How To Get Rid Of Moles In The Yard With Juicy Fruit Gum

Moles are small furry creatures that, by tunneling underneath the soil, can wreak havoc on your lawn and garden. There’s no worse feeling than gazing upon your beautiful lawn, that you’ve been working on all summer long, and seeing it crisscrossed by unsightly mounds and tunnels. Aside from the obvious eyesore this creates, tunneling can separate roots from the soil, killing your grass and other vegetation in the process.

If you’ve been trying to find out how to get rid of moles, then you’ve likely come across a number of methods – each claiming to be the best solution to your mole problem. One such method involves placing Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum into mole tunnels. Once eaten, it’s supposed to destroy their insides and cause the moles to die from a digestive problem.

While this method is not scientifically proven and many call it an urban legend, there are some gardeners that still claim it to be an effective remedy. We’ll explain the thought process behind using juicy fruit gum to get rid of moles, how to implement it, and also provide you with some other, more effective methods for dealing with your mole problem.

Using Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit gum for a mole problem is an at-home remedy that predates the internet. While many claim that applying the gum to moles’ tunnels is enough to kill them off, it hasn’t necessarily been proven. There are some that even assert that moles prefer the Juicy Fruit flavor and any other flavors simply don’t work.

The thought process behind “the Juicy Fruit method” for mole control is that by placing the gum in their tunnels, the moles will eat it, gumming up their insides. As a result, the moles are supposed to die off from either constipation or another horrible digestive problem.

Those opposed to this method of mole control proclaim that it doesn’t work simply because there is no reason why moles would want to eat gum, whether it’s Juicy Fruit or some other type. In fact, many think that moles are munching on the plants in their garden. This, however, is not true, as moles are carnivores. They feed on insects, grubs, earthworms, and anything else living they find underground.

With that said, there is no logical reason why moles would eat Juicy Fruit gum. While some claim you can combine bits of earthworm with the gum, it’s still unlikely that they are going to eat it.

If simply repelling the moles isn’t enough to keep them away, there are two effective ways to kill them: trapping and baiting. You’ll have the most luck with killing moles in your yard if you use traps or bait in either the fall or spring.

You can purchase traps or bait at your local home improvement center or from various online retailers. Regardless of the type you choose, they must be placed directly into a main, or active runway. These are generally straight tunnels in your yard or those that spread around the perimeter.

To locate a main runway, poke holes into the top using a small probe, dowel, or your index finger. If the damage is repaired in one or two days, this indicates that it is an active runway to place a trap or bait.

Once you’ve set the trap or bait in the runway, you’ll want to check it often. Also, keep in mind that catching one mole does not mean that your problem is gone. You’ll need to keep setting traps over and over again. Once one is removed, additional moles may decide to come in and occupy the pre-established tunnels. Unfortunately, you might have to trap several moles before the tunnel goes dormant.

Note: It may not be legal in your particular state to set a trap that kills moles. Before you consider this method, make sure you check with your local authorities.

While you may want to get rid of the pesky critters immediately, they may actually provide some benefits to your lawn, though temporary. The quick nature of moles’ digging can actually aerate your yard, circulating nutrients into the soil. As an added bonus, a mole’s diet of grubs and insects can rid your lawn of pests that could be eating at the roots of your plants.

If you decide to temporarily cohabitate with your underground neighborhoods, you will want to do a bit of maintenance to ensure that the tunnels the moles dig don’t completely destroy the roots of your plants. To do this, press raised soil back into position using your foot and make sure to water sufficiently to prevent the roots from drying out.

For future mole prevention, consider choosing a grass that can live on less water. Drier soil means fewer earthworms, thus minimizing the likelihood of moles moving in to find a quick meal.