It has a chain, just like a regular chainsaw, only short, 6", and 1/4" gauge, bigger teeth than the one on my chainsaw (5/32"). The manual says when it gets dull, get a new chain, but you can sharpen it. Which reminds me, I need to get another file, and order some extra chains before they stop making them. LOL
November 22nd (Friday) Strong smell of coffee in the mobile home this time. Something dug the hole out again. I dug it out deeper to make sure the skunk wasn't going under the footer, and it simply couldn't have. Filled it back in and put that stone to the left on top. The skunk could move it. Something smaller couldn't and would dig around it. The ground above the water line has sunk even more near the house. Now I'm thinking there are two critters involved---a skunk and a mole (skunks eat moles). Maybe more. What is alarming the skunk and making it spray? I guess they aren't doing any permanent damage, like squirrels do, but I'd just like to know what is going on. It must be exciting out there at night. The critters are toying with me also.
Hey, that is war at my house! I get a long piece of PVC and shove it down the hole as far as it will go, without blocking the end, and drop down a few lit toxic smoke bombs, then start pouring sand down the pipe and then pull it out and fill hole with a lot of gravel tamped tight. One must work fast as moles and voles are fast diggers. Took me two weeks to get the last little varmint, but finally got into the main den with the smoke.
Earlier this summer, my husband had to rescue two little black moles from our swimming pool, on different days. He scooped them out, put them in a styrofoam cooler, and drove them about 7 miles away to release 'em. We haven't seen any evidence of them digging anywhere in the yard, and this is the first we have seen living here since 1994. I had no idea that they are so tiny.
Get a cat. Ella leaves moles for me at the back door. Bird would do the same. Baby Girl and her family (Cutie and Lydia) weren't hunters. I don't think Cutie ever chased anything other than another cat, and I watched Lydia catch a bird on the ground once. Then she lifted her paws and watched it fly away. Catch and release.
I would be afraid the mole den would turn into a mole community condo and dig up under the whole place.
@Nancy Hart , @Faye Fox , @Von Jones -- thought you DIY ladies might enjoy this Youtube channel, "See Jane Drill." I enjoy watching this lady though I have no intention of DIYing anything. My husband is handy and my son is a building contractor, so I can just supervise. (More of a YDI in my case... "you do it.") Nancy, I hope you don't mind me posting this in your thread. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCraGaDLfWec67xl9FEPndtw Trailer...
That is what was happening to me!!! They had trails out in the yard I could see because it was sunken a bit and soft. There was three neighborhood cats that tried hard but couldn't get the little varmints. I dug trenches all over the lawn and finally traced them to a 45 degree decline that went under my house. I had tried smoking the tunnels in the yard, but they would dig fast and throw up dirt sealing off the smoke. I went through about 10 packs of the smoke bombs and even resorted to some old firecrackers I had from many years earlier. It was like Caddyshack. Zek asked if he could help and I said no, this was a personal war between woman and varmint. It was a hot day. I used a sharp shooter shovel and grubbing hoe. Jean shorts, tank top, with work boots and no makeup or even bothering to brush my hair. I was sweating with dirt all over me as it was flying everywhere. By noon I had reached the den. Zek came over to watch my victory and brought sandwiches and cold beer. No more moles, but I did have a battle with a marmot, but that is another story.
@Beth Gallagher It is very important for you to watch women DIY videos, because as supervisor you need to know if the guys are BSing you!
I am suspecting moles to be in our yard just this year. I came across three holes as I was raking leaves. I found one hole and then two more. Never had this happen before. So not only did I have to watch the grass turn bad from the hot temps but this too.
Thanks Beth. I remember Leah! .Stumbled on her video on drywall when I remodeled the closet last year. But then, I watched about every other video on YouTube on drywall, also. . It was a good video. I didn't know she did a whole series of them. Hope to never have to do drywall again.
I remember your closet remodel from "the other place." I loved keeping up with your progress on that project.
So resolving this mole situation I thought about getting some pepples and pouring them down each hole seeing that moles can dig through the ground. Just enough to be able to plant new grass next year.