American Shrew Mole Control
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American Shrew Mole Control: How to Get Rid of American Shrew Moles
This page is a general American shrew mole control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of American shrew moles. Follow this DIY guide and use the recommended products and we guarantee complete control of American shrew moles. Consult with your local and state guidelines ensure that these rules are followed. It is recommended for the homeowner to visit with their local animal control office or state website to visit proper rules and regulations associated with the control of American shrew moles.
Over the entire range of Northwestern American lawns, there is a pest that many homeowners commonly mistake for a shrew. It is the only surviving member of the genus Neurotrichus known as the American shrew mole. While its name may sound confusing this pest is classified as the smallest mole even though it tunnels above ground. The reason this pest gained its name was due to its fur being similar to shrews and its large head and paws associated with moles.
This land-living pest digs small runways or trenches on the turf's surface usually below leaves and around soft soils. The American shrew mole can be considered a beneficial to your lawns landscape because they cultivate and aerate the soil while eating undesired grubs and other soil-born insects. However, American shrew moles have no specific period for breeding creating an increase in population throughout the year. With higher amounts of activity homeowners may notice damage to plant roots from tunneling and digging activities leading to a unsightly appearance of foliage.
Though small, American shrew moles can be deadly to your yard and garden if left untreated. Follow the instructions throughout this article to learn more about the tendencies and habitats of American shrew moles and how to safely remove them from your property through our expert advice and recommended products.
Identification
Before you can proceed with treatment, you will need to be sure that the pest infesting your yard is an American shrew mole. Misidentification can lead you to using the wrong control methods, leading to a waste of time and money. For proper American shrew mole identification, refer to the characteristics below.
- Measures between 2 to 2.5 inches in length including the head and tail. Compared to other moles, they are shorter and smaller in body size with a weight of 10 grams.
- Have scale covered tails with scattered bristle-like hairs. The length of the tail measures from 1.0 to 2.3 inches about half the length of its body.
- Entire body and head is covered with dense and soft fur. Coloration of their fur ranges from sooty black and dark gray.
- Has a long, flattened tip snout used for smelling insects underneath the turfs surface.
- American shrew moles have shovel-like front paws with sharp claws to dig like moles except smaller and pointed straight rather than outwards like most mole species. In contrast to moles, the American shrew moles spend most of their lives above ground creating tunnels and foraging for insects on the turfs surface.
- External ears are not present and eyes are small and hidden within their fur.
Use the image and description above to confirm that you are dealing with a American shrew mole on your property. If unsure then contact us with a picture of the pest or areas of damage and we will try to assist you with proper identification.
Inspection
Once you have confirmed that you are dealing with an American shrew mole, you can proceed with inspection. During this phase, you will focus on finding the areas with the American shrew mole damages and the conditions allowing the pest to thrive.
Where to Inspect
American shrew moles will dig during the day and night on turf, fields, gardens, underneath bushy areas (shrubs), and landscaped areas infested with insects, earthworms, centipedes, grubs, and other soil-borne pests.
What to Look For
American shrew moles are most active on the top surface of grassy areas that are damp or have been exposed to consistent rainfall. These irrigation methods makes the soil underneath turf loose and more easy for the pest to dig through for insects.
Similar to shrews, this pest travels across the top of turf creating a network of pathways that bend the grass into tunnel shapes. However, the American shrew mole will also dig a small layer beneath the soil throughout these pathways to reach grubs, larvae, and other soil-born insects.
It should be noted that this pest can climb across the branches of small shrubs to hunt for insects. As a result, stems and branches may be broken with irregular gnawing on the plant leaves. Grubs are normally found near the roots of plants so broken or damage roots may be evident from American shrew mole feeding activity.
Treatment
Once you have determined the pest and areas of activity it is time to begin treatment. Remember to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves when handling any pesticide material and products. This will help to avoid leaving your scent for the American shrew mole to detect.
