The Best Mole Traps of 2025

When mole repellents fail to work, setting a mole trap is the logical next step. While moles are a natural part of wildlife, the maze of tunnels and mounds they create can destroy a yard or garden and pose safety hazards. These traps are designed to be set up in the mole tunnels, ensuring the moles will travel directly to the trap and trigger the spring-loaded mechanism that either captures or kills them. They come in many different design types and materials, so we spent four weeks testing six of the most popular options. (Note that one of the products on our list, a live catch and release trap, is still in the testing process.)

We tested each trap in our mole-infested yard to see which ones were easiest to set up and most effective. After four weeks, the highest-performing trap was the Polaflex Galvanized Steel Scissor Mole Trap. This trap is durable, easy to use, and most importantly, it works. 

This guide will explore a variety of top-rated products on the market that we’ve put through real-world testing. Read on to find important shopping tips, product considerations, and a curated list of some of the best mole traps on the market.

1. BEST OVERALL: Polaflex Galvanized Steel Scissor Mole Trap
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Gonzo 5001 Dead End Mole and Gopher Trap
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3. BEST HEAVY-DUTY: Cinch Gopher and Mole Professional-Grade Trap Kit
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4. ALSO CONSIDER: Wire Tek 1001 EasySet Mole Eliminator Trap
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5. BEST LIVE TRAP: Gophers Limited Live Trap for Gophers and Moles
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Before You Buy a Mole Trap

The damage moles cause isn’t only cosmetic. Mole tunnels displace the soil under plants, which can lead to plant die-off, and the mounds they create cause uneven terrain and tripping hazards for pedestrians. If you spot signs of moles in yard and garden areas, traps can be an effective way to eliminate or reduce their population. However, be sure to check local trapping laws, as these vary by region, and some localities may prohibit the use of certain types of mole traps or ban mole trapping altogether. Even if mole traps are permitted in your area, you may want to consider these no-kill methods first.

• Mole repellents come in the form of ultrasonic solar-powered pest repellers you can place in the yard or oils and granules for problem areas to deter these pests.
• Using an eco-friendly insecticide to reduce grubs and other soil-dwelling insects can make the yard less appealing to moles. However, since moles also feed on earthworms, this strategy isn’t foolproof.
• Live trapping moles allows the humane catch of moles, which you can then release far from the house—but before turning to a catch and release trap, check local laws. Moles are typically considered a “nuisance animal,” and in many states, it’s illegal to relocate nuisance animals to another property. 

When a mole infestation is severe, using a combination of repellents, insecticides, and traps may boost success. A pest control company can also assist in effectively treating your yard for moles. 

Mole Traps Comparison

Our Top Picks

The best mole trap ensures that the pests are captured or quickly and efficiently killed to rid yards and gardens of built-up molehills and return them to their previous appeal. This list of top picks features some of the top-rated products on the market, chosen with overall quality, price, and the results of our testing in mind.

Our Ratings

Setting the trigger on some mole traps can be complex, time-consuming, and downright frustrating. Fortunately, scissor-style traps, like this one from Polaflex, remove the guesswork with a design that sets the trigger by placing it on the ground and stepping on it. After identifying an active mole tunnel, we had one set up in less than a minute. These traps come in a pack of two and also include red plastic flags for marking their locations. We appreciated these as they served as a visual reminder for our kids to keep away from the area. 

The Polaflex mole traps are made of galvanized steel that’s weather and rust-resistant. They felt the most durable of all we tested, right out of the package. They also proved to be the most effective, killing a mole within the first week of setup. The only downside is that successful kills will leave some blood on the trap, requiring cleanup. 

What our tester says: “The Polaflex mole trap feels very durable and couldn’t be easier to use. I set one in my front yard that was full of mounds, and caught a mole quickly after.” —Katie Barton, Product Reviews tester and writer

Get the Polaflex mole traps at Amazon.

Our Ratings

With a cylindrical shape and half-moon entrance, the Gonzo Dead End tunnel mole trap is designed for catching and killing pests in their tunnels. This trap should be placed in line with the mole tunnel so the mole will simply follow its route and trigger the stainless steel wire. We found setting the trigger and placing the trap to be a simple process.

The trap features a water-resistant plastic tunnel and a stainless steel spring-loaded mechanism to trap and kill moles. This reusable trap is a good option for eliminating minor mole or gopher infestations, though it may not be a suitable choice for homes with pets or kids because of the dangerous killing mechanism. The trap offers a “mess-free” disposal, which we appreciate, and it’s also affordably priced. 

Get the Gonzo mole trap at Amazon.

