Sweeney’s S9014 Mole and Gopher Solar Spike - S9014-4

I purchased the battery-operated version of Sweeney's Solar Spikes first, and it's worth the extra money for the solar version. I purchased three battery units a year ago, and they're all broken now. It's just too easy for water to enter, and once it does, it's all over. On the other hand, the solar one is doing fine, and I'm going to replace the dead units with solar ones. They all need to be in well-drained areas, though, so that's caveat #1. Also, I've discovered that the units work well if the moles have A WAY TO ESCAPE THE PULSE. I've bordered my yard with landscaping brick sunk into the ground a few inches. The only way I can describe it is that the moles became hysterical when I inserted the spikes. They immediately fled the part of the yard with the spikes and frantically tunneled around the edges, but they couldn't seem to get under or over the bordering bricks. Once I kill the ones in the yard, I don't get new ones, at least. In the front yard, which had only a mild mole infestation and an exit route, they left immediately and have not returned. Some of the negative reviewers noted increased mole activity after using the spikes. If the moles were numerous and "trapped" in the yard by brick, water, or concrete, could that be a reason in some cases? Just wondering. I have read that a single mole can dig 300 feet of tunnels in a day. If that's so, I may not have that many. Anyway, I'll be buying more solar spikes. My neighbor seems to be running a mole nursery with little effort at abatement, so I'll have to continue preventative efforts. Update: I'm buying more. The pulse on one of the three is still going strong, but confrontations with the lawn mower have finally killed the third. Water damage killed the other--my fault for placing it in a low-lying area. Nonetheless, these are excellent units giving years of service. I have had no new infestations despite continued mole activity all around me. I live in Virginia and left the units outside year-round with no problems. The other traps and poisons sit unused in my tool shed. I'm increasing the number of stars for this.

I have two of these... but it is a mixed bag. I bought one two months ago and that seemed to drive things out. Not as much as they claim, but more like 30 ft. dia or ~700 sqft. So I had to get another one to cover my large lawn. Here is where things got messy. My first spike gives audible beeps every 7 sec. The new one beeps every 40 sec. So obviously they have a big QC issue. Secondly, the new one doesn't seem to be as effective as the first one. I saw a gopher 5 ft from the new spike. So, you may have to try your luck on this. I will not buy this again. I do know there is one thing that works - gopher bait blocks from Eaton. That is if you don't want to deal with traps. I eliminated one before as I stopped seeing big mounds. And probably the 2nd one will die in a day or two. For this to work, you have find a clear tunnel, shove it in (make sure that your human taste is not on the block) and close the hole tightly. Do not fill with mud and the block will disappear. I put a small slab of concrete to cover the hole, then a black trash bag and more bricks to hold the bag in place. That should ensure darkness to gopher to walk freely onto the bait. If I left the hole open, gopher bulldozes mud there and pushes out the block. Wait for 48 h. It takes a while for the bait to act. There is no gopher deterrent in the long run - just kill them. You will be happy! Update 07/01/15: I did hear back from Sweeneys. They are sending a replacement. If that thing also doesn't work, they will refund the money. I am upping the rating to 3*... They are trying. Update 7/17/15: The replacement unit was even more bizarre. It will charge only in full sunlight (not daylight). My solar landscape lights do better than this. Gopher activity is bad. I am getting a refund. No more spikes... Dropping to 2* Update 8/1/15: The refund arrived quickly, but the purchase date has to be within 30 days. So, it is kinda tricky. It takes at least a couple of weeks for the product to show its effectiveness (if it works), but you may be too late to claim refund if it doesn't work.Still 2*, just for their customer service Update 9/5/15: The only (partially) working spike has stopped working within 5 months of purchase. Don't have a receipt - don't think I can get it replaced. Dropping to 1*. This. is.worthless.

I have used these sonic stakes for about five years. I have about three acres of lawn and gardens surrounded by forest in Virginia and our mole and vole problem was serious (thankfully, no gophers). Initially I purchased several stakes to address certain areas that were severe. They worked fine, but the problem just moved elsewhere. My method has evolved since then, and now they are placed around the entire perimeter of the yard. The stakes work well, until they don't. They are, after all, plastic and made to be affordable (they're already pretty expensive). They are susceptible to breakage of one sort or another, but with proper care, they last 2-4 years for me. One reviewer claims that the on/off switch is just for looks, but they don't know what they're talking about; its functional. I purchased a one-inch auger-type drill bit and make a pilot hole with my cordless drill. I don't place any where a lawn mower passes over them (they're all in flower bed edges). I remove them in autumn and place a one-inch dowel in the hole to preserve the hole location during winter. They are particularly vulnerable to water incursion, so don't expose them to harsh winter weather. I then deploy them in early spring to beat the mole infestation. By placing them around the perimeter early, they keep the pests from entering the yard at all. I'm up to 30 stakes and I have to purchase about six new ones each year. Summary: these stakes perform as described, but care must be taken to keep them functional. An initial investment must be made to purchase enough to surround your yard, but the positive results have made it worth it to me. I highly recommend these stakes to solve your mole problem.

