Nothing is worse than waking up in the morning to find your lawn destroyed by moles, whether you’re a farmer or the owner of a lovely yard with a well-kept lawn. Moles are rodents that have no regard for yards or grass, making it nearly impossible to maintain a nice lawn.
Thankfully, there are some tactics you can use, like using marshmallows to kill moles. You can learn how to use marshmallows to kill moles by reading this article.
About Moles
We should start by learning more about these bothersome little creatures if we want to get rid of them. Moles are tiny mammals that can quickly plow through the ground thanks to their large front legs.
People all over the world are aware of moles as a pest that can ruin anything connected to agriculture, including crops, gardens, and lawns. We can only successfully attract and eradicate these animals by comprehending their habits and behavior.
The Diet Of Moles
Earthworms, lawn grubs, and a variety of other insects they find in the soil are the main components of moles’ diets. Plants or tubers don’t pique the interest of moles. To catch insects and earthworms for consumption, tunnels are continuously dug beneath the surface.
Despite the fact that moles don’t intentionally seek out plants or tubers to eat, the tunnels they dig end up harming plants and their roots.
A molehill in the middle of the yard, a dreadful foreboding of trouble to come, is the first indication that someone has a mole in their garden.
It’s a common misconception that moles consume plant roots; in reality, voles are the ones who consume plant roots.).
Mole Reproduction
The months of February to May are when moles reproduce the most frequently. Males search for females by digging tunnels in the land they come across as part of the courtship process.
In spite of this paradox, these months are the best time of year to sow new seeds. The farmers prepare to plow the ground and plant new crops once winter is over and spring has arrived. And gardeners are also busy redesigning the lawn by planting new flowers, so it’s not just farmers who spend time planting.
Is It Possible For Moles To Bite People?
There is a chance of getting bitten by moles when they appear in the yard or crops. If they feel threatened, moles may bite. It is crucial to understand that because moles are rabies carriers, in addition to the pain we will experience from the bite, we could also contract the illness.
What Do Moles Eat?
Moles don’t eat plants or root crops; they eat the worms and other insects that live in the soil. For the purpose of eating them right away or storing them for later use, they dig tunnels to catch worms and other insects. Plants and their roots will suffer indirect harm as a result of the tunnels that moles dug.
A mole in it refers to a molehill in the middle of your otherwise perfect backyard for lawns and landscaped gardens. And that is not a pretty sight.
Is It True That You Can Kill Moles With Marshmallows?
To kill moles, there are numerous techniques. However, using marshmallows to kill moles is one of the few contentious methods. There are not many articles about killing moles with marshmallows when you search the subject online.
The reason that there are rumors to the effect that using poison may just be a well-planned disguise. Additionally, since moles are underground creatures, it is unknown if marshmallows will kill or scare them away.
It does, however, unquestionably reduce mole activity. I advise you to give it a try because it’s affordable and has no negative effects on humans.
Find out what could be causing this commotion before we put the marshmallow to the test. Are marshmallows the secret to eradicating this pest?
Main Ingredients Of Marshmallows
Sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, and egg whites make up the majority of a marshmallow’s ingredients. You can prepare homemade marshmallows using these ingredients. Extenders, flavorings, and whipping agents are however used in commercial-grade marshmallows.
These include gum arabic, carrageenan, and tetrasodium pyrophosphate. Marshmallows can emulsify, stabilize, and thicken with the aid of these ingredients.
Keep in mind that there is still no conclusive scientific evidence for why marshmallows repel moles. But it’s possible that these additional components are the reason marshmallows work so well against moles.
Carrageenan
Carrageenan has been utilized as an emulsifier and thickener for countless years. This is a thickening ingredient in marshmallows. A recent finding, however, raised the possibility that carrageenan could also contribute to bloating, food allergies, cancer, and inflammation.
If moles consume a lot of marshmallows, they will also consume a lot of carrageenans. And that’s how the magic happens. Their digestion will be slowed down by carrageenan, and moles will eat them. They cannot digest it, so they perish.
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
Tetrasodium pyrophosphate is sometimes found in commercial-grade marshmallows, while others contain carrageenan. Supposedly killing moles is a property of yet another emulsifying component.
If you look into the substance a little, you’ll discover that it is a reactive ingredient that, get this, reacts to cellulose-based absorbents, mineral-based & clay-based absorbents, as well as dirt or earth.
Since moles typically eat grubs and earthworms underground, eating marshmallows could theoretically cause them to react to the dirt in their bodies, which would ultimately result in their death.
How Can I Kill Moles With Marshmallows?
There are many ways to remove moles, from using harsh poisons to using only natural ingredients. Despite their frustration with the moles, many homeowners are hesitant to use poisons. Because of this, many people choose natural substitutes like marshmallows.
Let’s look at some methods for killing moles or getting them to leave your yard using marshmallows.
Clean Up Your Yard And Locate Entry And Exit Points
You should clean up your yard first. Although you might be tempted to skip it, this step is actually very crucial.
What sort of landscaping work are we referring to? Basically, you’ll need to clear out every molehill you see on your lawn or in your garden. This crucial step not only restores some order to your yard but also makes it possible for you to see the holes where the moles have been tunneling. Later, you can use marshmallows to kill them, thanks to this.
