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Mole Removal Lancashire

Wallace Pest Control

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Mole Removal Lancashire

Mole Control Lancashire

Traps, Turf, and Tradition: Why Moles Are Still Making a Mess

Moles have been burrowing beneath British soil since around 8,000 years ago, shortly after they made their way to the British Isles at the end of the last Ice Age. Even the Romans understood the nuisance they could cause, and early records suggest they used buried amphorae (clay jars) beneath active mole tunnels. The idea was simple, as the mole travelled at speed through the run, it would drop into the jar and become trapped, unable to climb back out thanks to the smooth interior surface.

Fast-forward a few centuries, and moles found themselves a new enemy: the perfectly manicured lawn. What began as a defensive feature, keeping grass short around castles to spot sneaky invaders, gradually became a symbol of wealth and order. By the Georgian and Victorian periods, lawns were in fashion, and moles were the new invaders threatening their pristine appearance.

Today, that battle continues. Whether you're managing a country garden, farm, or paddock (and let’s not even begin to dwell on the cost of vet bills for a horse with an injured leg from stumbling into a mole tunnel), mole activity can cause serious disruption. Just one mole can push up dozens of hills in a matter of days, wrecking lawns, disturbing root systems, and making the ground uneven and unstable.

That’s where we come in. We use traditional, humane trapping methods, selected based on your soil conditions and site layout. No poisons, no gassing, and no guesswork, just proper mole control carried out by professionals who know exactly what they’re looking for.

 

Talk to us about Mole control

    Treatment Process: How We Get Rid of Moles

    Mole control requires patience, observation, and solid technique. We use traditional trapping methods suited to your site and soil, with traps placed in precise locations based on mole behaviour, not guesswork.

    Visit 1: Inspection & Trap Setup

    • Site Survey: We assess the layout of molehills to determine the most active areas and feeding grounds.
    • Tunnel Probing: Using a simple, time-tested tool, we locate active runs where moles are currently travelling.
    • Trap Selection & Placement: Depending on soil conditions, we use Putange, Talpex, or Half Barrel traps and place them in intercepting tunnels. Each trap is marked for easy identification and checked for safety and stability.
    • Securing & Marking: Traps are anchored using wire pegs and clearly marked with orange stakes to ensure they remain undisturbed by wildlife or weather.
    Moles

    Treatment Process: How We Get Rid of Moles

    Mole control requires patience, observation, and solid technique. We use traditional trapping methods suited to your site and soil, with traps placed in precise locations based on mole behaviour, not guesswork.

    Visit 1: Inspection & Trap Setup

    • Site Survey: We assess the layout of molehills to determine the most active areas and feeding grounds.
    • Tunnel Probing: Using a simple, time-tested tool, we locate active runs where moles are currently travelling.
    • Trap Selection & Placement: Depending on soil conditions, we use Putange, Talpex, or Half Barrel traps and place them in intercepting tunnels. Each trap is marked for easy identification and checked for safety and stability.
    • Securing & Marking: Traps are anchored using wire pegs and clearly marked with orange stakes to ensure they remain undisturbed by wildlife or weather.

    Visit 2: Monitoring & Adjustment

    • All traps are checked, and any moles caught are removed from the site.
    • If activity continues, we reassess mole activity, relocate traps where needed, and may place additional traps in newly active areas.
    • The site is carefully reviewed to adapt the strategy based on soil changes, fresh molehills, and environmental conditions.

    Mole Control Pricing

    • £120: Includes two visits (initial trap setup and follow-up check/removal)
    • £60 per additional visit: Only charged if further mole activity requires it

    No upselling, no per-trap charges—just straight-talking pest control with a traditional, effective approach.

    Molehills are the first sign

    Preparing for Your Mole Control Visit

    To give your mole control treatment the best chance of success, here’s how you can prepare ahead of your technician’s visit:

    Avoid Cutting the Grass

    • Please do not mow the lawn within 48 hours before our visit.
    • Freshly cut grass can collapse shallow tunnels and alter the mole’s regular pathways, causing them to divert their movements and avoid our carefully placed traps.
    • A recently mown lawn also removes visual clues we rely on to read mole activity accurately.