My half-acre yard was being invaded by gophers from all sides. I had just installed new landscaping and was extremely concerned about avoiding the inevitable damage from these critters. Had an exterminator come who took care of the ones in my yard, but he said it would be an ongoing battle because my neighbors were ignoring theirs. I have used traps - with arthritic hands, not an option any more. Poison works sometimes. Smoke bombs - full of smoke! Decided to try the Sweeney Solar Spikes as a last resort. I liked the solar feature as I thought having to monitor batteries would be a big issue. Bought two brands - one at a big box and one at my local garden center. The garden center clerk said she has a customer who used them on a five acre area and swore by them. I installed them at two points in my yard and the area about 10 - 15 ft. around each remained gopher free. It was obvious I needed more. I liked the Sweeney brand best, so I ordered more and I now have about six spikes placed around the perimeter of my yard. Problem resolved. Prior to ordering the last two, a gopher entered my yard about 15 ft. beyond the last placed spike and one could track its progression - carefully avoiding getting too close to the last spike. Called the gopher guy, again, who successfully caught that one. I then placed new Sweeney spikes. Again, problem resolved. Don't know that I will ever be totally "critter-free" (unless my neighbors decide to "get on board", but considering the damage I've had to trees and bushes in the past, these spikes are certainly a great alternative! I noticed that some reviewers have complained about the sound they make. I truly don't notice it at a level to find irritating. I find it most preferable compared to the sound of munching on the roots of my bushes!

I received two of the Sweeney Sonic Spikes at the end of June. According to the packaging, I only needed one in my yard, but I placed one in the front of the house and the second in the back. We are surrounded by woods so we have many mole invaders. The spikes starting working immediately and it wasn't long before the tunnels disappeared and so did the mole problem. My complaint is that one of the spikes stopped working eight weeks after purchase. For the price, I don't feel this was a value for two months of service.

This thing is just terrible all around. Not only does it not deter gophers in the slightest -- it's been over a month here, and they are still digging runs and holes withing a couple feet of the spike -- but it is also so loud that it makes being in the back yard annoying. This thing is definitely audible to humans. Even worse, the on/off switch does not work whenever the spike is in the sun. I can turn it off at night if I want to, but during the day, setting the switch to off is completely ignored, and the thing keeps beeping. Construction is very light and flimsy. I have no idea why it is so expensive, considering it's probably about 50 cents worth of components and another 50 cents worth of plastic. Maybe it works for some people, or maybe they just think it works because of coincidence. Or maybe I just have super stubborn gophers. Would not recommend.

Hang on there... UPDATE ... May 27, 2012 They work, yes, but they only work for about three months. At this rate I need to replace 6 of them every 3 months at $20 - $25 each, that's $120 - $150 and annually $480 - $600. I'm going to try propane gas next. Someone mentioned using lit flares shoved down into the holes but the chances of lighting my whole garden and home on fire is a bit worrisome. I'm going to check other manufactures, too. ---------O---------- Earlier Review I've tried nearly everything from cyanide graduals to chocolate flavored ex-lax, yes, Ex-Lax. I was ready to put carbide graduals down into the tunnels in order to 'gas' them to death. While at the hardware store one of the employees vouched for this Sweeney's Solar Mole/Gopher Stake (spike). I-T - W-O-R-K-S !!! I paid $25 for ONE stake/spike. I just ordered two for $25 right here on Amazon! NOTE: The moles/gophers eventually get used to the vibration/sound, so you have to relocate them about once a month. They work best in hard clay soil because that allows the vibration/sound to carry further. I wish I could meet Sweeney... I'd give her/him a big hug! My garden is doing so nicely without the moles.

This has to be one of the best mole attractants I have ever seen. There was 1 mole trail in my yard and I figured that must be one lonely mole. I installed two of these and it attracted not only a mate for my lonely mole but also attracted lots of friends and we were all very happy for a couple of years until I srained my ankle when I stepped wrong into one of their trails. So I decided they should move their city elsewhere. I removed their party music,(these beeping attractant devices) and waited for them to leave. They did not leave so I filled their trails with the treasures my doggies leave in my yard and used the water holes to send these treasures on down. The moles decided to move into my neighbors yard. The next year I had no moles in my yard but my neighbors said they had a lot of moles in their yard. Well I decided to help my neighbors keep their moles happy and gave each of them one of these juke boxes. Their mole tenants are just dancing away. I still don't have any trails thru my yard and my grass is so lush green and thick, i no longer get to follow the maze thru my yard but I don't mind. Anytime I start missing my old mole tenants I just look over in my neighbors yard and smile. Now we are all happy. I can hear my neighbor to the right shouting out with joy(?) about his happiness now!