Moles are a common problem among many people. We all recognize the seemingly endless labyrinths of tunnels they leave all throughout our otherwise perfect front lawns and beneath our flower gardens. Let’s face it, they can be frustrating, in all of their destructive digging. The game “Whack a Mole” wasn’t created out of adoration. However, you can rest easy, knowing that there are, indeed, ways to protect your yard from our furry friends.

If it suits your preferences, you could start out by investing in an outdoor cat. Most cats will be content with hunting little creatures, such as the mole, all day long. They’re instinctive predators. This may seem a bit gruesome, but it does work. Sprinkling some used cat litter around the entrances of the mole holes also has the potential to drive the moles away, at least for a while.

If you’re one of the faint of heart who’d really rather not have a yard of corpses, there are other ways. Moles hate the scent of humans, so, after your next haircut, take a handful of leftover hair clippings, and put them inside the holes. They also despise the scent of garlic, so consider planting some around your yard. Also, you could venture to attempt to flood the moles out of their holes, by taking a garden hose and simply allowing a good amount of water to run through the tunnels. However, this only sometimes works. It depends greatly on the precision of the location of the water into the tunnels, as well as on the persistence of the moles. Also, try not watering your plants so vigorously. Grubs are one of moles’ favorite foods, and less water in your yard will mean less grubs, which, in turn, will mean less moles.

There are plenty of ways to rid your yard of moles without harmful poisons and snap traps. Give one (or more!) a try, and see how easy it is to whack those moles!