Our Ratings

The Cinch gopher and mole traps come in a three-pack, ideal for larger mole infestations. They use a snare-style mechanism to eliminate moles and gophers and are made from weather-resistant steel. Using them requires setting the trap’s trigger mechanism and then digging down into a mole tunnel, after which the trap carefully slides into place. There’s a definite learning curve, though, and it took us at least 20 minutes to get the first one set up. However, we became a lot quicker at setting up the second and third traps.

The Cinch traps are reusable and come with lawn flags to mark their locations. While they offer a quick and powerful kill, these aren’t the best choice for shoppers looking for an easy-to-use option. 

Get the Cinch mole traps at Amazon or The Home Depot.

Our Ratings

Wire Tek includes two mole traps in this product bundle, so users can address mole infestation problems twice as fast without having to purchase additional traps. The mole traps feature a scissor-style design that users embed into the ground, so the scissors are directly in line with the mole tunnel. These traps are made of durable stainless steel that’s resistant to water and corrosion, ensuring they won’t fail when triggered.

The traps boast an easy-set system. Users don’t need to dig into the ground and set the traps up by hand; they simply push the traps into the ground with their foot. We found these traps to be one of the easiest to set up out of all the options on our list. However, keep in mind that this easy-set system is designed only for surface and shallow tunnels. For deeper tunnels, users will need to first dig into the ground to directly access the tunnel. Also, keep in mind that a successful kill will result in a (usually) small amount of blood getting on the trap. 

Get the Wire Tek mole traps at Amazon or Target (1-pack).

Another Great Option

Catch-and-release mole traps offer a no-kill way to rid a lawn or garden of these pests. We are in the midst of testing the option below, but think it could be a great addition to a humane mole removal strategy. We will update the review at the conclusion of our testing process. 

While poisons and lethal traps can effectively eliminate gophers and moles, these methods don’t suit everyone’s needs. Those looking for a more humane option may want to consider this live trap from Gophers Limited. It allows users to capture live moles and relocate them to a more desirable area. (Keep in mind that there may be local laws prohibiting catching and relocating moles to another property.)

The metal trap takes seconds to set—push the trap door down and pull the trigger rod slightly over it. If a mole (or other animal) walks into the trap, the trigger will release, shutting the door. The included directions are for catching gophers and instruct the user to dig out the burrow mound just enough to snugly insert the trap, and to check the trap often. For moles, we’re setting the trap in an active tunnel with earthworms in the back to act as bait. 

Get the Gophers Limited mole trap at Gophers Limited.

ALSO TESTED

We also tested the GopherHawk Trapping Set, but found it much more difficult to properly set up than the other mole traps on our list. Durability was also a concern as the thin metal straps on the bottom of the plunger are easily bendable and become mangled if the slightest pressure is applied to them. 

Jump to Our Top Picks

How We Tested the Best Mole Traps

We have a large yard full of mole mounds, giving us the perfect spot to test mole traps. However, before any testing began, we researched the most popular types and brands of traps, selecting six highly-rated options with versatile trapping mechanisms. To ensure accuracy, we first set off all the traps with a mole-sized stuffed animal attached to a long stick. After we were sure that we were setting each trap’s trigger correctly and that each trap worked as advertised, we moved on to identifying active mole tunnels in our yard.

Each trap was set according to the manufacturer’s instructions and left in the yard for four weeks, where it was continuously monitored. We kept the results of our testing in a standardized rubric, scoring each trap based on its ease of use, durability, effectiveness, and value. At the end of testing, we tallied up scores to determine a winning trap.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Mole Trap

Before choosing the best mole pest control​ method, it’s crucial to determine the type of trap you want to use, the benefits and drawbacks of certain materials, and even the ground conditions in the affected area of the yard. You’ll also want to check for mole versus vole damage, as the best pest control strategies for each of these nuisance animals will differ. Keep reading to learn more details about best practices for mole traps setting and essential product features to consider.

Material

Mole traps are typically made out of either metal or plastic. In some circumstances, the design may use both materials.

• Metal mole traps prioritize power and durability. Users can rely on them to work quickly and effectively, driving a spike down into pests or slicing through pests without slowing or getting stuck. While this seems cruel, the metal design is intended to instantly kill the moles so they don’t suffer.
• Plastic is commonly used for humane mole traps. These traps are essentially hollow tunnels with a one-way entrance, so once moles enter, they are trapped until users release them. The plastic construction is water- and corrosion-resistant. It’s also lightweight and less expensive than metal.
• Combined plastic and metal mole traps feature a plastic tunnel or box to lure in the moles and metal wires that kill them with a choker- or loop-style construction. 

