Why have the moles become so active in my yard?

February 16, 2006

Question Why have the moles become so active in my yard?

Answer There are basically two reasons for the increased mole activity. First, they are having trouble finding food. Moles primarily eat grub worms and earthworms. With this warm weather, some of the grubs have migrated closer to the soil surface, and others are still deep in the soil. Since the grubs aren’t at the same depth, the moles have to look harder to find them. Of course, the moles will chose to hunt grubs which are closer to the soil surface. Even the lowly moles takes the path of least resistance.

The other reason is even more biological. It’s mole mating season. That’s right. Even moles have a mating season. We are entering that season right now. Obviously, they become more active when they’re ready to mix up the gene pool. Spunky moles will tunnel like a coal minter until they find a mate.

So how does a person stop a herd of spunky, hungry moles? There are no easy answers. One mole reducing philosophy involves the reduction of their food supply (the white grubs) in the hope that the starving moles will leave. Pesticides that lower the grub population work best when applied between mid-August and mid-September. During that time the grubs are very small and very close to the surface of the soil. This time of year, the grubs are very large and at varying depths in the soil. Therefore, the effectiveness of pesticides against grubs in early spring is not very good. Keep in mind that the moles are digging because they are already having trouble finding grubs. If you kill off some of the grubs, then the moles will either pack up and leave or shift the tunneling into high gear.

A second mole reducing philosophy involves traps. Sorry, but there aren’t any Hav-a Heart mole traps (no live traps). All mole traps result in mole mortality. The trick to mole trapping is two fold. First you have to find a tunnel where they are actively feeding. They don’t’ use the same feeding tunnels over and over.

Second, you have to make a slight indentation in the tunnel when you set the trap. The unsuspecting mole will have to push the indented area out when passing through that area of the tunnel. Pushing the tunnel out will set off a properly set trap and result in mole shishkebob. It sounds bad, but it ends up being harder to catch a mole than you may expect. One hint, set your traps mid-morning.

If you want more information about moles, lawns or soils, then call me at 910-893-7533, write me at PO Box 1089, Lillington, NC 27546 or email me at gary_pierce@ncsu.edu More mole info can be found on the web at http://ohioline.osu.edu/w-fact/0011.html

Another option might include the facilitation of the moles’ natural processes. With this option, lay your stereo speakers on the ground. Crank up a Barry White cd. The smooth bass tones of Barry White may get the moles together and reduce tunneling (until the baby moles grow up).