Moles- Pest of the Week

Editor's Note: For some reason, the blog did not want to publish my entry about moles yesterday. I do not know what went wrong, but let's just try to make it work this time.

About Moles Not the cutest animal Source: Wikipedia Moles are most noticed in the spring time when they search for their food and nesting materials. During the winter, when the ground freezes, moles stay deep underground in their nests to stay warm. Moles create burrows, a series of tunnels and nesting sites, which can go as deep as 10-20 feet. Moles can grow up to 6-12”, depending on the species. They usually have a dark gray fur, a slender snout, and very sharp teeth. They have tiny beady eyes that are only capable of distinguishing light from dark, otherwise they are considered blind. Moles have very large front claws that are used for digging. Diet & Reproduction Moles live alone except for when they are rearing young. They usually have about 1-6 per litter, once or twice a year. Mole babies are hairless and blind at birth. Fur begins to appear on the babies at about ten days after birth. It takes about 6-12 months for the mole babies to grow to adult size. Moles diet consists of small invertebrates, usually worms. Moles have a very big appetite; they can eat their weight in worms and other grubs every day. To get their food they usually create new shallow tunnels to find the grubs. Finding the grubs is what usually causes the grass to die. The grubs are in the roots of the grass and cause the roots to be exposed and die off. They do not eat your plants or grasses. Tunnels Moles live most of their lives underground so it is very uncommon to see a mole, but they do come to the surface occasionally for search for water or nesting material. They can dig surface tunnels at a rate of 18 feet per hour. Moles dig two different types of tunnels: shallow and deep tunnels. Shallow tunnels are the tunnels most noticed by homeowners, because it makes the ground weak and collapsible when walked on. Shallow tunnels are also used mainly to get their food. Deep tunnels are the mole’s usual main runway, since it is usually the safest from predators. Deep tunnels are anywhere between 1 foot and 10 feet deep. Moles usually dig their tunnels in soils that are loose, moist, and that have plenty of food sources (worms and grubs). Detection The most common detection of mole is the pathways they create under the lawn. When they burrow, they tend to push the soil upwards and outwards, often killing the grass roots and therefore leaving a path of dead grass that can be unsightly. Mole tunnels are about 1-2 inches wide. If you see a mole hill, a pile of dirt surrounding a hole, then that means the mole tunnels are deep. It’s an easy inspection, walk along your yard and look for ridges or soft parts in the yard.   Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between an active mole tunnel and an abandoned tunnel. A simple way to see if it is an active tunnel is to flatten the tunnel down (step on it). If the tunnel is rebuilt then it is an active tunnel, if it doesn’t after a week then you can bet on it being an abandoned tunnel. Removal There two main ways of removing moles: baits and traps. Mole baits usually come in gel form. The moles are attracted to it, eat it and die from the poison. This method can work pretty well if you use enough bait and place it in the correct places. The only problem with gel baits are that if the mole doesn't die the first time, it will stay away from the bait from then on.   The most effective and usually cheapest method of controlling moles is through traps. Some people have tried and failed using traps. This is because they placed the traps in the wrong places. Placing a trap near the entrance of a suspected mole tunnel is not as effective as actually putting a trap in a tunnel that is used for travel. Placing a trap at the entrance is like standing there with a shovel playing the real life version of Whack-A-Mole, except no moles will stick their heads up out of the holes. Spring traps, harpoon traps, and choker loop traps are all common traps used in the business. The most common trap used, and usually the most humane, is the choker loop trap. The key in placing the traps is placing more than one trap and in active tunnels.

Todays Featured Pest- Fleas

FLEAS

Fleas. What can I say about them? They are annoying, itchy, and quite hard to get rid of. If you have pets that go outside, you may know exactly how I feel about them. Just thinking of the fleas may make you start to itch.  The fact that they can jump 200 times their own height (7 inches vertically, 13 inches horizontally) can give you the chills.

Trying to get rid of fleas can be quite the hassle. But with the right knowledge of where they hide, their lifecycle, and what to use getting rid of these guys is possible.

First thing first, there are different types of fleas that attack different types of animals. Using the right treatment is VERY important. Some pesticides or treatments used for dogs, may be strong enough to kill a cat or other small pet. Please, please, please read the instructions on the type of treatment you use before you treat your pet.

LIFE CYCLE

They are surprisingly resilient during the larvae and pupa stage. They create a hard cocoon that is almost impenetrable, this is the stage where they can wait for up to a year, just waiting for the

Life Cycle of Fleas 1.       Egg 2.       Larvae 3.       Pupa 4.       Adult

opportune moment when the time is right. This also makes it difficult to fully get rid of them because you may use all the pesticides to get rid of the eggs and adults, but the ones in the cocoon can come out long after the infestation is gone and repopulate quickly.

So after all that is said, it may sound like you may not be able to get rid of fleas. But it takes the right treatments and persistence to get rid of them altogether. You need to be able to know where the fleas are located.

LOCATIONS

The places where the pests like to hide are basically anywhere where your pet likes to lay down. They can live in gravel, bedding, couches, beds, and on the pet (or human).  If you think there may be fleas in your home, you can do a simple test. Wear long white socks, and walk around everywhere where your pets walk and lay. For some weird reason, fleas seem to be more attracted to white clothing, so you can easily notice the little black fleas that may latch on to your socks.

TREATMENTS

There are several treatments like shampoos, foggers, powders, and sprays. Some of the most recommended methods for pets are Frontline and Advantage. These are treatments for the pet and they help kill the fleas on the pet and help keep them from returning. This does not, however, get rid of the fleas in your home.

There are also flea combs to use on your pets, but this is just a short term method. It does not keep them from coming back, especially if most of the fleas are in the pet's bedding. A pet's bedding can support thousands of fleas.

You can try to buy foggers or powders for your home, but these can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. One thing we do at Downs Pest Control is never over-spray. Too much pesticides can make you or your family sick, and it can cause fleas to build up an immunity to these sprays.

LABELS

Be sure to read the labels, these are very important. You should not just go aimlessly around shooting pesticides around. the best way to control fleas is with a controlled method and spraying or using foggers in certain areas.  Labels of products give you directions on how to use their products safely. Safety is always number one.

PERSISTENCE

The first treatment may not get rid of all the fleas. Do not get discouraged, there may be some fleas that were hiding in a different spot or coming out of the cocoon. It may take up to three or four treatments to fully eradicate your flea infestation, but with persistence you can get passed the infestation. 

PROFESSIONAL HELP

You can always call your local family owned, Downs Pest Control to help you with your problem. We are trained licensed professionals who know their bugs. We can help you choose the right pesticides and help you locate where your problem is.

50309, 50310, 50311, 50312, 50313, 50314, 50315, 50316, 50317, 50318, 50319, 50320, 50321, 50327, 50391, and 50392.Downs Pest Control is family owned and operated pest control company that serves Des Moines and surrounding areas. We are dedicated to helping residents and businesses in Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Perry, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights prevent and remove pest infestations. We are dedicated to safety and high quality customer service. Downs Pest Control