7* Wi1 dlife-Insecticide Relationships 
Vol. 5 , No. 6 
Page 4 
R. Vi. Lutz 
Mole populations were adversely affected by the application of insecticides 
on the Donovan, Iroquois, and South Sheldon areas. The Donovan and Iroquois areas 
were treated with 2 pounds of aldrin per acre in the spring of I960 and 1961, res¬ 
pectively. The South Sheldon area was treated with 2 pounds per acre of aldrin in 
the fal1 of 1961. 
Mole tunnels were frequently encountered in fields and farmyards prior to the 
application of the insecticides on the study areas. After treatment mole sign de¬ 
clined steadily. A caretaker at a golf course within the Iroquois area stated 
that moles caused extensive damage to the greens prior to treatment. After treat¬ 
ment, mole damage was negligible. Residents on the treated areas who had mole 
control problems in their yards reported similar experiences. 
Fifty-six farmyards on each of the Donovan and Iroquois areas were checked for 
mole activity during October, 1961, and April, 1962. An equal number of farmyards 
were checked on the untreated Beaverville area. The South Sheldon area was checked 
for mole activity in October, 1961, before the area was treated and after treatment 
in April, 1962. The decline in mole activity on treated areas is evident from the 
data in Table 3« 
Table 3* --Mole occurrence on 112 treated and 112 untreated farmyards during 
October, 1 96 1, and on 168 treated and 56 untreated farmyards during April, 1962. 
T reated 
Unt reated 
1roquois 
Donovan South Sheldon 
Beaverville South Sheldon 
Mole Occurrence 
(Per Cent) 
October, 1961 
42.9 
30.0 - 
89-3 73-7 
April, 1962 
51.7 
26.7 60.7 
91.0 - 
S 
