Question
Mike ... not sure if this is really your area, but I'm getting desperate for help.  I've got a mole problem in my 1/4 acre suburban lawn that defies belief.  Having lived in the country many years, I'm very familiar with tunneling habits and traps, and have always had very good luck getting rid of moles using the standard Victor mole traps.  I've been able to keep my previous 2.5 acre lawn free of the pests without much trouble, generally catching my prey within a couple of days.  But this summer I've got a massive invasion in my current small yard.  Every time I set traps in live tunnels, those holes immediately go dormant.  When I move the traps to new locations, the old holes are used once again.  I'm using gloves to prevent leaving any scent on the traps, and have even been tossing a few worms into each hole as 'bait.'  Not to be deterred, I've also tried three kinds of mole bait/poison.  There may be a dead mole or two below the surface somewhere, but the action is in no way diminished.  I've also dug up the entire network in my yard (~30 holes at present) and gassed the whole thing extensively using a commercial mole killer.  This helped for a few days at most, but they are now back with a vengeance.  I've been battling daily for almost two months now, and every day I find a half-dozen new mounds.  PLEASE help ... my yard looks like it's been hit with mortar fire, and I can't seem to make the slightest progress in stemming the tide.  Thanks for your assistance.

Answer
Felix, it sounds like you have done all of the right things. Moles can be crafty, and the secret is setting up the traps correctly, and more importantly, eliminating their primary food source - grubs.

When moles infest a lawn, you need to rid your lawn of the grubs.  This can be accomplished by using a pesticide called Grubex or by applying a bacterial spore to your lawn called Milky Spore.  Milky spore is preferable because it continually multipies the number deadly bacteria and lasts for over 15 years. The bacteria is fatal to grubs, but will not harm beneficial insects.  Once their food supply is gone, they will normally relocate to another location.

Unfortunately, with moles and voles, there is no humane method to trap the animal.  In the short term, you can either place poisoned pellets in their entrance holes, or kill it by trapping.  You mentioned that you tried to trap the mole, but it keeps escaping.  Be sure to use a trap specifically designed for moles.  Place the trap above the tunnel in the center of the runway.  If you do not catch it within two days, move it in one foot increments.  Since this trap is especially designed to "snap" below the surface, I have no doubt that you will eventually trap it.  Just be patient.

Another option is to "gas" them out with gas pellets.  Short of these methods, the only other option is to hire a lawn service that specializes in extermination procedures.

I hope this answers your question.  Good luck.  But I'm sure with patience and persistence, you will no doubt eventually correct the problem.

Regards,

Mike