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Moles and their Control

 

Moles are small mammals in the family Talpidae and the order Soricomorpha. They have stout, cylindrical bodies suited for burrowing, small ears that usually are not visible, stubby (but very strong) legs, large paws that are well-suited for digging and burrowing, and small or covered eyes. A mole's hand is unique among animals in that it has two thumbs.

Moles are believed to have very poor vision. They apparently can tell day from night, but that's about it. They're otherwise pretty much blind.

They do, however, have excellent senses of hearing, smell, and vibration. They use all three senses to find food: As soon as a mole detects that an earthworm or other small invertebrate has been unfortunate enough to fall into its burrow, it will run toward the animal and capture it.

Whether the trapped animal is eaten right away, however, is another question. A mole's saliva contains a chemical that can paralyze earthworms, allowing the moles to store them away -- alive, but motionless -- for later consumption. When it's time to eat, the mole will pull the selected earthworm through its clenched paw to remove the dirt and other matter out of the earthworm's gut.

 

Moles as Pests

Moles are not known to transmit disease, are non-aggressive, and seldom come in contact with humans or other animals due to their secretive habits. Their significance as pests is based completely on their burrowing.

Mole burrow networks can become quite extensive. Because the tunnels are basically "worm traps," the more tunnel the mole digs, the more worms it's likely to catch.

It doesn't take long for a mole to destroy a lawn with unsightly burrows and molehills that kill the grass. Obviously, moles are an especially serious problem at golf courses, athletic fields, and other recreational areas. Even in an open field, mole burrow networks can cause sprained ankles and other injuries.

Moles are also agricultural pests. Although they don't eat plant roots, they can damage them seriously enough to cause the death of the plant. In forage fields, mole burrows can cause injuries to livestock that trip over the molehills or get their legs stuck in the burrows.

 

Mole Control

Because moles live outside and burrow in the soil, there is no permanent way to get rid of them or seal them out. But there are some things you can do to reduce the chances of mole problems.

The most important thing you can do to prevent or reduce mole problems is to properly care for your lawn, including regular mowing, fertilization, and especially pest control. Having a well-tended lawn doesn't guarantee that you won't get moles, but it helps reduce the chances a bit.

When moles do move in, the use of specialized mole traps is usually the most practical and efficient way to control them. Chemical control using products like Talpirid in the spring and fall can also help reduce moles populations, along with the damage that they cause.

For more information about mole control or any of our quality services, please contact us.