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West Michigan---Hasekg39@gmail.com

I have always had problems with moles in my yard but other than the tunnels they aren't that big a deal but now I noticed that one is making tunnels under my pumpkin and now I'm worried so I started digging under my pumpkin but could find no holes in the fruit, it stopped growing about a week ago but I wanted to leave it on the vine for as long as I can.

Any advise ?

Next year I think I'm going to put a metal screen under ground and then put sand on that for the pumpkin, any better ideas ?

First time AG grower so any tips will help, thanks

9/2/2012 11:09:32 PM

Muddy Waters

I dont think the mole will hurt the fruit.they eat meat worms mostly,but he will tear up the root system tunneling around.With all critters its best to trap them all season long so your #s will be down.I use cement board under my kin 3x5 sheet then I put Delta sub floor material then sand.If they can go through that they win.LOL!On melons no sand is needed.I even trap my neighbors moles for them.They love me for it & it keeps the #s down.Nash mole trap is the best.Grub killer does not always help either .Moles main diet is worms not grubs so dont waste your money thinking that will solve your problem.

9/3/2012 5:27:41 AM

West Michigan---Hasekg39@gmail.com

Great point about them being insectivores I just hope it doesn't decide to go veggie, I want the roots to remain but the pumpkin it's self is my biggest concern

Thanks

9/3/2012 3:08:27 PM

East Jordan, MI

Is it moles or voles?

Moles eat grubs, voles eat roots and yes possibly the fruit to. If the tunnels are going near the pumpkin, stick some mothballs down in the tunnels. That is supposed to keep them away, of course they can always dig another tunnel....

I've heard vibrations from pinwheels will keep them away, don't know. My cats do a great job of keeping them under control at our house.

9/3/2012 8:17:15 PM

Preston CT

they areate the soil

9/4/2012 1:45:20 PM

Muddy Waters

A mole's diet primarily consists of earthworms and other small invertebrates found in the soil, and a variety of nuts. The mole runs are in reality 'worm traps', the mole sensing when a worm falls into the tunnel and quickly running along to kill and eat it.[6] Because their saliva contains a toxin that can paralyze earthworms, moles are able to store their still-living prey for later consumption. They construct special underground "larders" for just this purpose; researchers have discovered such larders with over a thousand earthworms in them. Before eating earthworms, moles pull them between their squeezed paws to force the collected earth and dirt out of the worm's gut.[7]

The star-nosed mole can detect, catch and eat food faster than the human eye can follow (under 0.3 seconds).[8]

9/4/2012 8:15:34 PM

West Michigan---Hasekg39@gmail.com

It's mainly moles but some shrews also no voles. I only know this cause my cat gets a few each year. I'm picking my pumpkins this weekend so I'm hoping for the best (plants are just about all dead and pumpkins stopped growing)

9/4/2012 8:32:32 PM