Moles are cute creatures, but unfortunately they throw unsightly mounds. Therefore, the strict lawn lover would like to drive the animals away. Mothballs are an accepted home remedy for the protected mole. But – how effective is this remedy? Find out here whether mothballs help against moles and what alternatives there are.
Do mothballs help against moles in the garden?
Mothballs can be used against moles, but their effectiveness is low. Instead, various odorants such as mothballs, garlic and butyric acid should be combined directly into the mounds or aisles and renewed regularly.
The mole as a beneficial insect
The only disadvantage of having a mole in the garden is the unsightly molehills. Otherwise, its presence is a real blessing for every garden, because:
- Moles dig up the earth and thus ensure good ventilation and good soil quality
- Moles are great pest killers and keep the garden free of grubs, caterpillars etc.
- Moles drive away mice and other pests
So think carefully before getting rid of a mole. Maybe the many advantages outweigh the only disadvantage?
Tip
Moles are protected and may not be killed or hunted!
Do mothballs work against moles?
Moles are known to have poor eyesight, but they smell even better. Driving away with odorants is therefore a sensible strategy to gently persuade the protected animal to move. However, this method has proven to be quite ineffective in practice. Experience reports indicate a very low success rate.
Using smells against moles
Nevertheless, driving away with smells is a good option in itself. However, to have a better chance of success, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Combine different smells such as mothballs, garlic or butyric acid.
- Put the home remedies directly into the hills or into the passages and then dig them up again.
- Dig the means into hills or passages at several points.
- Renew the scented products every few days.
Tip
Only use mothballs with natural ingredients. Some products may contain chemicals such as paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene, which can harm animals in the soil and also harm the mole.
