Once a mole has settled in the garden, many molehills will soon adorn it. This is annoying and sometimes destroys plantings. However, you are not allowed to kill or catch the animal. These 8 remedies for moles are strictly forbidden.

In a nutshell

  • strictly protected species
  • Catch and kill prohibited
  • live traps are also prohibited
  • A fine of up to EUR 50,000 is possible
  • only scaring (dispelling) allowed

Prohibited remedies for moles

The European mole (Talpa europaea) is particularly protected by both the Federal Species Protection Ordinance (BArtSchV) and the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG). The Federal Species Protection Ordinance mentions it in Appendix 1 as a "specially protected wild animal species", while the Federal Nature Conservation Act prohibits the killing and capture of wild vertebrates. When fighting the animal, you may only use indirect, repelling methods that do not injure or kill it. Violators in Germany face high fines, depending on the federal state, a fine of up to EUR 50,000 can be imposed. Prison sentences are even possible in Austria and Switzerland.

Notice: Unlike the German-speaking countries, killing and catching moles is not prohibited in the Netherlands and Belgium. Mole traps, poisoned bait, etc. bought there may not be used in Germany!

Catch in a live trap

In some guidebooks you can read that you can catch the mole in a live trap and then release it elsewhere. This remedy is just as wrong as it is dangerous for the mole, since it usually dies due to stress - and catching the animal is also prohibited by law. So you are committing a criminal offense if you set up a mole trap.
However, there are a few exceptions for which you can obtain permission from your local environmental and conservation authority. For example, these reasons could be:

  • in case of infestation of sports and training areas
  • if pets (dog, cat) endanger the mole
  • if the tunneling makes the ground in danger of collapsing

However, until you have the special permit, you are not allowed to set mole traps. Once approved, it only applies to live traps. You are obliged to check these at short, regular intervals.

Notice: Incidentally, the ban also applies to vole traps and other traps intended to catch moles.

Getting caught in a kill trap/mole clamp

If live traps are banned, then killing traps should certainly not be used. These include the so-called mole clamps, which are pushed deep into the tunnel system and are intended to kill the animal immediately. In addition, such a trap can cause unnecessary torture to the animal. In many cases, it does not die immediately, but only hours later with great pain.

Laying out poison baits

What works with rats and voles will definitely also help with moles, thinks many a troubled gardener and uses poisoned bait as an effective remedy. But their use is strictly forbidden! Never use poisons that are harmful to the mole's health or even kill them. This includes prohibited substances such as:

  • rat poison
  • special mole poison
  • vole poison
  • toxic home remedies B. Cleaners

Mole poison is sometimes available on the Internet, for example on EBay or non-German online shops. Even if these pages appear reputable and are written in German: The use of poison against moles is and remains strictly forbidden in Germany and will be punished with heavy fines. So don't let yourself be misled by such online offers: Not everything that is offered is also permitted by law.

Letting poison gases into the duct system

The same applies to the use of poison gas, which is introduced into the tunnel system and is intended to kill the mole. Many a lawn owner has even had the idea of introducing the car exhaust fumes into the mole tunnels and suffocating the animal in this way. Apart from the fact that this strictly forbidden agent means an agonizing death for the animal, the use of poison gas can also be harmful to human health. These agents are also harmful to the environment, since they also kill all other living beings in the garden in addition to the mole, for example

  • small animals living on the ground such as beetles, hedgehogs, lizards
  • Microorganisms in the soil (which are important for the formation of humus) such as earthworms
  • and also birds

affect or kill.

Notice: Carbide gas is sometimes recommended for repelling moles, which smells horribly and does not kill the animals. However, this is a highly explosive agent that must not come into contact with water under any circumstances - so better keep your hands off it.

pouring in petrol

Putting petrol in the gear system is also a bad idea as it is extremely harmful to the environment. If you contaminate your garden soil with petrol, you will no longer be annoyed by molehills - instead, the quality of the soil will suffer greatly, microorganisms important for the formation of humus will die and, in the worst case, no blade of grass will grow on such a subsoil. Then the mole is dead, but you can replace the floor.

flooding of the passage system

A simple remedy against the mole, which is neither harmful to the environment nor to people's health, is to flood the tunnel system with water. Here you put the garden hose in the system input and turn on the water tap - the mole drowns. But beware: This method is also strictly prohibited by law and punishable by law!

Use of smoke cartridges

In Holland or Belgium you can buy special sulphur-based smoke cartridges to put in the tunnel entrances. A poisonous gas then escapes, killing the mole. Quite apart from the fact that this agent is banned in Germany, it also has a harmful effect on both humans and other mammals. pets like

  • cats
  • dogs
  • rabbits and guinea pigs
  • turtles

who are often in the garden can be damaged or even killed by the escaping gas. The same applies to small children.

Excavating the mole

Of course, digging up (e.g. with a spade) is also a forbidden remedy for moles. Sometimes one reads references on the Internet to:

  • at what times moles are most active
  • What signs of excavation should one look out for?
  • how to dig up the mole

Since the animals can be killed by a ground-breaking ceremony (albeit unintentionally) and are not allowed to be caught anyway, this method is also excluded from the repertoire of possible control options.

With a spade, you can seriously injure a mole trying to dig it up

frequently asked Questions

Why is the mole protected?

Many a gardener fears moles because the animal is said to eat plant roots. However, this assumption is wrong, because in fact it feeds on insects, beetle larvae, snails and worms. This means the mole plays an important role in controlling crop pests and keeping grubs and slugs at bay. This is also one of the main reasons why the animal is given special protection by law.

How do I get rid of the mole?

Legally, you can only get rid of the mole by scaring it away, i.e. by driving it away with olfactory or acoustic means. Since the animals are blind, they use their very good hearing and excellent sense of smell to orient themselves. Therefore, both unpleasant smells and loud noises can be used, but they must not be harmful to the environment or the animal's health.

What remedies really help against the mole?

First of all, there is no deterrent that is absolutely reliable against moles. However, there are some gentle remedies, including home remedies, that you can try. Experience has shown that olfactory methods help best, i. H. strong smells. For example, planting plants that smell unpleasant to the mole, such as the crown imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) or the cruciferous spurge (Euphorbia lathyris), should help. Mothballs or garlic stuck in the aisles are also said to be effective.

Category:

Animals in the garden