September 9, 2026, 9:58 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Moles actually do valuable work in the garden: They eat pests such as grubs and slugs and improve soil structure with their underground tunnels. However, the animals are not welcome everywhere. Many garden owners find the typical mounds of earth disruptive because they detract from the well-kept appearance of the lawn. If you want to drive moles away without harming them, you can try a surprising home remedy: yogurt.
Moles in the Garden
Wild animals do not distinguish between the greenery in front of and behind the garden fence. For them, this boundless world is divided into different territories only by smells and scents. Keeping this in mind, the already questionable chemical means of killing mice, foxes, moles and the like seem even more cruel. Fortunately, you can resort to gentle, environmentally friendly, and more cost-effective methods. To drive moles out of the garden, you can use yogurt.
Note: Moles are protected by law. Catching or even killing the animals is therefore legally prohibited by the Federal Nature Conservation Act. Flooding mole tunnels with water or similar methods are also not allowed. Anyone who violates this ban faces a fine of up to 65,000 euros.
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Why Yogurt Works Against Moles
The reason is simple: Moles cannot stand the smell of yogurt–especially sour yogurt is particularly effective. With a nose as fine and sensitive as a mole’s, such an olfactory nuisance leaves no choice but to vacate the area.
Using Yogurt to Drive Moles Out of the Garden
To drive moles out of the garden with yogurt, proceed as follows:
- First, carefully open a molehill by removing some soil to expose the tunnel.
- Place some yogurt in the tunnel.
- Then cover the molehill with soil again.
- Repeat this process at various mounds and at regular intervals.
Over time, the smell of the yogurt fades. Therefore, it is advisable to replenish the food at regular intervals. Alternatively, you can also place garlic cloves in the molehills. Nettle slurry also emits a smell that the small animals cannot stand. Cloths soaked in vinegar can also help gently drive moles out of the garden.