Moles are small, burrowing mammals that spend most of their lives underground. Their diet and behavior can significantly impact your garden or lawn. Let’s explore what moles eat, their tunneling habits, and how to control moles effectively.

What Do Moles Eat?

  • Moles primarily feed on earthworms, which make up the majority of their diet.
  • They also consume a variety of insects such as grubs, beetles, and crickets.
  • Contrary to popular belief, moles do not eat plant roots or vegetables like potatoes and carrots.
  • Their sharp claws allow them to dig through soil and create elaborate tunnel systems to find prey.
  • Moles may also feed on other invertebrates and small animals like field mice when available.

Moles spend much of their time in underground tunnels, which are essential for their survival and hunting.

These solitary animals rely on a high metabolism, requiring them to eat a significant portion of their body weight in food each day.

Their presence in lawns and gardens is often indicated by molehills, the mounds of dirt resulting from their tunneling activities. By understanding the mole’s diet and tunneling behavior, you can better manage and control mole activity in your yard.

How Moles Eat and Hunt for Food

Moles are solitary animals that spend most of their time hunting underground. Many ineffective methods, such as using Juicy Fruit gum or poison baits, do not effectively kill moles. Their constant tunneling through lawns and gardens allows them to find their prey, especially after rainfall, when worms and insects are closer to the surface. Due to their high metabolism, moles eat a significant portion of their body weight in food each day, making them extremely active.

Mole Tunnels: What They Indicate

Moles create extensive underground tunnels, which serve two primary purposes: hunting for food and as habitat. The visible molehills are often just the excess dirt from the moles’ tunneling activities.

A single molehill can be an unsightly mound of dirt on your lawn.

The deeper tunnels, known as the feeding tunnels, are where moles catch most of their prey. These tunnels can cause noticeable damage to lawns, but they also aerate the soil and help control pest populations.

Mole Habitat and Tunneling

Moles are well adapted to living underground, and their habitat consists of a complex network of tunnels and burrows. These tunnels can extend several feet underground and can be up to 20 feet long. Moles use their powerful front legs and long claws to dig these tunnels, which can be up to 2 inches in diameter. The tunnels are used for foraging, shelter, and protection from predators.

Moles are skilled tunnelers, and they can dig at a rate of up to 18 feet per hour. They use their sense of touch and smell to navigate through the tunnels and to locate food. The tunnels are also used for storing food, such as earthworms, which are a staple of a mole’s diet.

Moles are solitary animals and typically only come together during mating season. They are territorial and will fiercely defend their tunnel system from other moles. The tunnel system is also used for communication, and moles will use a variety of sounds and vibrations to communicate with other moles.

Mole Control: How to Prevent Damage

To manage moles effectively, you must focus on reducing their food supply. Methods like using dish soap or poison baits are often ineffective and do not reliably kill moles.

Controlling the population of grubs and other insects on your lawn can discourage moles from frequenting your garden.

Additionally, mole traps are an effective method for capturing resident moles.

For homeowners who prefer non-lethal methods, using ultrasonic devices or barriers may help control mole activity. In cases of severe infestations, professional services may offer long-term control.

Moles play a beneficial role in natural resources by aerating the soil and controlling insect populations, but their constant tunneling can damage lawns and gardens. Understanding their diet and behavior can help you better manage their presence in your outdoor space.

Preventing Mole Infestations

Preventing mole infestations requires a combination of habitat modification, exclusion methods, and repellents. Here are some steps you can take to prevent moles from taking over your yard:

  1. Remove food sources: Moles are attracted to yards with abundant food sources, such as earthworms and insects. Removing these food sources can help deter moles from your yard.
  2. Modify your yard: Moles prefer yards with loose, moist soil. Modifying your yard to make it less appealing to moles can help prevent infestations. This can include adding organic matter to the soil to make it more dense or installing a French drain to reduce moisture.
  3. Use exclusion methods: Installing a physical barrier, such as a fence or a mesh screen, can help keep moles out of your yard. The barrier should be at least 3 feet deep and extend at least 12 inches below the surface.
  4. Use repellents: There are a variety of repellents available that can help deter moles from your yard. These can include castor oil-based repellents, predator urine, and hot pepper sprays.
  5. Seal entry points: Moles can squeeze through tiny openings, so it’s essential to seal any entry points around your yard. This can include holes around pipes, vents, and other openings.

By following these steps, you can help prevent mole infestations and reduce the damage they can cause to your yard.