Disturbed soil in a yard often signals the presence of a subterranean pest, most commonly a gopher or a mole. These burrowing mammals create extensive tunnel systems that can damage lawns, gardens, and root systems. Because the methods for managing these two pests are distinctly different, correct identification is the necessary first step. Homeowners can accurately determine the culprit by observing the visual evidence and understanding the habits of each animal.
Physical Appearance and Behavior
The most direct way to distinguish the two animals is by their physical characteristics. Moles are insectivores, not rodents, typically measuring six to eight inches long with a cylindrical body. They possess large, paddle-like front feet specialized for digging, tiny eyes, and no external ears, which are adaptations for life underground. Their velvety fur allows them to move easily through tunnels without soil catching.
Gophers, also known as pocket gophers, are true rodents and are generally larger than moles, averaging about 12 inches in length. They possess prominent, exposed incisor teeth, small eyes, and small ears, giving them a “rat-like” appearance. A defining feature is their fur-lined cheek pouches, used to carry food and nesting materials. While moles rarely surface, gophers occasionally forage near their tunnel entrances.
Analyzing the Mounds
The most reliable sign for distinguishing between the two animals is the shape of the mounds of dirt they push to the surface. Gopher mounds are typically fan-shaped or horseshoe-shaped and are often asymmetrical. The soil plug, which marks the filled-in tunnel entrance, is usually located off to one side of the mound, not in the center. These mounds appear when the gopher pushes dirt from a lateral tunnel toward the surface.
Mole mounds, commonly referred to as molehills, resemble a small volcano or cone. These mounds are generally symmetrical and smaller than gopher mounds, often lacking a visible, distinct entrance hole or plug in the center. The soil in a molehill is pushed up from a vertical tunnel below, resulting in a circular, centralized pile of finely sifted dirt. Moles do not create new mounds as frequently as gophers, as their tunneling is primarily for hunting.
Tunnel Structure and Feeding Habits
The differences in underground construction directly relate to the animals’ dietary needs. Moles are insectivores, meaning their diet consists primarily of earthworms, grubs, and other small invertebrates found in the soil. Their tunnels reflect this strategy: they create shallow surface runs that appear as raised, spongy ridges across the lawn as they follow food sources. These extensive tunnel networks act as traps for their prey.
Gophers are herbivores, focusing their diet on plant material, including roots, bulbs, and tubers. Consequently, their tunnel systems are constructed deeper, generally between 4 and 18 inches below the surface, to access plant roots and provide shelter. Gophers rarely create the raised, shallow surface runs seen with moles, instead focusing on a complex network of main tunnels and feeder tunnels. The damage caused by gophers often appears as wilting plants whose root systems have been chewed away completely.