Moles may look as innocent as a button, but once they set foot—or rather, paw—in your yard, it’s all downhill from there. These pint-sized diggers can turn your carefully cultivated paradise into a patchy mess in the blink of an eye!
But before you go chasing shadows and setting traps, hold your horses—because knowing what draws them in is half the battle. Nip the problem in the bud by understanding what makes your yard a five-star resort for moles.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the main mole magnets hiding in plain sight, how to spot the signs of their mischief, and what you can do to send them packing for good.
1. Prey
As you may know, beneficial insects such as earthworms are required for a lush green lawn. Earthworms are important for our soil, so our goal is often to increase their population.
Well, the problem is that moles love earthworms and they’ll be happy to destroy your whole yard in order to eat as many earthworms as possible.
2. Moist Soil
These creatures love digging tunnels. If you have moist and loose soil, they’ll definitely come by. Watering is an essential part of lawn care but we should be very careful not to add too much water.
If your soil doesn’t have good drainage and retains too much moisture, it creates a perfect environment for moles.
3. Type Of Soil
Moles find sandy and loamy soils very attractive because they make digging very easy.
These animals aren’t typically found in yards with predominantly clay soils.
4. Plant Roots
Insects are the primary source of food for rodents but this doesn’t mean they’ll leave your plants alone.
When searching for insects, moles will munch on the roots of your plants and destroy flower beds.
5. Dense Ground Covers
Tall grasses and other taller groundcovers are frequently found in gardens but they won’t go unnoticed by moles.
This gives them an opportunity to camouflage and keep on digging in your yard. Wood piles and debris can offer shelter for moles and they’ll spend more time in your outdoor space as a result.
6. Seasonal Changes
This isn’t something you can affect directly. As you may know, these animals are most active during spring and fall.
During these periods, there are a lot of insects in your yard, and soil moisture levels are higher because of more frequent rainfall.
7. Neighboring Yards
If your neighbor has issues with moles, you can easily join the club because these animals can travel long distances using the tunnels they create.
Additionally, your yard will be in bigger danger of becoming a mole home if you live near the natural habitats of these animals.
8. Territorial Behavior
Male moles exhibit a strong territorial nature, often exploring unfamiliar areas to find mates or establish fresh territories.
If you find yourself facing a sudden mole issue in an area where they were previously unseen, this behavior might be the cause.
9. Mulched Beds
Mulching is great for conserving soil moisture and keeping your plants happy, but it can unintentionally invite moles. Thick layers of mulch offer the perfect hideout for these critters, providing them with cover and cool, damp areas for tunneling.
If you heavily mulch flower beds or garden areas, make sure to regularly check for signs of mole activity and avoid piling mulch too deeply near vulnerable plants.
10. Compost Piles
Composting is an eco-friendly habit, but your compost pile might be luring in more than just nutrients. The rich organic material in compost attracts insects and grubs, which in turn attract moles.
If your compost pile sits directly on the ground and isn’t well-maintained, it could become a five-star buffet for these underground visitors. Consider using enclosed bins and turning the compost often to discourage pests—and the moles that follow.
11. Lawn Grubs
While moles enjoy feasting on earthworms, they’re also quite fond of lawn grubs. These white, C-shaped larvae of beetles live just below the surface and are a common food source for moles.
If your lawn has a grub infestation, you’re not only risking damage to your grass roots but also inviting hungry moles in for a treat. Regularly inspecting your lawn and using natural or chemical grub control methods can help reduce this food source—and make your yard far less appealing to these underground invaders.
How To Know If You Have A Mole Problem
If you have issues identifying mole activity, here are the signs that can help you.
• Volcano-shaped hills: These are the telltale signs of mole activity and the easiest way to differentiate between moles and voles; the latter leave holes in your yard.
• Surface tunnels: Raised ridges all over your property are most likely caused by moles.
• Dying plants: If you ensure all the necessary conditions for your green buddies but they display wilting or many of them die, moles may be the culprit.
How To Control And Prevent Moles
Getting rid of moles becomes easier once you understand their behavior. Here are some tips that will make your yard less attractive to these animals.
• Reduce insect population: Soil-dwelling insects may be beneficial, but you’ll need to reduce their population using some pest-control methods to repel moles.
• Modify soil: Amend your soil with materials such as coarse sand in order to make digging harder.
• Install barriers: Consider installing hardware cloth or mesh around the areas in your garden that are more susceptible to moles. This includes flower beds and veggie gardens.
• Use repellents: There are some commercial repellents that can help you discourage moles through different mechanisms like scent or sound. Nevertheless, the degree of their effectiveness may differ.
• Use traps: These traps do work but their price and potential danger of harming moles may not be worth the risk. If you haven’t used them or don’t know how, I recommend leaving that to the professionals.
• Contact the professionals: Catching a mole or two in your yard occasionally isn’t dangerous, but if their population increases and the damage becomes severe, seek help.