The appearance of raised ridges and volcano-shaped soil mounds across a manicured lawn signals the presence of a subterranean guest: the mole. Moles are insectivores specialized for an underground existence, distinguished from rodents by their paddle-like forefeet. The damage they cause is a byproduct of constant foraging, and the duration of this disruption depends less on the calendar and more on the quality of the soil’s food supply.
Understanding Mole Presence and Duration
A mole’s residency in a yard is determined by the continuous availability of food, which allows a single animal to establish a long-term, complex tunnel system. Moles are solitary and territorial, and while an acre of land typically supports only two or three moles, their average lifespan often ranges from three to five years. Their presence is the establishment of a permanent, individual habitat rather than a temporary migration.
The visibility of mole activity often dictates the perception of their duration, with the most noticeable damage occurring in spring and fall. These are peak periods for surface tunneling because the soil is moist and easier to excavate. Activity slows down in the summer heat or winter cold, causing moles to retreat to deeper tunnels where temperatures and food sources are more stable.
A mole’s tunnel system is composed of two distinct types. Shallow surface runs, which appear as raised ridges, are temporary feeding burrows that may be used only once and then abandoned. Deep runways are permanent structures, located three to twelve inches beneath the surface. These main runways are reused repeatedly for travel and nesting, allowing a mole problem to persist for years.
Primary Factors Attracting Moles to Your Yard
The primary factor drawing moles to a yard is an abundant food supply, which they must consume in vast quantities due to their high metabolism. Moles are insectivores, and their diet consists mainly of earthworms, which they prefer. They often need to consume 70 to 100 percent of their body weight each day, supplementing this with grubs and other soil-dwelling insects.
Moles seek out specific soil conditions that support high populations of earthworms and other invertebrates. They thrive in loose, moist, and well-drained soil, which is easy to tunnel through and provides an optimal environment for their prey. A healthy, well-irrigated lawn often signals a prime hunting ground, making the yard a sustainable habitat.
Strategies for Effective Mole Deterrence and Removal
Addressing a mole problem requires focusing on the animal itself and its primary food source. Trapping remains the most reliable control method for removing an individual mole from a tunnel system. Traps should be placed in the deep, active main runways, which can be identified by pressing down on surface tunnels and noting which ones are re-excavated within a day or two.
Homeowners can employ food management to make the environment less appealing, such as treating the lawn for grubs, a seasonal food source that can draw them in. However, reducing the primary food source—earthworms—is often undesirable, as they are beneficial for soil health. Baits designed to mimic the mole’s natural diet are an alternative and can be placed directly in the active runways.
For a non-lethal approach, commercial repellents, often formulated with castor oil, are available, though their effectiveness can vary greatly compared to trapping. For small, high-value areas like flower beds, installing physical barriers made of hardware cloth or mesh buried at least a foot deep can prevent moles from entering.