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Moles would not cause soft ground, nor would they cause the water main to break. Water mains break everywhere, all the time. Repairing them is just a routine part of property management.
If your house is 150 years old and you have holes in your foundation that would allow wasps into your house, you need to get a stonemason to point up the foundation.
The ground is extremely soft due to all the mole/vole tunnels; you sink into it when you walk on it.
Do you have a better theory?
RE the voles...You can take a section of gutter or cut a shoebox, place it upside down over the holes with baited mouse traps at the end so they have to pass the traps, and they will since they're baited. They're a PITA, I've seen them take out expensive shrubs, etc.
Moles would not cause soft ground, nor would they cause the water main to break. Water mains break everywhere, all the time. Repairing them is just a routine part of property management.
Vole tunnels do, I have them in my yard all over the place. Although, I do agree that the pipe was probably just old and brittle.
File under "problems that make me want to buy a condo."
First is a glass basement window that is shuttered (nailed shut for security) in which wasps have built a huge nest. It appears to be inactive now since it's winter and cold, but I'm afraid to ask just any handyman to remove it in case something IS in there and becomes active. I also won't be tackling it myself because of my wasp phobia. I assume I need to call an exterminator to be on the safe side, but am afraid that if this option is removed, they'll relocate to another around the house, such as one of many chinks or holes in my stone foundation (this is a 150-year-old house) and thus end up IN my basement with me while doing my laundry.
Second is a mole or vole problem in the yard. When I sit in my lawn chair, the legs actually sink into the dirt. I also recently had a water main break which I'm pretty sure was caused by the lawn man walking on the soft ground above the pipes. Exterminator again? Problem would be neighbors who share the yard (there's no division) who would oppose poisons due to their roaming pets. My solution to both problems: just sell...
Any guidance?
Lol, and you think living in a condo is problem free?
I have had lovely things happen like parties next door, hearing the sexual life of my neighbors, stomping around the clock above me, fire sprinklers going off and flooding one of my walls, water line breaking above me and destroying my kitchen ceiling, unauthorized entries by condo staff, etc, etc, etc.
Your window issue can happen in a condo as well, an easily solved issue.
As someone else said, wasp spray can be used from 20 feet away. Just buy a can of spray, spray the nest, and let it sit for a few days/week. If you're really worried, spray it a second time the next day. The wasps will be dead, and you can remove the nest without fear.
We've done it outside many times with no stinging problems.
If it's not impacting my pipes (including gas lines) or my foundation (I worry about that, too), since it's just stacked rocks), that's a relief. But what's a natural remedy that won't kill the neighbors' cats? If you block or "contaminate" one opening, won't that just induce them to dig even more?
they sell battery operated "sticks"that repel the critters with electric/sonic current in soil'
try googling this
Sonic Molechaser Pest Repeller — Aluminum, Covers 11,250 Sq. Ft., Model# 7900
as far as your soft ground,
the critters don't tunnel that deep (just under surface).
Walk on the lawn and you will pack it down over time- after the voles are gone.
As someone else said, wasp spray can be used from 20 feet away. Just buy a can of spray, spray the nest, and let it sit for a few days/week. If you're really worried, spray it a second time the next day. The wasps will be dead, and you can remove the nest without fear.
We've done it outside many times with no stinging problems.
X2
you stated it was cold and nest is dormant.
Use the wasp spray,,
but first - try to get a helper,
encase as much of nest that you can in a household garbage bag,
when confident that bag will catch nest - have helper lop it off with large knife -long bread knife will work.
once in bag, spray wasp killer in bag, seal bag..
problem solved.-and using the bag does not stink up area with excess spray.
No need for exterminator - Save your $$$.
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