4 Signs of a Mole Infestation in Your Backyard or Garden

mole infestation

Did you know that moles are found all over the world, despite being known as garden pests? The American species of moles are on the larger side, so they can do some real damage to your backyard and garden.

Luckily, there are plenty of signs of a mole infestation that you can catch. Once you spot the problem, you’ve taken the first step to eradication.

Keep reading to learn about four common signs of a mole infestation.

1. Damaged Plants

You might have a mole infestation if you find damaged plants in your yard or garden. If moles are present, they will displace dirt and expose plant roots causing plants to dry out and eventually die.

Mole activity in the soil can move plants around. If it looks like plants have been pulled up, it might be the work of a mole.

2. Tunneling

Moles live underground, but you can see tunnels from above ground. If it looks like someone went through your yard with a plow and made very crooked lines, this is probably a mole tunnel. They look like raised areas from the ground.

Backyard moles will tunnel wherever they can find food. You can tell how fresh a tunnel is by checking the health of the grass. Older tunnels will have wilted or dead grass because moles damage the grassroots when they dig.

Moles will stay in feeding tunnels until food runs out. Once that happens, you’ll start to notice newer tunnels forming. This is one of the common mole habits to look out for.

3. Molehills

One of the earliest and most obvious signs of a mole problem is a molehill. These hills look like small piles of built-up dirt.

Molehill sizing varies, but it’s typical for them to be a couple of inches in height. These hills are created to move the tunneled dirt.

Molehills are similar to the concept of anthills, which ants will create along the cracks of sidewalks and driveways.

4. Increase in Weeds

Are you noticing an increase in the number of weeds in your garden or backyard? An increase in weeds is not always a sign of moles, but it can be.

When moles uproot plants, it gives weeds a chance to sprout in new places. Moles tear up the yard allowing weeds to take over.

If you don’t catch this problem early on, most of your yard will become covered in unwanted weeds. You’ll need a pest control specialist and a weed control specialist to eliminate the problem.

Do You Have a Mole Infestation?

The tell-tale signs of a mole infestation are pretty easy to spot if you pay enough attention to your backyard and garden.

Moles live underground, so you’ll always find damaged plants, tunneling, and molehills when these creatures take over. If you wait too long to spot the problem, you may also notice an increase in the number of weeds in your yard.

If you find any of these signs, call a mole removal specialist right away. Contact us today for effective weekly mole-trapping services designed for your property.

Homeowner’s Hand Guide to Mole Pest Control in a Pinch

mole pest control

Are you starting to see molehills or dead grass on your lawn? If so, it’s time to start thinking about how to reclaim your yard from moles.

As cute as they may look, moles can do severe damage to your property. On top of making your lawn look unseemly, moles disrupt your root systems. In the long run, this may destroy your plants, grass, and trees.

The good news: there are plenty of ways to get rid of moles in your yard quickly. Here are three common mole pest control methods you can try.

Create an Unpleasant Environment

The most humane way to get rid of moles is to make your yard inhospitable to them. Moles are not fans of uncomfortable environments.

One way to help them decide to leave is to remove their food sources. Moles love grubs, which you can kill with milky spores or beneficial nematodes. For a faster solution, you can use insecticide instead.

You can also invest in a sonic spike. Once you insert it into the ground, the spike will emit electronic pulses that will constantly annoy moles. No worries, though: you won’t be able to hear any irritating sounds!

Another thing you can try is to create an artificial drought. Both moles and grubs enjoy damp soil, so keeping your lawn on the dry side will help a lot. An inch of water per week should be enough for most lawns.

Set up Mole Traps

If you’re dealing with a mole invasion, you may need a more reliable way to get rid of them. You can do that by setting up kill traps.

These traps come in several styles, such as choker traps, scissors traps, and harpoon traps. That said, they’re all designed specifically for killing moles. When used properly, they’ll be your best mole prevention method.

Most traps work best when they’re placed in or near active runways. You can find these runways by poking holes into the soil near the tunnels. If the hole isn’t there within two days, you’ve likely found a prime runway.

If you find the idea of killing moles unpleasant, you can try using live traps. That said, these traps are smaller and harder to use. You’ll also have to release the mole later, which some states prohibit.

Use Poison Baits

The fastest way of getting rid of backyard moles is to use poison baits. In general, though, you should only use poison as a last resort.

Poison baits often look like grubs and earthworms. If a mole eats one, it will likely die within 24 hours after ingestion. Their bodies will usually stay underground, saving you the trouble of disposing of them.

As effective as they are, poison baits include toxic chemicals that can harm the environment. For example, if a mole dies above the ground, it can present a risk of secondary poisoning for other animals.

Mole Pest Control Made Easy

As far as mole pest control goes, prevention is still the best cure. If you keep the grubs under control and don’t over-water your lawn, moles won’t bother you. If it’s too late for that, focus on the methods described above.

Of course, you can also have professionals deal with your mole problem! Contact us here to learn more about our mole control services.