Type

There are several types of mole traps, each with a unique design intended to capture and—depending on the type—kill moles, including scissor traps, tunnel traps, plunger traps, and live-catch tunnel traps.

• Scissor mole traps are set inside the mole tunnel. One set of spring-loaded blades sits at either end of the trap, and the trigger is set in the middle, where it’s held in place by piled dirt. When the mole attempts to move the dirt to continue through the tunnel, this action sets off the trap, closing the powerful scissor blades and killing the mole.
• Tunnel mole traps can also be referred to as box-, choker-, or loop-style traps because they feature an enclosed box with a metal wire loop that is pulled upward by a spring-loaded system as soon as the mole triggers the trap. When the mole activates the trap, the metal wire catches the mole and quickly kills it.
• Plunger mole traps feature a spring-loaded spike that is shot down into the ground when the mole triggers the trap. The trap is relatively easy to set up with minimal digging involved, and the plunging spike takes care of moles in a hurry.
• Live-catch tunnel mole traps are enclosed tunnel-style traps that are placed into the mole tunnel with some dirt pushed up against the door. Moles try to dig through the dirt but will quickly find themselves trapped inside the tunnel. Users who want to remove moles from the yard without killing them should consider this type of trap.

Ground Conditions

The ground conditions of the yard or garden may seem like an odd factor to consider when choosing a mole trap, but this is necessary because the traps are most effective when set up underground in the actual mole tunnel. This means the trap’s mechanism needs to be able to move quickly through the dirt for the trap to be effective.

Plunger traps and scissor traps for moles​ don’t function well in rocky ground because the rocks can impede the movement of the spike or the closing of the scissors. In this case, it’s best to use either a box trap or a live-catch tunnel trap. Additionally, moles enjoy very moist ground, so it may be a good idea to pause the irrigation system while trying to rid your yard of moles.

Safety

The safety of kids, pets, and even adult users should always be a primary consideration when deciding which trap to choose. After all, most of these traps are designed to maim and kill at a high speed, with the goal of causing the least-possible suffering. Mole traps are dangerous, and their location should be properly marked on the yard’s surface so it’s always obvious where the traps are set.

However, marking the traps isn’t enough for homes with curious kids and pets. These devices can be triggered with a slight amount of pressure and have enough power to cut clean through a finger. It’s recommended to either keep kids and pets far away from the traps or invest in a live-catch trap that isn’t dangerous to use when you need to eliminate moles in the backyard​ or garden. If you decide on a live-catch trap, make sure to wear proper protection, like gloves, shoes, and long pants when releasing the mole.

FAQs 

Taking care of a pest problem in the yard can seem challenging. If you still have questions about mole traps and how they work, read on to find answers to several of the most frequently asked questions.

Q. Are mole traps dangerous to pets?

Yes, most mole, vole, and gopher traps are designed to be lethal and often use powerful, spring-loaded mechanisms that can be dangerous to kids and pets—and adults, if not handled with care.

Q. Can mole traps be used for voles or gophers?

Mole traps can be used for both voles and gophers because all three of these pests tunnel under the lawn. However, repellents and pesticides may differ in effectiveness based on the three kinds of rodents’ various lifestyles and diets.

Q. What time of day are moles most active?

Moles are most active in the early morning and evening, especially during the spring and autumn seasons.

Q. Where is the best place to put a mole trap?

Position traps inside an existing mole tunnel to have the best chance of getting rid of moles. This is the most effective strategy as the moles will usually follow their pre-dug tunnels and dig through minor cave-ins and obstructions, where they typically trigger most traps.

Q. How long do you leave a mole trap?

Check a mole trap at least once every day to know if it has caught or killed any moles or would be more effective in a different location. However, it’s recommended to try a location for 2 or 3 days before moving the trap.

Q. Which bait should I use with mole traps?

Most mole traps don’t require bait, relying instead on trapping the mole as it moves through its tunnel. If you’re trapping moles rather than killing them and want to bait the traps, earthworms are a solid option. There are also commercial mole-killer baits available that mimic earthworms and grubs. 

Q. How many mole traps should I place in my garden?

Use the number of active mole tunnels in lawn and garden areas as a guide on how many mole traps to set. Adding a trap to the entrance of each active tunnel can speed up the mole extermination​ process.

Meet the Tester

Katie Barton is a writer and product tester specializing in home improvement. She thoroughly tests products to help readers find the best options for their homes and gardens. 

Additional research provided by Timothy Dale.

 

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