(MS) - Anyone familiar with the classic 1980 film Caddyshack likely recalls the difficulty Bill Murray's character had in ridding the golf course of pesky critters that were destroying the property he was responsible for protecting. Homeowners who watch that film can likely feel Murray's pain, as critters such as moles can do a great deal of damage to a yard or garden.

Lawncare veterans may have heard of all of the supposed methods of ridding a yard of moles. Whether it's blasting them out with a rush of water or inserting human hair into the ground, there seem to be a lot of differing opinions on ridding a yard of these deft diggers.

One of the most successful ways to tackle the problem is by setting mole traps. Such traps are inexpensive and can be very effective, particularly if set before winter, when moles mate and produce babies.

And while it may seem as though the mole loves eating your yard, what moles are really after is food, namely the soft-bodied grubs below the grass. If you can remove the grub population from your yard, the moles will more than likely be forced to look elsewhere for their food and leave your lawn and garden intact.

If planting a new garden and you simply want to avoid potential mole problems, you might want to place wire mesh in the dirt before you begin planting. The roots of your plants will be able to go through this mesh, but the mole will not be able to uproot anything you plant.

First Published August 13, 2010, 1:16 p.m.