Moles
Tunnel masters who leave mounds of dirt as their calling card!
Physical characteristics
Moles (family Talpidae) are small mammals adapted to life underground. They have a characteristic cylindrical body (12-16 cm long), covered with dense, velvety fur that can be black, gray, or brownish and allows movement forwards and backwards in tunnels. The snout is elongated and sensitive. Eyes and ears are small, often hidden in the fur. Most notable are their forelimbs – short, strong, and turned outwards, with large, spade-like paws and strong claws, ideal for digging.
Biology and behavior
Moles are insectivores, their main food being earthworms, followed by insect larvae, snails, and other soil invertebrates. They do not eat plant roots. They spend almost their entire lives in a complex system of permanent and temporary underground tunnels. Permanent tunnels are deeper, while temporary (feeding) ones are near the surface. Excess soil from digging is pushed to the surface, forming characteristic molehills. Moles are solitary and highly territorial animals. They are active year-round, day and night, with peaks of activity in the early morning and late evening.
Harm
Although moles are beneficial in that they aerate the soil and destroy larvae of harmful insects, their digging activity is often considered harmful, especially in cultivated areas. The main problem is the molehills, which disrupt the aesthetic appearance of lawns, gardens, parks, and golf courses. They make mowing difficult and can damage mowers. Surface tunnels can lift the soil and cause the roots of grass or young plants to dry out. In rare cases, they can incidentally damage roots while digging.
What you can do
The most effective method for home application is special mole traps (scissor, tunnel types), which must be carefully placed in an active tunnel. Repellents (sonic, vibrational, chemical) have variable and often temporary success. Leveling molehills as soon as they appear may discourage the mole. Flooding tunnels is rarely effective. Maintaining a healthy, well-drained lawn can reduce the earthworm population and thus the attractiveness to moles.
Professional control
Professional mole control usually involves more effective and precise methods. Our technicians are trained to identify active tunnels and place professional traps in the most effective way. In some jurisdictions and under certain conditions, controlled fumigation of the tunnel system with approved preparations may be applied. We offer an inspection of the affected property to determine the most appropriate and humane strategy for reducing the mole population and minimizing damage to your property.