    Clear Access to the Treatment Area

    • Remove any garden furniture, toys, tools, or loose debris from the lawn or affected areas to give the technician full access to molehills and active runs.
    • This ensures smooth trap placement and reduces disturbance to the site.

    Let Us Know About Underground Hazards

    • If you’re aware of buried cables, pipes, soakaways, or irrigation systems, let us know before or during the visit.
    • It helps us avoid causing unintentional damage when probing for tunnels or placing traps.

    Supervise Children and Pets

    • While traps are in place, children and pets should always be supervised in the garden.
    • They must not enter the immediate area around trap sites—for their safety and to prevent disruption.
    • Trampling near the traps can collapse tunnels, which not only reduces the effectiveness of the traps but may also cause the mole to block or avoid them entirely.

     Report What You’ve Noticed

    Let your technician know if:

    • The molehills started appearing recently or have been ongoing for a while
    • Certain areas seem more active than others
    • You’ve seen a pattern (e.g. near trees, borders, or after rain)

    The more we know, the better we can plan your control strategy.

    Post-Treatment Guidelines

    Once your mole control treatment has been carried out, there’s very little you need to do, but here’s what to keep in mind going forward:

    There’s Not Much You Can Do to Prevent Moles

    We’re often asked about mole deterrents: sonic spikes, planting certain flowers, or scattering household remedies. Truthfully? Most don’t work, and many just waste time and money.

    The good news is that moles are highly territorial. Once we’ve removed the resident mole, it’s unlikely another will move in immediately. In most cases, you won’t see further activity until the next breeding season, when juveniles begin dispersing in search of their own territory.

    Watch Out for Worm-Rich Areas

    Moles don’t dig for the sake of it, they’re expert hunters, and their main food source is earthworms. Areas like compost heaps, damp borders, and rich organic soil can sometimes draw them in. If you’ve got a particularly active compost heap near the lawn, it may be worth keeping an eye on that area for early signs.

    In short, you don’t need to stress. Mole problems often seem worse than they are, and once the job is done, you can usually expect long periods of peace and undisturbed turf.

