How to Use Tomcat® Mole & Gopher Bait

Tomcat® Mole & Gopher Bait is made with the fast-acting, acute toxicant zinc phosphide. Learn how to use the convenient missile bottle to apply pellets deep into mole and gopher tunnels.

To Control Pocket Gophers*

To control pocket gophers use either the plug removal or main runway baiting technique.

1. Plug Removal Baiting. Burrowing pocket gophers (Thomomys spp. and Geomys spp.) throw out low, fan shaped mounds on either side of their underground tunnel. These lateral tunnels coming to the surface are on the flat side of the fan and are plugged with soil. Using a long-handled spoon, carefully remove the plug. Insert one teaspoon of bait as far down as possible. Re-close opening, being careful not to cover bait with soil.

2. Main Runway Baiting. To locate main runways, probe about 6 to 8 inches away from mounds using an iron bar, a strong stick, or other suitable implement. Resistance on probe will drop suddenly, and it will fall about two inches when main runway is entered. Carefully enlarge the opening to allow for the runway to be easily baited. Place one teaspoon of bait into each active tunnel. Carefully close the hole with a stone, piece of sod, or soil. (Take care not to cover bait with soil.)

To Control Moles**

The presence of moles may be indicated by a network of surface runways in the lawn and by conical mounds of earth pushed up from deep tunnels and burrows.

Surface Runways. Prior to treatment, determine which tunnels are active by creating a hole with your finger or a stick in the tunnel. Flag your holes and recheck them in 24-48 hours. The tunnel is considered active if the hole has been repaired – only treat active tunnels.

Carefully create a hole in the top of an active tunnel, drop a teaspoon of Tomcat® Mole & Gopher Bait onto the bottom of the tunnel, and carefully close the hole with soil, a piece of sod, or a stone. (Do not collapse the runway again or allow loose soil to cover the bait.) After a week, check to see if there is still mole activity by recreating assessment holes in the active tunnels. If the holes are repaired after 1-2 days, repeat treatment.

Conical Mounds. Remove center plug from the conical mounds with a long-handled spoon and drop a teaspoonful amount of Tomcat® Mole & Gopher Bait in the underground tunnel. Close opening with rock or sod. Do not allow loose dirt to cover bait.

Post Treatment Follow Up

Wearing waterproof gloves, collect and dispose of any dead, exposed animals. Dispose of any leftover bait in accordance with disposal instructions on the product label. Use detergent and hot water to wash spoons used for application into tunnels and burrows, and do not use the spoons for mixing, holding or transferring food or feed. If re-infestation does occur, repeat treatment.

*Not for use against gophers in NC.

**Not for mole use in CA or IN. Not for use against star-nosed moles in NC.

To Control Moles**

The presence of moles may be indicated by a network of surface runways in the lawn and by conical mounds of earth pushed up from deep tunnels and burrows.

Surface Runways. Prior to treatment, determine which tunnels are active by creating a hole with your finger or a stick in the tunnel. Flag your holes and recheck them in 24-48 hours. The tunnel is considered active if the hole has been repaired – only treat active tunnels.

Carefully create a hole in the top of an active tunnel, drop a teaspoon of Tomcat® Mole & Gopher Bait onto the bottom of the tunnel, and carefully close the hole with soil, a piece of sod, or a stone. (Do not collapse the runway again or allow loose soil to cover the bait.) After a week, check to see if there is still mole activity by recreating assessment holes in the active tunnels. If the holes are repaired after 1-2 days, repeat treatment.

Conical Mounds. Remove center plug from the conical mounds with a long-handled spoon and drop a teaspoonful amount of Tomcat® Mole & Gopher Bait in the underground tunnel. Close opening with rock or sod. Do not allow loose dirt to cover bait.

Post Treatment Follow Up

Wearing waterproof gloves, collect and dispose of any dead, exposed animals. Dispose of any leftover bait in accordance with disposal instructions on the product label. Use detergent and hot water to wash spoons used for application into tunnels and burrows, and do not use the spoons for mixing, holding or transferring food or feed. If re-infestation does occur, repeat treatment.