The moles are there, in your garden … What betrays them? Motots of earth that they reveal on the surface, proof of the presence of their famous mounds. And there, you say to yourself: “Argh! My vegetable garden! My beautiful lawn! O rage, oh despair! ». Well … maybe it's over-react. I grant you, the Mottes de earth, it is not very aesthetic, but beyond all that, the moles are an essential link in the ecosystem of the soil. So, if we were trying to cohabit with them, rather than eliminating them?
All are fouisseur animals that dig underground galleries. Most of the time, the moles are insectivores, do not have exposed ears and are partially blind, hence the expression ” Myopic like a mole ».
There are many species of moles that share common characteristics. They are found on almost all continents, except at the poles.
They are digging more or less large underground galleries which allow them as much to take shelter as to eat. Partially blind, the moles are mainly counting on their very developed smell to locate their prey, mainly insects and towards.
In France, the most common species is the Taupe in Europe. It is ultimately very often about her when we say that there are moles in the garden. However, there is also the Taupe of Aquitaine on the Atlantic facade and the blind mole in the PACA region.
The Taupe of Europe has tiny eyes, but it is not blind. On the other hand, it is unable to discern the movements, which makes it particularly vulnerable on the surface.
Taupes are generally lonely, except during breeding periods. They live in their galleries labyrinth, located between 5 and 60 cm deep.
It is mainly these galleries that give the moles so bad reputation …
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The murgals that angry
The moles spend almost all their lives underground. They occupy their day by constantly digging galleries. And who says “dig”, says “extract” from the earth. It is therefore necessary to evacuate this surplus to be able to move easily in the underground corridors. The murders therefore correspond to the evacuation of the earth by the moles when they fit out their galleries.
And for some, this is where the rub …
We are not going to lie, who wants a beautiful lawn, very green and very clear, clearly does not want moles in his garden. The small heaps of earth they leave are not aesthetic … In addition, it is true that they can cause damage to newly sown lawns. Indeed, their galleries being ultimately shallow, this can tear off the sowing still poorly rooted.
In addition, it sometimes happens that galleries cause slight collapses of the ground surface. We then end up with a little uneven terrain, with holes and it can quickly happen that we make an ankle. And there, I fully understand that the managers are cursed …
Despite everything, these inconveniences, ultimately more aesthetic than anything else, are really not much compared to the benefits that the moles can bring to the garden!
The moles cause aesthetic damage to the lawns, but offer many benefits to the soils and their ecosystems.
Credits: Shutterstock/Groen
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An animal that wants you good
I told you in the preamble: the moles are an essential link in the soil ecosystem. Far from being a pest for your gardens and your vegetable gardens, they are actually very help.
As for the vegetable patch, dry your tears if you see a mock and store your fork, the moles will not touch your precious salads! These small animals have a diet consisting mainly of insects. They do not attack cultures, on the contrary, they protect them from certain pests.
Taupes consume the equivalent of their weight in insects and verse. It is a boon when it comes to getting rid of tipules or other Hannetons larvae, which will not be embarrassed to tackle your vegetables.
By digging the earth, the moles arouse it and amelube it. They will even fertilize it thanks to their excrement and the nutrients that they go up from the depths. The galleries will help the circulation of roots and water, which is therefore beneficial for plants.
If really the mounds of land of the mounds bother you, know that you can “hide” them, or even use them.
Spread the small mounds with a tool like a rake. It will then be covered by the grass that will grow on it. In addition, you can use this land directly. It is fine and has been worked by the moles, so you can mix it with soil or sand to repot your plants.
In the end, you should almost delight the presence of moles in your field. They testify to the good health of your soil!
Indeed, these small fouisseurs choose soils rich in organic matter, in earthworms and insects. Three things that betray fertile soil. If you observe the activity of the moles in your garden, you will learn a lot about the condition of your floors …
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Some tips to keep the moles away
If, despite everything I told you about the benefits of the moles, you still want to scare them away, here are some tips. We put away the sulfact and we call on the gentle method!
As we said, the moles have a very developed smell, so you can play on the smell of a predator. Some dogs of dogs or cats (or even its direct presence) at the level of the hooks, will be able to push the mole to go and dig its galleries elsewhere.
Elderberry has a repellant power against moles. You can plant branches or prepare a manure made from elderberries to try to keep them away. Likewise, planting metal stakes, enhanced with plastic bottles, can scare away the moles, embarrassed by noise.
As for trapping methods, know that they are strongly framed by law, to avoid any form of excessive cruelty. The taupe is certainly not considered as a threatened species, but it does not appear on the list of “harmful” either. It is not forbidden to eliminate it, but it must be done by following the rules and standards in force.
However, it would be better to avoid these trapping methods. Taupes certainly bring from the unsightly to a garden, but the benefits they offer are much more important. And in the current context of loss of biodiversity and the harmful consequences that this generates, it seems to me much more important to favor the useful to the beautiful …
>> Read also: glyphosate reduces soil biodiversity and decreases the proportion of native species
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
