Mole Control Methods | Ohio & Michigan

Moles

Size: Average at 7" long
Related to: bats and shrews

Moles are insectivores, not rodents, they are related to bats and shrews. Their runways follow the course of their main food source, the earthworm, and the most prominent sign that you have moles is the volcano-shaped mounds of soil (between 2“-24”). As they tunnel, moles dig and damage the root structure of many landscaped plants, flower bulbs and even gardens. Like the other ground burrowing mammals, moles can cause extensive damage and undermine important structures, sometimes leaving costly damage in their wake.

mole tunnel The mole can tunnel at about 12 feet per minute and can move through pre-existing tunnels at about 80 feet per minute. Their tunnels contain an active runway, one which is frequently traveled. Off of their active runways, the mole will branch off and produce new tunnels for feeding. Many times these tunnels are only used once or twice and then abandoned. During the winter months, they may dig as deep as 3 feet to escape the frost line. Moles tend to be antisocial creatures, therefore the mounds and tunnels do not indicate the amount of moles on ones property, but rather the activity level of what mole(s) are present.

Mole mound Moles: Damage to properties

Although moles can be beneficial to help rid the yard of unwanted pest such as grubs and insects, they can also cause a lot of damage to the landscape and structures with their extensive tunneling. Usually the damage is an unsightly 'vein' of tunnel networks throughout the lawn, though the damage can sometimes exceed simply being a visual nuisance. Some damaged areas need to be filled in with truck loads of dirt to level-out a damaged lawn or foundations, pools and post need to be fixed and re leveled. This can be expensive or impossible to fix

Control Methods:
By eliminating the moles food source, homeowners may be able to rid their lawn of moles. This can be a difficult task as moles eat earthworms (an extremely beneficial oligochaeta for the lawn), insects and grubs. By simply eradicating your lawn of one of its food sources, you are not guaranteed to deter the mole from coming on the property.

Tomcat Mole Killer. Grounds Services, Inc. has used this product and continues to endorse it. We have seen excellent results. The mole is attracted by the smell and look of this pesticide, after consuming the product the mole will soon cease to be a problem. Note: Tomcat must be laid into the active runway for the mole to find it.

Trapping: There are many traps on the market for this subsurface pest.

Moles are very sensitive to vibrations, homeowners may try a vibrating mole chaser to keep moles from certain areas. The draw back is that the mole will more than likely relocate.

As with all pesticides and traps, read the label and instructions carefully before use. It should also be noted that if these animals are not causing considerable damage to your property, control measures may not be needed.