Keep reading for insights on mole killer worms, mole poison pellets, mole control products and of course, the best mole poison. When you’re done learning about poisons, check out our homeowners mole removal guide.
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Why Should Use Poison for Mole Control?
With so many different ways to rid your yard of moles out there, why should you choose poisons?
Are They Better than Traps?
There are a few reasons that many consumers prefer poisons to traps.
- Traps can be difficult to set.
- Removal and disposal of a mole carcass is unpleasant.
- The traps were ineffective.
Did You Know
Moles like to burrow in straight lines through open spaces so it’s unlikely to find active tunnels in your garden.
Poisons are an effortless way to effectively eliminate the moles from your yard because you simply disperse them and walk away.
Your problem mole will eat the poison and die below the surface of the grass, exactly where you’d want to bury the carcass anyway.
Watch this video to learn more about how moles dig, so that you can place your mole poisons more strategically:
A Quick (And Important) Mole Poison Tip
Always wear gloves whenever you’re placing mole poison. This is recommended for two separate reasons:
- First of all, you’re not going to want to touch the poison with your bare hands and risk exposure to your body.
- Also, moles rely on scent to survive, as their eyesight is extremely primitive. When a human touches a mole poison, the scent lingers. A mole will be inclined to pass up any foreign-smelling “worm,” no matter how lifelike it seems.
What Types of Poisons Are Out There?
You’re ready to go all in, and we’re going to help you choose a product.
Take a look at the different kinds of poisons on the market so that you can make an informed decision about what’s best for your yard.
Most rodenticides come in this form: small beads or blocks of concentrated poison.
These usually work very well on rodents such as squirrels and chipmunks that have teeth called incisors, which need to be trimmed frequently. Because of this evolutionary oversight, these animals will chomp on anything and everything.
Moles, though, are a bit different.
These mammals paddle through the soil with their forefeet and dig tunnels pretty much every waking moment. When they come into contact with food, they just gobble it up.
A mole might take it a poison pellet not by choice, but because it’s there.
Think about this: if you’re hiding in a cave, the last thing you want is for someone to set off a smoke bomb in there.
At best, you won’t be able to breathe. Worst case scenario, the air is thick with poison.
Moles, essentially, live in caves. They dwell alone and only come to the surface of their burrows rarely.
These bomb poisons were designed to act as both a smothering agent and a toxic gas.
If one aspect fails (for example, the smoke doesn’t quite reach to the bottom of the burrow), the other is there as a backup plan (in this case, the poison can drift downward to affect the mole).
Using a bait in the design of a worm or grub is commonly considered the most effective form of mole poison.
Because of a mole’s insane appetite, this animal will eat as it burrows, essentially redefining the term “fast food.”
These types of poisons are lodged within synthetically-created “worms,” which look and feel exactly like real earthworms.
A mole will slurp these poisons down without a second thought, and the active ingredient will kick in soon after, killing the mole.
Wear gloves while placing mole poison so that they won’t detect your scent and pass up the poison.
Are There Safety Concerns With Mole Poison?
The most common reason that people are indecisive about using poison is this main question:
If it kills a mole, what will stop it from harming humans, pets, and plants?
Depending on the age of your child or children, it’s pretty simple to keep them away from any poison agent you may use in the grass.
While mole poison can absolutely be harmful if ingested or internalized in any way, nothing hazardous can happen without contact.
Show your kids what the poisons look like, so that they’ll know to stay away if any poisons are spotted in the yard.
Pets, unfortunately, are a bit harder to control.
Your pet is left alone sometimes, and even when you’re at home, you’re not keeping your eyes on your dog or cat 24/7.
When you’re utilizing a poison to rid your yard of a problem mole, we highly recommend that you either keep your pets inside, or have someone take care of them for a week or so.
Give your mole some time to eat the poison, give your yard time to readjust and bounce back to normal, and save your pet from a potential poisoning
So, if the grass becomes toxic, what does that mean for the garden you’ve been grooming to perfection all year?
Fortunately, only the area directly affected by the poison will usually be toxic.
