Raised soil ridges and conical mounds in a lawn indicate subterranean activity that can damage turf and plant roots. Effectively managing this disruption begins with accurately locating and identifying the mole’s tunnel system. Understanding the difference between a main travel route and a temporary feeding run is the first step toward successful identification. This guide provides practical methods for homeowners and gardeners to pinpoint active mole tunnels.
Distinguishing Mole Activity From Other Pests
Confirming the pest is indeed a mole is necessary, as gophers and voles create similar but distinct signs. Molehills are the most telling sign, characterized by being conical or volcano-shaped. The soil within these mounds is typically loose and uniform, and the entrance hole is rarely visible at the apex, as the mole pushes the soil up from below.
Gopher mounds, conversely, are typically fan or crescent-shaped and feature a visible, plugged entrance off to one side of the soil pile. Voles often leave small, open surface holes, about one to two inches in diameter, particularly near plant bases or dense ground cover. Moles primarily cause damage by burrowing and uprooting plants as they hunt for invertebrates, while gophers and voles actively consume plant material.
Interpreting Molehills and Deep Tunnel Indicators
Molehills result from the animal excavating soil from its deep, permanent runway system, which serves as its primary travel and nesting route. These main tunnels are typically situated six to twenty-four inches below the surface, providing a stable environment. A series of molehills lined up straight across a property frequently indicates the path of one of these high-traffic main tunnels.
Locating the main runway is useful because moles reuse these routes for years and often connect them to their feeding areas. To find the exact location of the deep tunnel, use a thin wire or stiff stick to carefully probe the soil between two adjacent mounds. The probe will drop easily into the open space of the tunnel when the correct depth and lateral position are found.
These deeper tunnels are generally larger in diameter and more consistently maintained than the shallower feeding tunnels, making them a suitable target for long-term management efforts. The deep runways often follow structures like sidewalks, foundations, or fence lines, as these features offer protection and stable ground for burrowing. They represent the mole’s established highway system within the property.
Tracking and Confirming Active Surface Tunnels
The most direct evidence of current mole activity is the presence of shallow feeding tunnels, which appear as distinct, raised ridges winding across the lawn surface. These surface tunnels are temporary hunting grounds, usually only an inch or two below the grass roots, where the mole searches for earthworms and grubs. The ridges are created as the mole pushes the soil upward while moving beneath the turf layer.
Determining if a specific feeding tunnel is active involves a simple test known as the “flattening method.” Gently step on a section of the raised ridge, approximately two to three inches long, to flatten the tunnel and collapse the roof. This action creates a noticeable depression in the lawn without significantly compacting the surrounding soil.
The mole, being a territorial animal that routinely patrols its feeding runs, will detect the collapse within a 12 to 24-hour period. If the mole is actively using that route, it will push the soil back up to repair the damaged section, effectively raising the ridge again. If the depression remains collapsed after a full day, that particular section of the tunnel is likely abandoned.
Following these active, repaired ridges allows a homeowner to map the mole’s current hunting pattern and focus efforts only on the routes that are being actively used. These surface tunnels are the areas where the mole is spending most of its time hunting and are consequently the most effective locations for immediate intervention.