Moles are a small but impactful outdoor pest, and they can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. They do not sleep through the night or day, eating 70-80% of their body weight daily and going through an eat and rest cycle every 2 hours, all day long. With a schedule like that, it doesn’t take long for your molehills to look like mountains.
The aesthetic damage to your lawn is one of the first things you may notice. Their burrowing can tear up your flower beds, damage your grass, and expose and damage tree roots. You may see long ridges of raised ground as well as uniform piles of dirt around your yard. They can dig about one foot of tunnel within a minute near the surface and 12 feet per hour for deeper tunnels. Curiously, they have developed an advanced type of hemoglobin that allows them to recycle air they have already exhaled, and in turn they can they work harder and faster in oxygen reduced settings.
In addition to cosmetic damage, they also pose injury and structural damage concerns. The spongy ground around the tunnels can cause trip and fall hazards. Their tunnels also assist in the freeze-thaw cycle that can damage sidewalks and foundations. Water can accumulate in the tunnels and then freeze and expand, causing cracks and other destruction.
Unfortunately, many of our landscape preferences are very attractive to moles. They love compost piles, mulch, and freshly dug flowerbeds. Beds that have been improved with peat moss are superhighways for moles. Their primary food is earthworms, which tend to be prevalent in the nutrient rich soil.
They aren’t particularly dangerous to humans directly, and you will more than likely not come in contact with them. If you do, they could bite, and transmit diseases. Though they are considered a low-risk mammal for rabies, there is the possibility.
Like most animals, they can carry parasites such as fleas and ticks, which can, in turn, be transferred to your pets and you and carry their own assortment of diseases. They aren’t as easy to get rid of as some other outdoor pests. Though they may seem similar, they aren’t rodents. They don’t eat the grain-based baits people use for groundhogs and rats, and the tunnel systems are way too complicated for fumigation.
FAQs
Q. What unique adaptations do moles have that assist them in their underground lifestyle?
A. Moles have several unique adaptations for their subterranean lifestyle. They have powerful, spade-like front limbs with broad palms and sharp claws for digging. Their bodies are compact, cylindrical, and flexible, allowing them to move freely in narrow tunnels. Additionally, they possess a specialized type of hemoglobin that allows them to survive in low-oxygen environments. They have tiny eyes and ears that are mostly hidden to prevent dirt from entering them.
Q. What signs might indicate a mole infestation in a yard or garden?
A. Signs of a mole infestation can include the presence of molehills, which are mounds of dirt pushed up from their digging activities, as well as surface tunnels or ridges. Lawns and gardens might have patches of dead or damaged plants due to the mole's tunneling disturbing the roots.
Q. What is the breeding season of moles, and how might this influence the timing of mole activity in a property?
A. The breeding season for moles typically occurs in late winter to early spring, with offspring born in late spring. During this period, mole activity, including the digging of tunnels and creation of molehills, might be more noticeable as they seek mates and establish new territories. Understanding this seasonal behavior can help in anticipating and managing potential mole-related issues on a property.
There are many old wives’ tales about getting rid of moles. One, in particular, includes placing chewed bubble gum in a mole hole. The theory is that when they eat the gum, they will suffer from “death by constipation.” Another has plugs of chewing tobacco placed in the holes, and when they come up to spit, the anticipating homeowner plays whack-a-mole. It seems to us these techniques are more likely to cause the moles to laugh to death.
That’s why it’s best to leave your mole infestation up to the professionals. At Expert Wildlife Removal Service, we know you have choices on your nuisance pest removal, and we take that responsibility seriously. We work hard, to get rid of whatever nuisance animal issue you have.