To control American shrew moles, we recommend eliminating their food source with a liquid insecticide labeled to treat grubs and other soil pests. You will also want to use a small Solutions Humane Live Trap to allow you to catch the pest, or relocate it, or preferably hand it over to animal control.
Step 1: Bait and Set the Trap
First you will need to set the Solutions Humane Live Trap in the direct pathways of American shrew mole tunnels. Their tunnels can be found near areas with vast amount of moisture or near ditches and streams or areas with high amount of insect activity.
With a gloved hand you will hide the trap with leaf litter, branches, and other vegetation to encourage the pest to continue using the runways and avoid the trapped American shrew mole from direct sunlight as it can perish within a few hours if left too long in the sun without escape.
To set the trap, push down on the trap door lock and lift the cage door. Continue to keep the trap door lifted while you pull the trigger arm forward to set it. The hook at the front of the trap should be holding onto the front cage door and remain open without you holding onto it.
Carefully place bait with high scent aromas such as peanut butter rolled with bits of bacon, hotdogs, earthworms, or grubs if available. Place this bait at the back of the small Solutions Humane Live Trap to allow the American shrew mole to travel across the trigger plate and cause the front trap door to close.
Step 2: Broadcast Dominion 2L
Dominion 2L is a neonicotinoid insecticide that works systemically throughout plants to eliminate pests feeding on the roots and adult insects on the surface of the turf. We recommend using a hose-end sprayer to broadcast this liquid product across your lawn, turf, flowers (when petals have already fallen off), shrubs, and trees.
For general turf applications, you can apply Dominion 2L at the rate of 0.3 to 0.6 oz. of product per gallon of water per 1,000 sq. ft. Determine how much Dominion 2L to use by calculating the square footage of the treatment site. To do this, measure the length and width of the treatment area in feet and multiply together (length X width = square footage).
Before filling your hose-end sprayer, make sure the water hose and control valve on the sprayer is turned off. Attach the hose-end sprayer to the end of your garden hose. Remove the reservoir from the hose-end sprayer to pour in the appropriate amount of Dominion 2L. Pour in the appropriate amount of water to treat the entire treatment area. Reattach the reservoir to the hose-end sprayer then turn the water hose on. Push forward on the hose-end sprayer control valve to treat the top and bottom of foliage leaves until wet, but not to the point of run-off.
Prevention
After you have successfully removed and relocated the American shrew mole, you will need to ensure they do not return. Implement the following preventative measures to ensure that American shrew moles do not reinvade your property.
- Mow your turf when it reaches a height of 3 inches to remove existing grass tunnels and deter insects from creating homes in your yard.
- Reapply Dominion 2L as needed per the product label instructions to continue to fight against insects that American shrew moles need to feed on.
- Rake your lawn when fallen leaves, branches, and other plant materials are witnessed. This will not only help to eliminate pest and insect activity, but it will also remove moisture for fungi and disease growth.
- Dethatch your property at the beginning of each season or when thatch is evident to eliminate American shrew mole habitats.
- Adjust watering to once a week with an inch of irrigation in the early morning to allow the moisture to have enough time to dry and hydrate your foliage with the appropriate amount of water.
- Prune overgrown or damaged plant leaves and branches to encourage healthy plant growth and deter insects from invading.
Key Takeaways
What are American Shrew Moles?
- American shrew moles are the smallest species of moles that travel above ground through a network of grassy tunnels to feast on soil-born insects like grubs.
How to Get Rid of American Shrew Moles
- Trapping and applying a liquid insecticide like Dominion 2L is the best way to remove American shrew moles from your lawn. Place the small Solutions Humane Live Trap in pathways with the highest amount of activity and ensure that is properly camouflaged to avoid direct sunlight exposure.
Preventing American Shrew Moles Reinfestation
- Clearing your yard of plant debris and regular yard maintenance as well as continual applications of Dominion 2L can keep American shrew moles from returning to your property.
