of home building - you just did it the right way, first time. Sounds like your dad, but in his area of expertise.

Well, I will visit a local nursery. I need a bail of hay now for the seeded area (on tomorrow's agenda).

Have either of you watched Malcolm in the Middle? If so, you know how their front yard is a mess? That is exactly how this area looked in my yard! Thank goodness it's my back yard and not the front.

Mary

[breeze]

I don't have the problem (yet! - knock on wood!)
but, I did some net-surfing....

http://www.gemplers.com/a/shop/product.asp?T1=G77350&UID=200411101909359533239906

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/cda/article_print/0,1983,HGTV_3651_1369540_ARTICLE-DETAIL-PRINT,00.html

My Alex is cheering for Hope - "get 'em,
girlfriend!" LOL, but, we both know that our
beloved canines have no respect for the lawn
when it comes to protecting us from intruders,
such as moles.... BTW, today is Alex's 10th
birthday - I brought home treats for my
"best-est buddy"!

[Miss Mary]

Annette - thanks. I'll check those links out tomorrow. Right now it's late-late, we watched too much TV tonight. But with no school tomorrow, it feels like a Friday night around here.....

LOL at your Alex cheering Hope on. Hope's best friend from the house behind us, wandered over the other day. Tillie's a black lab and the two of them get along so well. Tillie walked around inspecting Hope's sudden interest in landscaping. I think I could almost see Tillie's head nod as if to say - good job! Dogs!!!!

Wouldn't trade her for anything but today she tested my patience. We've had to use the chain/tie around a tree when her fence is on the blink (or when my picky neighbors' dog's fence signal interferes with ours and Hope wanders over there). So when she saw it, her face fell. Luckily Hope's not much of an outdoor dog, b/c I could never chain a dog up for longer than 15 minutes. She's usually with us 24/7, such a people dog (never had one like this before). She does her business and stands near the steps to our deck, looking in the window, sad, droopy face. I'm done Mommy, bring me in now. At least she's not digging right now! I'm eagerly awaiting a hard freeze. She can't dig if it gets really cold!!! Bring it on.

Oh, oops - Happy Birthday Alex!!!

Mary

[breeze]

LOL, Miss Mary, Alex is wagging her tail at your
birthday wishes. I think she thinks it's her old
spoiled birthday, year-round! My brother, next-
door has his dog, Lucky, and, then, my Alex.
He religiously gives them dog biscuits, every day -
plus, they get other treats. We joke about about
the "Animal Police" on Animal Planet channel,
coming to get us, for spoiling the rascals too
much!

LOL @ Hope! She's got you all protected from
the digging menace(s), eh? You hate the damage
to the lawn, but, she's just feeling like she's
doing her job to protect you all! (*Rascally moles!)

[Miss Mary]

Well, we just had a solid day of rain. So no seed down (just missed that great opportunity to water it in well, dang!). Putting Hope back on a chain is working out quite well. I might even return the stakes! If I can keep this up until the ground freezes, I won't even need that temporary fence. But she looks so sad looking over at her former holes - LOL. We all look at her and sigh. What I need to do is get rid of these creatures once and for all. Still have yet to get to the nursery.....

Mary

[alicia-w]

Plant marigolds. There's something about them that moles just cant tolerate.

[Miss Mary]

I'll keep that in mind for next year.

It's official - Hope is starting a new patio area for us.

Even though chaining her to a tree near the back door, she's been digging in new areas. And that mole is coming towards her.

Just hope for a hard freeze! That will be the only thing right now that will deter her.

We have to host a HS graduation party next May - both families, friends, etc. A huge outdoor party! Lovely......

Life is never dull with a dog around.

Mary

[breeze]

LOL, nope - a dog tends to make one's life
VERY interesting! Miss Mary, you're going to
have to call HGTV and have their "experts"
design your yard for the Grad Party, in May!
If you call now, they may have the Mole vs. Hope
problem solved by then!

[Miss Mary]

I was out of town for 3 days and I gave my family specific requests about Hope - use the chain and watch her! And what does Laura do the first day it poured rain? Let her right out - just opened the door and said see ya. Well, Hope just went crazy - digging up all of her old holes. So now that newly applied soil is flung all over the place Laura says. It's dark, so I haven't seen Hope's new handiwork. I will laugh about it someday but when you ask - put her on the chain - you're expecting cooperation!!! This is the area we'd like a patio someday so it does look like Hope is getting the project started right now! Jim laughs and says keep digging it all up Hope. He's joking....I think.....

Oh well, there's my funny dog story about being away a few days. And oh, dirty laundry's sky high and house is a cluttered. Expected that though...he he.

Mary

[Persepone]

Miss Mary,

I think you just let her dig and then you plant something or build the patio or whatever...

Years ago we had a similar problem with moles (but no dog) and someone told us to put mothballs down the holes as "moles did not like mothballs."

They were right--moles don't like mothballs. We put the mothballs down the holes and went out to brunch. When we came back, there was a pile of dirt covered mothballs by the front steps...

After that we just said the hell with it and let them dig their little tunnels. Eventually they apparently ate all the grubs--but in the process they sort of "plowed" 1/2 acre--so it was fairly easy to rake smooth and replant when they were all done...

For about a year, however, it was a godawful mess...

[Wnghs2007]

EEK. That does sound like a huge mess

[Miss Mary]

Ya know the more I read this funny topic I started (chuckle at the responses and especially your lawn stories Daria!), I am reminded of Bill Murray in Caddyshack. As Hope digs one more time, my husband goes into his best BM immitation.....LOL

I laugh but then say - hey, this isn't funny! Have you really taken a good look at this yard? He doesn't get it....b/c I do the yardwork!!!! Hrrrrmppphhhh.....

We have to host an indoor/outdoor party for both our families, some neighbors, next May for Nina's High School Grad party. Yikes!!!! I just hope (ha, love that pun!!!) Hope behaves once I get it in shape. I should start it all several weeks before the party, and take her out on a leash until after. Then she can go to town again....

My mom said she used to plant castor beans, since the roots go way under the ground. The moles chew the roots, hate the taste and take off. But, and here's the kicker - the beans and roots are poisonous too - and I have a dog! So I said thanks but no thanks, I'm not going to make Hope sick.

Mary