PEST UK - What are moles and why do they make molehills? (2024)

FAQs

PEST UK - What are moles and why do they make molehills? ›

Moles

Loose soil is pushed up a shaft to the surface, forming a molehill. The main purpose of the sometimes vast tunnel system is to create a giant underground trap for invertebrates, so once a mole has set up a territory, it does not need to dig many more new tunnels.

Plant Plants That Moles Hate

Planting such plants like Crown imperial, Castor bean, Narcissus, and Euphorbia lathris, which is sometimes called “gopher surge” because it has a smell and taste that repels gophers and moles, is a great natural way to take care of your yard and keep it free from mole holes.

Moles create extensive burrows in search of their insect prey: earthworms, grubs and beetles. Moles are considered beneficial to the landscape because they cultivate and aerate the soil while eating undesirable grubs and insects.

The soil excavated or cleaned out from the deep tunnels is pushed to the surface through vertical tunnels and forms the surface mounds, or molehills.

Is it OK to leave moles in your yard? Although they leave unattractive tunnels and weak spots in the yard, they also provide some benefits. They eat grubs, beetles, ants, snails, and termites. They also aerate and fertilize the soil.

An abundance of insects: Moles feed on insects and larvae, so if your yard has a high population of insects or grubs, it can attract moles. With moles eating 70-100% of their body weight in worms, grubs, and insects each day, they need to find somewhere with a huge supply.

Eastern mole: 6 years

Moles / Lifespan

Most lawns only house one to two moles, so you won't be targeting an entire mole community. Moles dig two types of tunnels: Deep runways: Typically 12 to 18 inches below the soil's surface, these deep runways are used by moles for daily travel.

Moles are insectivores that are attracted to yards full of insects—grubs are particularly appetizing to them—where they will dig shallow tunnels beneath the grass and garden. While moles are not a direct danger to humans, they are a nuisance and can destroy your yard unless you cut off their food source.

What time of day are moles most active? ›

Moles are most active in the early morning and late evening on cloudy days during the spring and fall. There are many methods advertised for removing moles, such as chewing gum and vibration and ultrasonic devices, that are advertised to deter them. Often, however, these methods are not very effective.

Mole predators

They do have natural predators, including tawny owls, buzzards, weasels and stoats. Moles are killed by cats, dogs and of course humans, who regard them as pests, usually using mole spring traps or poisons.

Unlike voles, moles dig deep. Their tunnels are usually at least 10 inches underground, unless they're scanning the surface in search of a mat. These expert diggers create characteristic volcano-shaped hills in the lawn.

Moles are burrowing animals and they dig every day. When a mole digs a shallow tunnel just below the surface of lawns and flowerbeds it pushes the displaced soil up vertical tunnels to form molehills. These tunnels are temporary as the moles are digging them to search for food, such as earthworms and insects.

The main reason that moles invade your yard is to search for food. Their primary food sources are earthworms, grubs, and lawn insects. If no food is available, they won't find your yard attractive. To help limit the moles' food supply, use products labeled to control grubs, ants, mole crickets, and other lawn insects.

However, moles are generally solitary by nature and will aggressively defend their burrow systems. Many sources suggest one acre will only support five or six moles. So your lawn may look like a war zone, but you probably have only a couple of moles. In fact, almost 60% of our customers have just one or two moles.

The life cycle of an average mole is about 50 years. As the years pass, moles usually change slowly, becoming raised and lighter in color. Often, hairs develop on the mole. Some moles will not change at all and some will slowly disappear over time.