animal trapping Archives - Tuff Turf, LLC

West Michigan Mole Control: IMPORTANT Fall Mole Info

October 11th, 2024 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

In The Field: October 7, 2024 – October 11, 2024

Cooler temps are moving in as we are officially in Fall and already through the first week of October here in West Michigan. We want to take this time in our blog post to remind you of some important information regarding what moles are about to do in the Fall.

Fall Mole Facts:

Moles move closer to the surface because the temperatures are cooler now that the Summer is over.

There may be more earthworms found because they too are coming closer to the surface, especially as we get the typical Fall rain.

Moles are establishing themselves to prepare for the Winter where they won’t hibernate, but simply burry deeper below the frost line and begin making babies.

Moles are easier to catch in the Fall because they are closer to the surface.

Traps and bait are the most effective method in getting rid of current moles. Now is the time to gear up and start catching them!

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A Grand Rapids Michigan Lawn Care company based in Byron Center, Michigan. Tuff Turf offers a variety of services (ranging from Lawn Care, Pest Control and Bug Control) to the following cities in Michigan:

Grand Rapids, Byron Center, Kentwood, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Holland, Grand Haven, Rockford, Cascade, Kalamazoo

West Michigan Mole Control: Do Moles Like Grubs Or Earthworms

September 20th, 2024 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

In The Field: September 16, 2024 – September 20, 2024

Grubs are beginning to show activity in the yard, but remember, moles typically go after earthworms, not grubs. It’s animals like skunks that will be digging for grubs. Trust us, you’ll definitely notice when that happens. Next week, our Tuff Turf Lawn Care team will share some examples!

Additional Reminders:

Grub prevention needs to be applied one time per year in the Summer

Grub killer is needed in the Spring and Fall if activity is found

Grubs chew the roots of your grass, causing patches to die and turn yellow (examples of that next week)

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Grand Rapids, Byron Center, Kentwood, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Holland, Grand Haven, Rockford, Cascade, Kalamazoo

West Michigan Mole Control: Tips and Best Pratices

August 30th, 2024 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

In The Field: August 26, 2024 – August 30, 2024

Controlling moles in your yard or garden can be challenging, but there are several strategies you can use to reduce their activity.

Here are some tips:

1. Identify the Problem

Look for raised ridges, tunnels, and mounds of dirt (molehills). Moles are insectivores, so their presence indicates a healthy lawn with plenty of earth worms.

2. Traps and Bait

Using a variety of both of these methods will help get rid of the current moles that are in your yard.

3. Natural Repellents

Adding a repellent around the perimeter of your property will help train moles over the long-term that they need to find their food source elsewhere.

4. Consult a Professional

If mole activity persists despite your efforts, consider hiring a pest control professional to address the problem. Tuff Turf Molebusters is here to help with both advice and service.

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Grand Rapids, Byron Center, Kentwood, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Holland, Grand Haven, Rockford, Cascade, Kalamazoo

West Michigan Mole Control: How To Maintain A Mole Free Yard

August 7th, 2024 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

In The Field: August 5, 2024 – August 9, 2024

There are several effective methods to eliminate moles and prevent their return. While it’s true that no method can guarantee moles won’t come back, our mole control program focuses on the top three strategies to address current mole activity and deter future infestations.

Traps: Our primary method for removing existing moles. Scissor, choker, and no-mole traps are among the most efficient quick-kill options available.

Bait: Used as a supplementary measure to traps, bait enhances the effectiveness of our primary method. Although it’s difficult to track the exact number of moles killed by bait, it provides an additional line of defense for moles that evade the traps.

Repellent: Essential for mole prevention, repellent deters new moles by introducing odors that moles dislike. Since moles are attracted to earthworms, which are beneficial for the grass, it’s not advisable to eliminate the worms. Instead, applying repellent around the property’s perimeter discourages moles from entering the yard. This method requires ongoing maintenance for long-term effectiveness.

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Grand Rapids, Byron Center, Kentwood, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Holland, Grand Haven, Rockford, Cascade, Kalamazoo

West Michigan Lawn Care: How To Control Moles and Chipmunks

June 14th, 2024 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

In The Field: June 10, 2024 – June, 14, 2024

Moles live mostly underground, building complex tunnels to find food, for living, and nesting. They create surface tunnels to find food like earthworms and insects, and deeper tunnels for habitation. Although their tunneling can disrupt yards, it benefits the soil by aerating and mixing it. Moles are territorial, using their sense of touch and smell to navigate and find food. Their activity increases in spring and fall, with deeper digging in winter and summer to avoid extreme temperatures. Understanding their behavior reveals the challenges of managing them in yards. Ironically, we found a mole out in the middle of the road this week! How it got there…who knows?!

Chipmunks on the other hand dig extensive burrows with multiple entrances for food storage, nesting, and to simply escape. Active during the day, they forage for seeds, nuts, fruits, and insects, storing food in their cheek pouches. They help the ecosystem by dispersing seeds and aerating soil, but their burrowing can damage gardens, lawns, and foundations. To manage chipmunks, use barriers, traps, or repellents, and minimize food sources to discourage them. We found a chipmunk hole in the middle of the yard which isn’t as common as finding their holes near cement pathways.

