Moles have a very keen sense of smell, which is why driving them away with smells is a common method. Below you will find out whether driving away moles with butyric acid is a good idea, what you need to consider and what alternatives there are.
Is butyric acid good for repelling moles?
Butyric acid against moles is not a recommended method as it can be corrosive and irritating. Instead, you can use buttermilk, garlic or mothballs to gently repel the critters without causing any harm.
The mole as a beneficial insect
Even if the mole leaves unsightly mounds in the garden, it is a wonderful beneficial insect because it loves to eat garden pests such as grubs, larvae, caterpillars and worms. It also digs through the ground, creating delicious, he althy soil. In addition, he is under protection and therefore must not be killed, chased away or injured under any circumstances. Gentle expulsion is permitted; It is questionable whether it makes sense due to the advantages of the mole.
What is butyric acid?
Butyric acid is a fatty acid called butanoic acid. It occurs naturally through butyric acid fermentation, for example when milk goes bad or during digestion in our stomach. In its pure form it is colorless, corrosive and reacts with oxygen and water. The reaction produces corrosive gases that can irritate and damage skin and mucous membranes - not just ours, but also those of the mole!
Use butyric acid against moles
Butyric acid is therefore not a “gentle” method of getting the mole to move, but rather a very aggressive variant that can potentially harm the mole. In addition, the smell clings strongly to skin, clothing and floors and is difficult to remove and can of course harm people, pets etc. We therefore advise against using butyric acid against moles. However, there are interesting alternatives.
Use buttermilk against moles
Butyric acid, as I said, is formed during the fermentation of whey products. Therefore, you can simply use buttermilk to get rid of the mole. This starts to smell as it ferments, which the mole won't like. Unlike butyric acid, the substance is not concentrated and therefore not corrosive or irritating. The method works best in combination with other smelly substances such as garlic or mothballs.
Use buttermilk or butyric acid
To use buttermilk or (not recommended) butyric acid against the mole, proceed as follows:
- Carefully dig up several tunnels with a shovel.
- Soak pieces of fabric with buttermilk or butyric acid and stuff them into the aisle.
- Dig up the passage again.
- Mark the aisles with smelly pieces of fabric so that you can remove them later.
Tip
When using butyric acid, be sure to wear gloves, long, old clothing and a breathing mask.
