In a message dated 12/30/2005 12:12:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, cameron@haznet.co.za writes: We had a serious mole problem in our nursery beds which we have almost solved with an innovation that was not mentioned in any of the correspondence. We came across two varieties of battery powered commercial mole deterrents which work by making sporadic sound impulses which moles find intolerable. The impulses are nearly inaudible to humans, but have kept the moles out of our beds for this entire season. They have an effective range of about 4 meters around the instrument. The instruments are inserted into the ground to a depth of about 20 cm. The cost of batteries was a factor that we overcame by using rechargeable batteries. I believe these deterrents also come in versions that use a small solar panel, which would be ideal but these are not available in South Africa at present We have found that Eucomis, Scillas and Ornithogalums are immune to mole predation, and to virtually all other insect and fungal pests, but they do not keep moles from eating adjacent palatable species -- the most susceptible of which are some of the amaryllids and Irids - especially Amaryllis belladonna and Cybistetes longifolia and Watsonias of which we have lost many to moles. I wonder if we're talking about the same thing? Here in the USA, moles (Talpidae sp.) are carnivores and consume only insect larvae/adults, annelids and similar. They don't eat plant material. Pocket gophers (Geomyidae sp.), on the other hand, are notoriously gluttonous diners at the geophyte smorgasbord and can readily decimate most geophytes, especially those with cormous/tuberous/rhizomatous storage organs. Moles don't eat geophytes but their tunneling provides easy access to the larder for those animals that do, in particular, mice. I think it is fairly widely accepted that gophers (may sample but) don't consume daffodils (an amaryllid) but they will certainly move the bulbs about (or destroy them) with their tunneling. This may be due to the raphide-shaped crystals of oxalic acid in the tissue that cause mucous membranes to swell when ingested. On the other hand, for some reason, they can and will readily consume hyacinth (the H. orientalis hybrids) bulbs. They may also consume other tunicate bulbs, e.g., A. belladonna; I have no experience with these. Bill Welch may have some firsthand experience with these bulbs and gophers, though. I have used these vibrating devices in the past, but no longer do for the simple reason that they don't work! They are marginally effective when the soil is undisturbed and solid, i.e., in plantings that have been down for at least a year. They are totally ineffective in disturbed soil, i.e., soil worked up and planted -- the very place where I need something to keep the moles and their tunneling at bay! They will happily tunnel right next to the device in disturbed soil. For this tool to be at all effective, the soil has to be solid and wet and the device firmly lodged in the soil to permit the vibrations to travel through this medium. The manufacturer's claim that one device will effectively "patrol" half an acre is ludicrous!! I have been woefully ineffective at trapping these burrowing pests and have resorted to a Warfarin-containing gel that is supposed to taste like earthworms/grubs to control moles. It does require care and skill in placement, however, to be consistently effective. And I've been successful with carbon monoxide to control gophers. Again, one has to be certain that one is treating an active run for it to be effective. Best, Dave Karnstedt Cascade Daffodils Silverton, Oregon 97381 Cool, wet Winters and hot, dry Summers