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Grand Rapids, Byron Center, Kentwood, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Holland, Grand Haven, Rockford, Cascade, Kalamazoo

West Michigan Lawn Care: Beautiful Properties & Lawns

April 26th, 2024 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

In The Field: April 22, 2024 – April 26, 2024

It can be extremely frustrating when your whole property is immaculate and pristine, to only have dirt piles and squishy trails showing up from your underground neighbor the mole. By the term neighbor, we mean it. Moles are there to stay once they show up. They found the food source, the earthworm, and are now ready to camp out and stake claim to your soil. To get them out, you need to trap and bait the ones that are currently there and apply a monthly repellent to the perimeter for future prevention.

Art may be in the eye of the beholder, but one can’t stop to look in awe of the beautiful contrasting lush green lines the lawn roller has been creating this season. Our veteran lawn rolling technician Chelsea is truly a master when it comes to smoothing out the dirt piles and soft trails that moles create. Don’t forget to do a core aeration the same season you roll your yard! Speaking of, come June, Chelsea plans to jump off the lawn roller and finish out the season by doing Core Aerations.

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Grand Rapids, Byron Center, Kentwood, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Holland, Grand Haven, Rockford, Cascade, Kalamazoo

West Michigan Lawn Care: Rolling Lawns & Catching Voles

April 5th, 2024 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

In The Field: April 1, 2024 – April 5, 2024

Our very own Jocelyn caught a live Vole with her hands out in the field this week! This was no easy task as voles are typically fast little critters running all over the place. The goal of our Vole repellent is to deter them away from the home and overall property, but sometimes you need to take matter into your own hands, literally!

Another tech credit goes to Chelsea for working her magic with the lawn roller. You can see how beautifully striped the lawns turn after getting rolled. The grass blades bend in the direction of the roller which creates the striped look. We can’t stress enough the importance of doing a Core Aeration later in the season after you roll the yard to releive the soil compaction. Usually around June, Chelsea will jump off the lawn roller and onto the aeration machine to knock out the rest of the season! We still have all of April and most of May to keep rolling yards.

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Grand Rapids, Byron Center, Kentwood, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Holland, Grand Haven, Rockford, Cascade, Kalamazoo

West Michigan Lawn Care: 2024 Season Kickoff!

March 15th, 2024 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

In The Field: March 11, 2024 – March 15, 2024

Our 2024 season has officially begun, and we’re prepared for what lies ahead! With our team fully assembled, we’re setting our sights on some intriguing discoveries.

Our first observation? A sizable mound of dirt, the result of deep tunneling activity from our industrious mole friends. It’s quite impressive, showcasing the fascinating work of these creatures beneath the surface. Not so fascinating for homeowners who like a nice looking yard!

Additionally, we’ve noted signs of chipmunk presence, evident from the distinctive larger holes they leave behind. Their territorial markings add another layer of intrigue to our outdoor investigations.

Stay tuned for further updates as we’re in the field this Spring and Summer. The journey promises to be enlightening as we uncover more about the natural West Michigan world around us.

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Grand Rapids, Byron Center, Kentwood, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Holland, Grand Haven, Rockford, Cascade, Kalamazoo

West Michigan Lawn Care: The Most Active Time Of The Year!

March 8th, 2024 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

In The Field: March 4, 2024 – March 8, 2024

Our season officially started in the field on Monday, March 4, and our technicians are out in full force, tackling the increased activity of moles, voles, and chipmunks that comes with this time of year. During the winter months, these critters tend to lay low, but as temperatures rise, they become more noticeable. In one of the pictures from this week, we spotted a mole tunneling against the side of a walkway while searching for earthworms. It most likely came into contact with the sidewalk and simply followed the edge of it as a guide. Our team is working diligently to manage all new activity and to ensure our yards remain mole, vole and chipmunk-free.

Tune in next week for the latest update on what we’re finding out in the field servicing Michigan properties during the Spring and Summer months!

Thanks for checking in!

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Grand Rapids, Byron Center, Kentwood, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Holland, Grand Haven, Rockford, Cascade, Kalamazoo

West Michigan Pest Control – The Most Effective Method For Mole Activity

February 28th, 2024 by Tuff Turf Molebusters

While many methods can be somewhat effective, nothing compares to trapping, baiting and repelling. It can just take a lot of time!

Molebusters Mole Control Process

Email customer a few days before their scheduled visit so they know which tech and what day they will stop by.
New clients are serviced promptly!
Visits for Mole Control are scheduled every 10-14 days.
Survey property and surroundings for mole entry points.
Differentiate mole activity from other animals like voles.
Identify active and inactive mole tunnels.
Distinguish between feeding and traveling tunnels.
Measure depth and width of traveling tunnels to select appropriate traps.
Assess soil moisture to determine trap effectiveness.
Set traps accordingly.
Choose bait based on tunnel location and depth.
Castor oil repellent is applied to minimize new mole activity during the program.
Provide clients with notes on bait usage, trap numbers, and trapped moles.
Continuously monitor mole activity, replenishing bait to prevent new infestations.

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Grand Rapids, Byron Center, Kentwood, Grandville, Jenison, Hudsonville, Holland, Grand Haven, Rockford, Cascade, Kalamazoo