I'm planning a pond in an area that is a known mole area. I can't get rid of them. They won't die :ph43r: They're those little mouse/rat sized critters that burrow for buried bugs, worms, etc.

My questions: Will they dig holes through the liner? Should I use something extra thick as a liner pad, for example carpeting?

Anyone out there with experience with these critters?

We have a fair amount of moles around here. They've yet in 11 years to put a hole in my liner. They sell mole chasers which make ultrasonic noise but I was afraid that would bother the fish so I didn't use that. You can certainly put in more padding under the liner and on the sides. Moles are good at digging dirt but aren't as proficient as chewing through tougher things as say a rat would be. One person had chipmunks put holes in the liner. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about the moles. Just put in your underliner, carpet, sand, etc. Hopefully, it will be fine. Has anyone else in the forum who reads this had problems with moles making holes in the liner?

We have a few moles around here, but never had a problem with them bothering the pond. The cats tend to keep them in check. ;)

Derrick

LindaB, I do not have any moles but I have heard of them putting holes in liners before. Since they tend to tunnel very shallow I would be most concerned with them around my stream causing water to divert if nothing else. I once had a raccoon nest in my fireplace chimney flue and used this company www.critterridders.com, who sells all kinds of animal/ pest supplies, to evict the momma and her babies within hours with no harm to any involved. The best $20.00 I ever spent :lol: Check it out.

FM3

LindaB, a belated hi and welcome to the board! :)

I have my fair share of moles around my place. They have over 50 acres to burrow in and they have to come to my yard! :angry:
The only other thing I can think of and this probably isn't going to work for you but.. to put wire mesh down the sides of the pond then the extra padding. They can't chew/dig threw the mesh and if they could I would be scared! :huh: :o
I would think that this solution would be extreme and expensive but some fish "owners" are pretty extreme ppl ;)
Storytime: I had to use the mesh (in ground) around some plants a few years back. It wasn't to keep the moles out but to keep the voles out. The voles make their homes in the mole tunnels and will eat bulbs, roots and grass and whatever.
To make a long story short, it worked. :) :)
Tia

I've heard that if you have moles in your yard that it should be taken as a compliment.
It means that you are taking good care of your yard!

We have moles in our yard, too.
So far I haven't seen any mole-holes near the pond.

PG

I thought Voles was just the way Colonel Klink said Poles! ;)

HooogaaannnnN!!!!

Derrick

(Anyone under mid-thirties wont have a clue as to what I am talking about! hahaha) :D

I did have something bit through the liner once about an inch down from the water line. I am guessing it was a chipmunk though cause I was feeding them right there.
I don't do that anymore.



R3d. You just dated yourself.
All the girls on this thread are too young to know who Colonel Klink is.

hahaha, you are right I am sure Wayne. :D

Derrick

Thank you, Wayne! You've been very well trained!

Did you know Col. Hogan was orginally stationed out of Westover AFB in Mass? ( I can walk there in 10 minutes ). :P I old <_<

When I was a kid I waited in line for an hour, on a 100+ deg day, at a local der Wienerschnitzel to get John Banner's autograph on a 8x10 glossy of him.
Some sort of promo for the hotdog place.
By the time I reached him he looked like he was going to melt. He was in his full Sergeant Schultz uniform.

I should have kept that picture.

PG

I know who Hogan's Hero's are too :(
I don't remember what night the show was on but every week without fail we would be glued to the TV.

Now what was the subject again? That darn CRS is kicking in again. ;)

Tia

The subject had to do with Sargent Schultz fitting down a mole hole. I think! :blink:

What do you see when you look down a mole hole?




Answer: Molasses




Another way to repel moles is to bury moth balls or crystals in a shallow trench around the object to be protected. They hate the smell.

Don

ha .................................................................................................... ha

HAHAHAHAHAHA!! That was very good. :lol:

I hadn't heard that one before :lol:


Cute grandson btw. :)

Tia

Try this site on castor bean to get rid of moles. I grow caster bean and don't have any moles.




http://landscaping.about.com/cs/pests/a/mole_control_4.htm

Really Wayne.... a story about Jack and the bean stock! BTW is that you with the post hole digger? How big are those beans?

FM3

The bean is the size of a pea.
Last year I grew one plant 14ft tall in one growing season.

The stocks make good light weight walking sticks when dried out.

LOL LOL I don't know how I missed this thread, but I don't have a clue who Derrick is talking about, never seen a mole, a vole or any molasses (which took me awhile to "get" by the way!! lol) My father in law did have squirrels chew threw his water line to his house a few years in a row. He put wire mesh over the pipe and it worked good. Jeez, you all sure do come up with some funny topics! And here I though that I was the strange one in the group, LOL!

Shame, shame, shame not paying attention. Now you get a check mark next to your name KK. ;)

Many people should educate themselves on moles and voles, quite interesting animals!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(animal)

http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=eastern+mole

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vole

http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=meadow+vole

I feel so COOL and SPECIAL to have a check by my name :P

Moles, voles? mice? can become a serious problem in the Winter months. When all is frozen above ground they wiggle up to the pond liner and you guessed it, get their peckers out below the freezing line to get a drink of water... The coincidence of rodent? mole? tunnels along the liner and the punctures was a bit obvious. The teeth marks were a bit of a hint.

Putting out d-con before Winter seems to work to reduce the varmint population which use the moles tunnels, that worked particularly well this Winter

I've taken to pouring a liquid solution a couple of inches thick of clay behind all liners on ground where small rodents tend to burrow. The clay will go some way to forming a hard barrier to moles and to help stem the flow of leaks at and about the water level...

Another measure is to top up the pond to overflowing, to make the ground difficult for burrowing rodents, it seems they like ground that is semi dry but not soaking to tunnel about in

A supply of puncture repair material is useful by Spring, when rodents are less likely to bite through liners through freezing spells when the surface above is rock solid frozen. It seems sub zero weather makes it difficult for the rodents to find water, when all above ground is frozen, they resort to puncturing liners below the freeze line.

Regards, andy