If you’ve landed on this page you already understand just how annoying and destructive moles and voles can be to your lawn (and to your sanity). When I moved into my home, I immediately felt how soft and spongy the ground was and I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me with moles. It was quite the journey, but I eventually found the best mole traps and quite a few mole traps that work. So let’s jump right into it!
Best Mole Traps – Quick Look:
Types Of Mole Traps Available:
When you begin looking for mole traps for your yard, you’ll discover that there are a few different types of mole traps, that are all slightly different in design, but with the same outcome of killing the moles. We generally recommend using traps rather than poison bait, because with poison bait you’re much more likely to kill other animals on accident such as squirrels, rabbits, cats, dogs, and others.
Along with that, these lethal mole traps are just much more effective if getting rid of the mole infestation. The most common types of mole traps include spear and plunger traps, choker or nash traps and scissor traps. All of these traps are pretty effective, but we’ll cover all of these in more detail below.
Spear and Plunger Mole Trap:
Spear and Plunger mole traps, also sometimes referred to as harpoon traps, are traps that are setup above a moles tunnel with a trigger that sits inside the tunnel. Once a mole activates the trigger in the tunnel by passing through the tunnel area, it triggers a spring loaded harpoon or spear that shoots into the tunnel, killing the mole.
These are great because it limits the danger for any other animals or children because the trigger is inside of the dirt.
Choker Or Nash Mole Trap:
Choker or nash mole traps are pretty popular because they are also safe to use around children and other animals. As the name suggests, these traps have a loop or two of metal or wire that go into the moles tunnel, and once a mole runs through their tunnel and thus through these loops, the loops will clamp and choke the moles, killing them.
These are usually quite easy to install because the majority of the trap is above the gorund, and they are quite effective. Along with this, as mentioned above, they are safe to use around children and pets because the trigger is physically underground.
Scissor Mole Trap:
The last most common type of mole trap you’ll find available is referred to as a scissor mole trap. These generally work by having a pressure plate in the middle of a set of scissor action arms, and once the pressure plate is activated then the scissor arms coming crashing together killing the mole.
These are pretty common types of mole traps because they’re effective, they’re durable, and they’re relatively easy to setup. That being said, depending on the type of soil you’re dealing with, these might require some elbow grease to setup. I’ve had a few of these traps for years and you can simply reuse them if the moles ever return!
What Type Of Mole Trap Should You Pick?
It can be difficult to pick which type of mole trap you should pick because there are a few different types. Below we’ll break down which trap you should use based on a few different factors!
Effectiveness:
Each trap is going to have a slightly different level of effectiveness. I personally have had more luck with Scissor and Choker mole traps compared to harpoon/spear traps. Scissor traps specifically are very durable and simply get the job done in a very simple fashion. Harpoon traps are great when they work, but they are a bit too fancy and don’t always end up working in my experience.
Ease Of Use:
Each trap is also going to be slightly different in the setup process. Although scissor traps can be a bit more difficult to setup if you’re dealing with extremely dry and hard soil, generally speaking they are quite simple and easy to setup similar to choker traps. Harpoon traps can be quite finicky and have to be setup with a higher level of precision.
Can They Handle Other Rodents?:
The issue with moles, is that they spend the majority of their life underground. This can make identification quite difficult. Sometimes you might think you’re dealing with moles but you’re actually dealing with voles or gophers. So if you aren’t 100% sure what type of rodent you’re dealing with, I’d recommend using a scissor trap because generally they can kill all types of underground rodents.
Materials/Durability:
Depending on how serious your mole infestation is, you might want a trap that is going to last you a long time and that you can continuously use. This will come down to the type of the trap as well as the material it’s made out of. I personally have found scissor mole traps to be the most durable because the mechanisms are quite simple, and they’re generally made out of thick steel or aluminum which ensures that it will last quite a while. I’ve had a scissor trap for the past 2 years and it still looks great and works great!