    Moles eat earthworms
     

    FAQs: Mole Removal

    1How do I prevent moles?
    Truthfully? You can't really. Moles don’t respond to deterrents in the same way as many other pests. All the ultrasonic gadgets, garlic pellets, and bottle-top windmills in the world won’t change much. They’re not interested in your lawn, they’re interested in the soil beneath it, specifically the worms and invertebrates they feed on. That said, early detection and treatment are key. If you notice molehills starting to appear, acting quickly means you’re dealing with one mole, not five. Timely intervention is the closest thing we have to prevention.
    2How do I get rid of moles?
    The most effective and reliable way to get rid of moles is professional trapping by someone who knows what they’re doing. We inspect the site, locate active tunnels using a time-tested probe, and set traps in precisely the right locations. It’s not about throwing traps in at random, it’s about reading the ground, understanding mole behaviour, and placing with intent. Catching moles properly is a skilled job, and the right trap in the wrong place will catch nothing but frustration. That’s why we pride ourselves on experience, precision, and supplying a proven method.
    3Can moles be relocated?
    No, relocating moles just isn’t practical, effective, or humane. While moles do create food caches, sometimes storing hundreds of paralysed earthworms in underground chambers, they still have an extremely high metabolism and need near-constant access to live prey. Those caches don’t last forever, and without a familiar tunnel system or an established hunting ground, a relocated mole would likely starve before it can set up a new territory, even in perfect soil conditions. Add to that their strong territorial behaviour, and any attempt to release a mole into another mole’s turf often ends in fatal conflict. And let’s be honest, who exactly wants moles released onto their land? That’s why relocation just isn’t a realistic option. Professional trapping remains the most effective, targeted, and accepted method of mole control in the UK.
    4Do moles come back?
    Moles are territorial creatures. Once they’ve established their tunnels, they usually stick to them. If we successfully remove a mole, it’s unlikely that another will move in right away. Moles typically breed in spring and early summer, so after one season’s activity, it’s rare to see new moles until the next breeding period. If you do spot molehills or tunneling after treatment, it’s often due to a new mole moving into the area.
    5How many moles have I got?
    It’s difficult to give a precise number of moles from sight alone, moles are solitary creatures, and each mole occupies its own network of tunnels. One mole can create several active feeding areas, so you might think there are more than there actually are. Our technicians will evaluate your site and assess the extent of the infestation, ensuring that we deal with any and all active tunnels. You’ll receive an update after the initial inspection and throughout the treatment process.
    6Why do moles like my garden?
    Moles are drawn to gardens, lawns, and paddocks because of the abundance of their primary food source: earthworms. If your soil is rich in worms, moles will likely be attracted to the area. Damp, fertile soil is ideal for them, and your well-maintained garden is the perfect place for them to hunt. Moles are also excellent burrowers, and your well-cultivated lawn is an ideal site for digging. Of course, they’re not just causing issues with the aesthetics of your lawn, they can damage the root systems of plants, leading to weakened grass or garden beds.
    7How long do moles live?
    Moles typically live around 3 to 5 years, depending on environmental factors and predation. Within their lifespan, moles will build and maintain multiple tunnels and feeding systems. Moles are very territorial, so each mole will guard its own tunnel network, and their life is focused on hunting, breeding, and defending their territory.
    8Can I use poison for moles?
    Poison is not a common or recommended method of mole control in the UK, especially since the withdrawal of strychnine, a dangerous poison once used for moles. Strychnine is highly toxic and poses severe risks to humans, pets, and wildlife. While gassing moles is still used by some pest controllers, the active ingredient, aluminium phosphide, is highly restricted due to its dangerous nature. Improper use of this chemical has led to accidental deaths in recent years, and it’s not suitable for most gardens. There are strict regulations about how close it can be applied to buildings, watercourses, and other sensitive areas. This limits its practicality for general mole control. Furthermore, imported mole poisons that aren’t approved in the UK are illegal to use. Using unapproved products is a criminal offence, and it could lead to serious legal consequences. So, while mole poisons or gassing methods are available, they pose significant risks and are not suitable for most domestic gardens. For safe, effective, and legal control, trapping remains the best solution for managing mole problems.
    9How long do moles stay in one area?
    Moles are territorial animals. Once they establish a tunnel system, they tend to stay in that area for a long time, often for their entire life. Their territory can cover anywhere from 0.5 to 2 acres, depending on food availability and soil conditions. Moles are more likely to stay within their established territory until they either die or are removed by control methods. However, if there’s a change in their environment, such as trapping or soil disruption, they may relocate temporarily, but they are likely to return if the habitat remains attractive.
    10How can I tell if I have moles?
    The most obvious sign of mole activity is molehills, small mounds of displaced soil scattered across your lawn or garden. Moles push the soil up from their tunnels, creating these visible piles as they forage for food. Tunnels under the surface are also a clear indicator, often causing raised lines in the soil or grass. One common misidentification is the field vole. These small rodents dig their own burrows, which often look similar to mole tunnels. However, unlike moles, field voles don’t create large mounds of soil on the surface. Their burrow entrances are generally narrower, about the size of a 50-pence coin, and they’re often mistaken for mole tunnels, especially if you're not familiar with the two. A well-trained technician will be able to easily tell the difference and advise accordingly. So, if you spot visible molehills or notice raised soil, you're likely dealing with moles. But if you only see small holes or narrow tunnels without the mounds of soil, you could be dealing with voles instead.
    The Guild Of British Molecatchers

    Mole Control Treatment

    Wallace Pest Control is a long-time member of the Guild of British Molecatchers.

    This is one of the only organisations providing nationally recognised training and certification for traditional mole control methods. The guild aims to promote ethical and environmentally sustainable mole control methods.

    This benefits the nation as we support our farmers.

    Moles are not simply an unsightly inconvenience; they can be a death trap for livestock due to shallow tunnels near the surface causing serious injury.

    Moles also contaminate grassland for feeding livestock through soilborne bacteria such as listeria.

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    Ready to Sort Out Your Mole Problem?

    If you have a problem with moles and need professional treatment, contact us below or call us on 07496 680879, and our experienced, friendly team will offer advice and provide an effective solution.