Homeowners often assume lawn tunnels signal a grub infestation, believing moles primarily hunt these larvae. This common assumption leads many to use grub killer for mole control. This article examines the mole’s diet, evaluates chemical grub control effectiveness, and outlines proven methods for removing moles from your property.
The Primary Components of a Mole’s Diet
Moles are classified as insectivores; their diet consists almost entirely of insects and other small invertebrates found beneath the soil. Their subterranean lifestyle requires an immense amount of energy, leading them to consume 70 to 100 percent of their body weight in food daily. This voracious appetite drives their constant tunneling activity, as they are perpetually searching for their next meal.
Contrary to popular belief, the primary staple of a mole’s diet is the earthworm. Earthworms provide the high protein content necessary to sustain the mole’s high metabolism. Some sources suggest earthworms can make up as much as 90% of a mole’s total food intake.
While grubs—the larvae of beetles—are consumed, they typically constitute only a small portion of the overall diet. Moles readily eat other prey they encounter, including snails, slugs, spiders, and various insect larvae. The tunnels often function as “worm traps,” allowing the mole to quickly capture prey that falls inside.
Evaluating Grub Killer Effectiveness
Applying an insecticide to eliminate grubs is generally an ineffective strategy for long-term mole removal. This approach is based on the flawed premise that grubs are the main attraction. Since grubs are a secondary food source, removing them does not significantly reduce the overall food supply a mole requires.
Chemical grub control products do not affect earthworms, which are the mole’s main diet component. The extensive network of tunnels a mole creates is primarily a hunting ground for these abundant worms. As long as the earthworm population remains healthy and plentiful, the moles have little incentive to leave the area.
Even if an insecticide eliminates all grubs, the mole may only temporarily shift its foraging efforts to an adjacent area. Grub control is an important tool for preventing turf damage caused by larvae feeding on grass roots. Using grub killer is a lawn-care activity, not a reliable method of mole control.
Proven Methods for Mole Removal
The most reliable and widely recommended approach for managing a mole population is physical trapping. Trapping directly addresses the problem animal, unlike attempts to eliminate their food source. Success rates are high because trapping targets the mole directly in its active tunnel system.
Effective placement requires identifying active, straight-line travel tunnels, rather than the squiggly foraging tunnels. Traps are designed to be triggered when the mole attempts to reopen a blocked passageway. If a trap does not yield a capture within a couple of days, it should be moved to a different, more frequently used location.
For protecting small, isolated areas like vegetable gardens, exclusion methods such as burying galvanized wire mesh or hardware cloth can create a physical barrier. Repellents, particularly those containing castor oil, are also available and work by making the food sources unpalatable or the soil unpleasant. These repellents may cause temporary displacement but are significantly less effective than trapping for complete removal.