The expression: do not make a mountain out of a molehill is highly underrated. Ask any farmer out there that had the experience of waking up with molehills prepping their backyard, and they will tell you that too. They are pests that can destroy your pristine and manicured garden in one go.
Moles can not only destroy gardens, but moles can also uproot flowers, plants, and other garden structures by digging tunnels underneath. Talk about a total disaster. The only way to stop them from destroying your garden is by killing them. And we will teach you how to do that in this article.
Quick Overview
- What is a mole?
- Breeding Season of Moles
- What do Moles Eat?
- Do moles bite?
- Is killing moles with marshmallows a fact or fiction?
- Main Ingredients of marshmallows
- Carrageenan
- Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
- Steps on how to put marshmallows into good use
- Recommended Marshmallows
What is a mole?
Moles are small mammals that have forelimbs with large paws designed for digging. Moles are considered pests in many parts of the world because of their ability to destroy agriculture, gardens, and lawns. To successfully lure and kill them, we need to understand their behavior and diet.
Breeding Season of Moles
Breeding of moles is generally from February to May. Male moles search for females by tunneling into foreign areas. Coincidentally, that month is also the best time to plant new seeds. As winter ends and spring starts, farmers plow their land and plant new seeds. Not only that, but gardeners are also reinventing lawns and gardens, planting blooms that did not survive in the winter. So, imagine how angry the farmers will be once they discover that moles have unearthed what they have just planted.
What do Moles Eat?
Moles eat earthworms and other insects within the soil, not plants and root crops. They dig tunnels to trap worms and insects so they can eat or store them for later consumption. The tunnels that moles created will indirectly cause damage to the plants and plant roots. For lawns and landscaped gardens, having a mole in it means looking at a molehill at the center of your otherwise pristine backyard. And that is not a very pretty sight to see.
Do moles bite?
One thing to be concerned about if you are dealing with moles is they bite. Moles also carry rabies, and when bitten, you can get infected as well. If you are dealing with moles, be extra careful.
Is killing moles with marshmallows a fact or fiction?
There are many methods to kill moles. But one of the few controversial is to kill moles with marshmallows. When you research the topic on the internet, you will not see many articles about killing moles with marshmallows. Why? Because there are rumors that it could be just a well-thought camouflage in using poison. And since moles live underground, we are not sure if marshmallows kill them or scare them away. But one thing is for sure it decreases moles activity. Since it is cheap, with no side effects for humans, I suggest you try it.
Before we try the marshmallow to the test, find out what could be causing this ruckus. Are marshmallows the key to success in combating this pest?
Main Ingredients of marshmallows
The main ingredients of marshmallows are sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, and egg whites. With these ingredients, you can make your homemade marshmallows. However, commercial-grade marshmallows use extenders, flavorings, and whipping aids. These could be carrageenan, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and gum arabic. These ingredients help marshmallows emulsify, stabilize and thicken.
Note that there is still no scientific evidence that will pin-point as to why marshmallow works against moles. But these extra ingredients may be the reason marshmallows are effective against moles.
Carrageenan
People have been using carrageenan as a thickening or emulsifier for centuries. They use this as a thickening agent in marshmallows. However, a recent discovery suggested that carrageenan can cause bloating, food allergies, cancer, and inflammation. If moles eat a lot of marshmallows, they, in turn, eat a lot of carrageenans. And that is how the magic happens. Moles will eat them, and carrageenan will slow their digestive system down. Since they are unable to digest it, they die.
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
While some commercial-grade marshmallows have carrageenan, some have tetrasodium pyrophosphate. Another emulsifying ingredient that s believed to kill moles. If you do a little research on the topic regarding the compound, you will see that it is a reactive ingredient and, dig this: it reacts to cellulose-based absorbents, mineral-based & clay-based absorbents, and dirt or earth.
Since moles are eating earthworms and grubs and below ground, it is in theory that if moles eat marshmallows, they will react to the dirt inside their body, effectively killing them.
Steps on how to put marshmallows into good use
Now that we know how marshmallow works, it is time to kill moles with marshmallows. And it is pretty simple. Moles are small, and so are the tunnels they create. A typical mole tunnel is roughly the size of a marshmallow. The idea is to use the marshmallow as a cork stopper.
- First, remove all possible food sources that moles can eat. Their primary food source is earthworms and grubs, and sometimes slugs, but they also eat other foods present.
- Put the marshmallow inside the holes and wait for the magic to happen. You can put two or three mallows in if you want.
- Put marshmallows on all ends of the tunnel you see as there can be multiple. Repeat the steps until mole activity has decreased.
There are other ways to kill moles by using castor oil, radios, trap, gas, baits, and we have professional mole experts. You may also try using radio or traps to kill moles, but I would not recommend using a lure that has poison in them. Why? If you are planting vegetables and fruits and use poison-based baits, you are indirectly inserting poison into your plants. And instead of eating wholesome foods, you are inserting poison into your system instead. I would suggest keeping it simple and if all else fails, call an expert mole exterminator.