Because moles tend to burrow in straight lines through open spaces, the likelihood that an active tunnel pops up near your garden is very slim.
Are you legally allowed to kill moles in your yard?
Though property owners can largely do what they want on their own soil, there are still a few legal restrictions to observe.
Keep reading to make sure you’re operating within the law when you buy mole poison.
Legal Status of Moles
In most states, moles are classified as nongame wildlife and are unprotected by conservations efforts. In others, the status of a mole is simply “unclassified,” meaning that no regulation is in place to control the mole population.
Check with your state’s Department of Wildlife and the Environmental Protection Agency before purchasing any poison to be certain that you’re not purchasing something forbidden for use in your state.
Restricted Sale in Some States
In some parts of the USA, there are restrictions on both the sale and use of certain poisons for rodents and ground pests, so it may be easier to hire a professional: These states include (but are not limited to):
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Hawaii
- California
- New York
- The Territory of Puerto Rico
Why Sale is Restricted in Some Areas
Imagine this: a ground pest may eat a few poison pellets that cause it discomfort over a few hours. Undeterred, the pest will eat more and more poison until the side effects eventually catch up and kill the animal.
Now, let’s just say an endangered or protected species comes to snack on this animal’s poison-infested corpse. In turn, the protected species will also fall victim to the lethal substance.
Ban of Strychnine in the United Kingdom
The chemical strychnine is a popular method of DIY extermination due to its immediate toxicity to small animals.
In 2006, however, the United Kingdom banned the use of strychnine for use for any purpose. Due to this ban, the mole population has risen wildly in the past ten years and continues to skyrocket.
If you live in the UK and are in the market for a mole poison, be sure to read the label carefully if purchasing the product online. Check the ingredients and be absolutely certain that the poison of your choice does not contain strychnine.
Top Mole Poisons At a Glance
Take a look below for the top 5 in our list. In the below section we break down each of our product recommendations in a little more detail.
- Tomcat Worm Formula Mole Killer (our #1 recommended product)
- Talpirid Mole Worms
- Victor Poison Mole Worms
- Molemax Mole and Gopher Repellent
- Atlas Giant Destroyer Pest Killer Gas Bomb
Tomcat Worm Formula Mole Killer
Because moles feast mainly on earthworms, Tomcat developed a synthetic worm-like poison to trick moles into thinking they’re eating their favorite food.
A mole will die after eating these “worms,” and then decompose below ground.
Simple, effective, and no clean-up necessary.
Talpirid Mole Worms
This type of poison is specifically designed to act as a naturally-occurring earthworm in the soil, meaning that the mole causing chaos in your yard probably won’t be able to distinguish poison from nature.
Simply plop a few of these down into active tunnel systems, and wait a few days.
You should find that the activity has stopped, no new tunnels are being created, and your mole has died off down below.
Victor Poison Mole Worms
Moles love worms. So, these poisonous rubber fakes from Victor are an ideal solution to your mole problem. They’re designed to look and feel just like earthworms. Once the mole gets one in their mouth, the active ingredient takes over and kills it.
Victor Poison Mole Worms are easy to use. First, locate an active tunnel and poke a hole in the roof. Be sure it’s large enough to drop a poison mole worm into the hole. Cover the hole with dirt and repeat for all other active holes.
Molemax Mole and Gopher Repellent
These Molemax Mole and Gopher Repellent Granules help keep moles and other pests out of your yard or garden. Use anytime you see mounds or holes from animals burrowing in your yard. It works for these pests:
- Moles
- Voles
- Gophers
Just hide some granules at an entrance hole or tunnel. One to two teaspoons usually works best. Be sure to seal the entrance after placing the granules.
Atlas Giant Destroyer Pest Killer Gas Bomb
This gas bomb is sold mostly as only a smoking agent due to the EPA’s restrictions on rodenticides.
However, it does the trick just as well.
A concentrated burst of smoke fills the burrow of a mole when this type of bomb is activated, smothering the mole and cutting off its oxygen supply.
Think you might need professional help with your mole problem? Use the form below to connect with local pest control pros:
