Moles can really mess up a painstakingly maintained lawn. Therefore, lawn lovers are looking for ways to get rid of the mole as quickly as possible. You can find out below whether you can simply poison your mole.
Is it allowed to poison a mole?
Poisoning moles is prohibited according to the Federal Nature Conservation Act (§ 44) because they are under special protection. Failure to do so can result in pen alties of up to €50,000. Alternatively, noise and odor measures can help drive away moles.
Mole: Benefits and Conservation
No matter how unsightly the molehills on the lawn look, the mole is a beneficial insect - including for your garden. It ensures good aeration of the soil, destroys pests such as grubs and caterpillars, and its molehills provide a nutrient-rich substrate for soil and potted plants. In addition, the mole is under protection and is even one of the specially protected species. Paragraph 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act states:
It is prohibited to stalk wild animals of specially protected species, to capture, injure or kill them or to take, damage or destroy their developmental forms from nature.
Pen alties for Poisoning a Mole
Attentive, animal-loving neighbors are happy to report the killing of a mole. If you are caught attempting to kill, you will face fines of up to €50,000, depending on the federal state. So it's really not worth poisoning the little beneficial insect.
Other prohibited measures against moles
In addition to poisoning, there are also other killing methods such as snap traps or shot traps. Many animal-loving hobby gardeners mean well and want to relocate the mole using a live trap. But that is also forbidden, because the mole is ultimately not allowed to be caught. In addition, the mole has to eat constantly. Just a few hours without food can mean the end of him, which is why he often doesn't survive being caught in a live trap.
Alternatives to poisoning moles
First of all: It is not easy to get rid of a mole. Therefore, the better option is to simply make friends with his presence and be grateful for the free pest control. If you still want to try to get rid of your mole, it is a good idea to combine auditory and sensory measures:
Auditory measures against moles
The mole has a sensitive hearing and cannot stand constant noise. Therefore, you can use a self-made wind turbine (or better yet, several) to direct noise and vibrations into the ground and thus disturb its peace.
Tip
We advise against using ultrasound devices, as other animals also feel disturbed by them and their effectiveness is rather low.
Smell bombs against moles
In addition to its fine hearing, the mole also has a very good sense of smell. You can use that too. Place “scent bombs” in several of the mole’s entrances and replace them regularly. For the scent bombs you can use:
- Mothballs
- garlic
- Buttermilk
Tip
We advise against using carbide against moles due to the risks to you and the environment.
