The sudden appearance of raised ridges across a lawn signals the presence of a mole’s subterranean network. Homeowners often instinctively flatten these sections, hoping to erase the damage and discourage the animal. While collapsing tunnels offers a temporary cosmetic solution and helps assess mole activity, it is only a preliminary step and does not address the underlying issue of the animal’s presence.
Identifying Mole Tunnel Types
A mole creates two distinct types of tunnel structures in a yard, each serving a different purpose. Understanding the difference is important for deciding which tunnels to target for collapse. The most visible structures are the shallow, raised ridges known as surface runs, or feeding tunnels. These are typically located 1 to 3 inches below the surface, just beneath the grass layer. Moles use these winding paths to forage for their primary food sources, including earthworms and various insects.
The second type are the deep runs, often called main highways, which are more permanent and generally run 6 to 12 inches below the surface. These deeper tunnels connect feeding areas to the mole’s nest chambers and are used for travel and shelter. Collapsing these main highways is impractical because they are deeper, more structurally stable, and the mole can simply tunnel around the compacted area. Therefore, efforts should focus on the shallower surface runs.
Step-by-Step Guide to Collapsing Tunnels
The physical act of collapsing surface runs is simple and requires minimal equipment. The goal is to press the raised soil back down without heavily compacting the underlying soil. The mole’s sensory organs are highly attuned to changes in its environment, and overly compressed soil might signal a threat, causing the animal to reroute its work.
To begin, walk along the visible raised ridges, gently pressing them down with the sole of your foot or the back of a shovel. This technique restores the lawn’s even surface without destroying the tunnel structure entirely. For larger areas, a light lawn roller can be used, but avoid heavy equipment that might harden the soil.
Once a section of the tunnel has been flattened, a simple monitoring test determines if the tunnel is currently active. Select a freshly collapsed section and wait for 12 to 48 hours. If the mole is actively using that run, it will detect the disruption and quickly push the soil back up to repair the damage.
An alternative method for pinpointing activity is to use a probe, such as a stick or a screwdriver, to poke a small hole through the top of the collapsed tunnel. If the hole is sealed with soil within a day, it confirms the tunnel is in use and indicates the mole is actively maintaining that section. This monitoring step maps the mole’s current movements across the yard, providing valuable information for subsequent removal efforts.
Why Collapsing Tunnels is Not Enough
Collapsing mole tunnels offers immediate relief from the unsightly ridges, but it is merely a cosmetic and temporary measure, not a solution. A mole is instinctively driven to repair any damage to its tunnel system because it relies on the network for hunting and navigation. When a section is flattened, the mole will simply push the soil back up to restore the run, often within a single day.
The mole’s behavior is driven by its need to constantly forage, as it may eat up to its own body weight in food each day. A collapsed tunnel represents an interruption in its food supply line, prompting an immediate repair or the creation of a new parallel run. Collapsing tunnels only forces the animal to temporarily expend energy rebuilding its network. The mole itself remains in the yard, continuing its activity.
True and lasting control requires the physical removal of the mole, typically achieved through trapping. This is where the monitoring test becomes useful. Tunnels that are quickly repaired after being flattened are identified as the most active pathways, which are the most effective locations for setting a trap.
The physical collapse of the runs serves as a diagnostic tool, pointing the homeowner toward the most efficient placement for a trap or the most effective area for a repellent application. Without this follow-up action, the mole will continue its work, and the raised ridges will reappear shortly. Collapsing the tunnels is the first step in a strategy, but not a final remedy for mole presence.