Remove Sources Of Food
The next action you must take in order to begin killing moles with marshmallows is to remove the delectable foods that moles enjoy eating. It’s important to make an effort to get rid of all the food sources that are luring moles to your yard, even though we are aware that this part will be nearly impossible to complete.
We’re talking about small insects, grubs, earthworms, spiders, and other types of snails as food sources. If you want the marshmallow method to work, you must restrict moles’ access to other food sources.
Water Your Lawn Less Often
We recognize that many homeowners strive for a lush, healthy lawn, so the idea of watering it less frequently may not be appealing. The damp, worm-producing haven that your lawn typically it won’t exist if you water it once a week.
Fewer moles may result from fewer worms.
Bring Out The Marshmallows
It will be time to grab your bag of marshmallows once your yard has been cleaned up and you have located as many mole holes as you can. The kind of marshmallows you’d use for s’mores or campfire roasts are what you’ll need. Moles cannot be killed by mini marshmallows.
Push two to three marshmallows into each molehill opening as you approach it. You don’t want the moles to be able to escape, so make sure that every hole is completely filled with marshmallows.
The mole will either starve or suffocate after the entry and exit holes are sealed off with marshmallows, according to the theory. As harsh as this may sound, many people believe it to be a better option than using poisons or other techniques.
The second explanation for why marshmallows are used to kill moles is that if a mole decides to eat one, ingredients like carrageenan or tetrasodium pyrophosphate will quickly dispatch them.
Using marshmallows to kill moles is a common and affordable method to try and control the mole population in your yard, regardless of the outcome. It’s a cheap and simple alternative even if it doesn’t perform as well as some industrial-strength options.
Downsides Of Killing Moles With Marshmallows
A lot of people firmly believe that using marshmallows to kill moles is the best approach. In addition to being incredibly affordable, it also has the benefit of being safe to use around children and animals. Let’s look at some of the drawbacks of using marshmallows to get rid of these pests. You can choose whether or not this approach is appropriate for you and your situation by considering the big picture.
You will need a ton of patience to get rid of moles in this way, which is a major drawback. As with using poison or traps, you won’t see the results right away. Because you sealed off the entrances to their tunnels, you might never see any dead moles at all. If you notice fewer molehills over time, that will be a sign that the marshmallows are working.
Making use of marshmallows has the additional drawback of making results difficult to measure. The results are uncertain because this method falls into a kind of gray area for DIY projects.
Although there may be fewer signs of mole activity in your yard, are you really driving them out or just reducing their activity? Remember that if they wander off temporarily, they can just as easily find their way back.
You will need to perform daily upkeep if you decide to try the marshmallow method. All of your marshmallow-filled holes will need to be checked, any that are damaged or missing will need to be replaced, and you’ll need to search for new molehills or tunnels.
For the marshmallow treatment to have any chance of working, you must do this every day.
Last but not least, if you’re serious about getting rid of these pests, you shouldn’t limit your treatment options to marshmallows. You’re going to be let down if your expectation was to close a few gaps and move on.
You probably won’t be dealing with just a few moles, but it might work with one or two of them. The majority of natural treatments are best used in conjunction with other techniques.
A mole-specific trap, poison placed in or near the mole hole, or the use of an ultrasonic mole repellent are some other options. Let an exterminator evaluate your situation, is what we advise. You can get a mole-free yard by working with a pest control company, which will have access to all the most modern techniques and tools.
Why Are Marshmallows Capable Of Killing Moles?
Sugar, corn syrup, gelatin, and egg whites are the main components of homemade marshmallows. When we talk about marshmallows that are produced industrially, however, we discover a different picture.
In addition to the corn syrup and gelatin that aid in emulsifying the finished product, this kind of marshmallow uses extenders, flavorings, and other additives. Carrageenan, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and gum arabic are the emulsifiers in question.
The effectiveness of these ingredients in getting rid of moles has not yet been proven scientifically. The use of marshmallows to kill these animals is still explained by a few factors, though.
- Carrageenan may contribute to bloating, food allergies, cancer, and inflammation, according to recent research. This fact may lead us to infer that moles will experience slowed digestion and eventual death if they consume large amounts of carrageenan.
- Tetrasodium pyrophosphate is the primary component of other marshmallows. This ingredient may also be able to kill moles, according to many experts. This substance is a reagent that interacts with clay, dirt, and soil as well as mineral-based sorbents.
- Artificial flavors and other ingredients found in marshmallows are incomprehensible to moles.
The marshmallows go into the mole’s digestive system and they cannot pass them; as a result, the stomach bloats and the mole cannot survive (often, they will try to drink water, which will only exacerbate the issue).
This is my theory as to why marshmallows kill moles because they were not designed to eat them. Consider it this way: if all else fails, you can always fall back on mole traps as a last resort.
Final Thoughts
One of the simplest and least contentious ways we can find to get rid of this pest is to kill moles with marshmallows. It is feasible to kill moles with marshmallows, but you must be realistic in your expectations. It’s reasonable to expect to kill some moles, provided your issue is manageable and you handle it correctly.
Other methods include using castor oil, radios, traps, gas, baits, and professional mole experts.