Moles Love Gum

It's a beautiful day out and you're walking in your yard. You notice the grass under your feet is kind of soft and sinks down when you step on it. You look around and notice that there are lines of this raised, soft grass, leading to small piles of dirt. What the heck?!

Moles are small mammals ranging from 4-11 inches long and weighing 2.5-7.5 oz. Thanks to adaptations in their hemoglobin, moles spend a majority of their time underground with low levels of oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide. They have short hindlimbs and larger, more powerful polydactyl (two thumbs!) forelimbs used for digging and burrowing underground, up to 15/ft. per hour. It is a common myth that moles do not have eyes since they live primarily underground but they are there! Both their eyes and ears are small and unremarkable. Although many people think moles are related to mice or rats, they are not rodents. they are more closely related to bats!

There are seven species of moles in North America, the most common being the Eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus.) They typically only live for 2 years but some can live up to 6 years in the wild. They eat 70-100% of their weight in insects, grubs, and worms a day. Moles have been known to grab a worm and squeeze the dirt out of the worm's gut before eating it (cool!). Toxins in mole saliva can paralyze an earthworm which allows the mole to gather and save up food for later.

Most species are solitary and only one species, the star-nosed mole, is thought to live in colonies. Socialization only occurs for reproduction purposes, which happens in late winter. Females give birth to 2-5 young, with a gestational period of only 42 days. Baby moles, called pups, leave their mother and home by five to six weeks.

Some people think moles are beneficial since they eat destructive insects, and their digging can help turn the soil. However, most homeowners find moles to be pests that can have a territory up to 2.7 acres with many complex tunnels with separate areas for hunting and living.

There are many ways to get rid of moles and other similar pests including poisons, traps, soundwave deterrents, etc. Some unusual solutions could already be found in your house. Dave Everist of Hampton, Virginia said he had "a freeway of moles" in his yard before he tried Juicy Fruit chewing gum.

The gum method entails placing sticks of Juicy Fruit gum (not mint flavored) in the dug-up hills of mole dirt with the aluminum wrapper still on. The moles will smell the sweet gum and eat it, along with the wrapper. Since they will be unable to digest the gum and aluminum wrapper, they will eventually die. Pretty inhumane...

Another way is with castor oil. Mix 1 part castor oil with 7 parts water and put this mixture in mole hills and runs. Do this for three or four days and then make a perimeter around your garden or lawn with the castor oil mix. You have to reapply every week and after a rain. This might be tedious, but it is known to work! It doesn't kill the mole, but boy do they hate castor oil and will stay away! This method might be better for those who would prefer not to kill the animal.

Although most people don't like moles, these little guys play a beneficial role in our ecosystems. They help manage insects and aid in soil aeration, pushing subsoil materials to the surface where plants can better utilize these nutrients. Like with most organisms on our planet, we all play a role, even the little mole!

Resources:

https://www.havahart.com/mole-facts

https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19970202-1997-02-02-9702020129-story.html

https://extension.psu.edu/moles