Overall, each of these types of mole traps have benefits and cons based on their design, materials, functionality etc. That being said, scissor mole traps generally are the jack of all trades when it comes to mole traps.
What Are The Best Mole Traps In 2023?:
With hundreds of different traps on the market, it can be difficult to find the best trap for you. But have no fear, after spending weeks testing out all different types of traps, I can confidently show you the best mole traps in 2023!
1. Wire Tek 1001 EasySet Mole Eliminator Trap
If you are looking for an extremely durable and easy to setup mole trap then there’s nothing better than the Wire Tek 1001 EasySet Mole Eliminator! It is simply the best mole trap on the market. It offers extremely easy setup with a handy foot pedal which triggers the trap that allows you to setup your trap easily and safely. An additional benefit of this trap is that you don’t need to dig any holes, this trap is simply placed above the mole tunnel with scissor arms pushed into the dirt.
This scissor mole trap is made of stainless steel which makes it extremely durable. I’ve had mine for two years and it still looks brand new! Overall this is the jack of all trades of mole traps, it’s relatively inexpensive, easy to setup, effective, and very durable!
Pros:
- Durable and Will Last Years
- Easy To Setup
- Very Effective
- No Digging Required
Cons:
- Slightly More Expensive
Overall the Wire Tek 1001 EasySet Mole Eliminator is the best mole trap on the market, and is my go to choice. I’ve had mine for 2+ years and i’ve used it to kill 100+ moles in this time period. If you have mole issues, then this is the mole trap for you!
2. Tomcat Mole Trap
The next mole trap on our list is the Tomcat 0363210 Mole Trap. Tomcat is a pretty well known brand in the pest industry, and they generally are known for the mole and rodent traps.
This particular Tomcat mole trap is extremely easy to use and is a simple scissor like design that’s designed to be safer and easier to use because the actual trap mechanism is inside the plastic housing of the trap. This trap is easy to setup and just involves setting the trap in the right spot and then pressing the trigger with your foot.
This mole trap is easier to use and in my experience safer than the WireTek trap above, but it isn’t as durable because many of the pieces are made out of plastic rather than aluminum like the WireTek.
Pros:
- Easy to Install
- Safe Because Mechanisms Are Hidden Via Plastic Housing
- Easy To Dispose Of Moles Afterwards
- Can Be Installed Essentially Hands Free
Cons:
- Not As Durable As Metal Mole Traps
What Is The Fastest Way To Get Rid of Moles?
The fastest way to get rid of moles is to get rid of their food source, a moles diet generally consists grubs and other small insects. Get rid of excess grubs by using a granular lawn insecticide treatment such as Scott’s GrubEX. After that you’ll need to. get rid of existing moles by baiting or trapping. We suggest using traps rather than poison bait. Poison bait can be effective but you run the risk of accidentally poisoning other animals. or pets.
How Many Mole Traps Do I Need?
The number of mole traps you need depends on how big your lawn or garden is. Small lawns or gardens will require at least two mole traps, medium sized will need at least 4, and big lawns and gardens will require at least 6 mole traps if not more. The bigger the area the more traps you’ll need to ensure you catch the moles sooner rather than later.
How Many Moles Live In My Yard?
There generally will only be 3-5 moles per half acre of land. Moles are antisocial creatures that really only live together when they’re mating. That being said, moles will co-inhabit the same small area.
What Bait Should I Use With My Mole Traps?
Most times you won’t need to use bait with mole traps because they are placed around areas that moles naturally travel. But if you are having no success, you should try using a small amount of peanut butter on your trap as bait to entice the moles.
Final Thoughts On Mole Traps
I can sympothize with how annoying and frustrating a mole infestation can be. I spent months trying every product on the market just trying to get rid of these pesky critters. That being said, the best way to get rid of moles is to use one of the mole traps listed above and just stick with it.
It can take a little bit of trial and error to figure out where to place your mole traps and how to use them most effectively, but you will be able to eradicate your mole infestation.
I hope this article on the best mole traps has helped and please leave any questions or comments you might have below.
Resources:
