Moles vs voles! It’s a battle between two pesky critters that can make their homes in your backyard. Moles and voles have similar names, and their behaviors sometimes match up too. There are over 400 mammal species in the USA, so it’s no wonder many people need a little extra guidance. 

But what is the difference between these two creatures? It’s worth knowing a thing or two about each creature to help you learn prevention measures. Knowing what to look out for will allow you to keep your yard safe from moles and voles alike.

Want to learn more about how these creatures differ and what to do if you spot one? There’s no need to keep digging; you’re already in the right place! Read on to find out more about the differences. 

What Do Moles Look Like?

Moles are small furry creatures about four to seven inches long. They are dark brown almost all over, with two notable features: they have paddle-shaped claws used for digging and long pink noses. You won’t see a mole’s eyes since they’re small and generally hidden in fur. 

You’ll rarely see moles in the flesh. They spend almost their entire lives underground, only coming to the surface occasionally when they need to collect leaves and twigs for nesting material.

What Do Voles Look Like?

Although they may look similar to moles at first glance, voles are very different to moles. They are slightly larger than moles, measuring between five and eight inches. Their fur is a dark gray or brown, a similar color to a mole’s.

Moles look a little like mice, with shiny black eyes and short tails. They spend more time above ground than moles and may be seen quickly darting around your lawn as they go hunting for food. 

Mole vs Vole Tunnels

Both moles and voles dig tunnels. But both dig in quite different ways.

Mole tunnels can be quite elaborate, stretching out for many feet underground. Moles dig at a rate of about 18 feet an hour, and they can live in the same tunnel network for generations before moving on.

These tunnel networks normally sit about a foot underground, although some temporary tunnels will be built closer to the surface. The tunnel networks can contain special chambers for raising young and storing food. 

Voles move in after moles have gone. But they expand the tunnel network for their own uses, creating exit holes throughout the tunnel. These exit holes are smaller than molehills and can pop up all over your lawn, as voles live in large colonies. 

Moles vs Voles

Moles and voles have a lot of differences, but there’s one similarity in the moles vs voles battle: they can cause plenty of damage to your lawn. If you spot signs of their presence, it’s time to call in the experts.

If you’re wondering how to catch moles, we can help. We offer a wide range of pest control services. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help.

We may not see them every day, but there are a whole lot of ground moles burrowing away underground. These are hungry critters, sometimes eating over half their body weight each day.

Many people want to know the answer to the question “what do ground moles eat?” After all, this might help you get to the bottom of why moles are tearing up your yard!

If you want to know a little bit more about the lifecycle of moles, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find out everything you need to know. 

What Do Ground Moles Eat?

The mole diet consists of bugs, bugs, and more bugs! Whether it’s earthworms, beetles, or millipedes, they love to snack on juicy insects. Bugs are easy for them to find down in the dark soil and they provide plenty of protein too.

This means moles are carnivores. They only eat meat and wouldn’t even consider munching on cabbage or some tomatoes. 

Many people are under the misconception that moles eat plants. Some folks believe moles dig around in gardens because they’re after your plants. In fact, moles sometimes protect plants by eating dangerous bugs.  

That said, moles can cause damage to your plants with excessive digging. They can uproot plants and disturb seeds. 

How Do Moles Find Food?

Moles are almost entirely blind since they have little use for good eyesight underground. Instead, they find food by using their keen sense of smell. Think of the way a pet dog sniffs out treats without seeing them.

As moles go sniffing for bugs, they can cover quite a bit of ground. Their powerful digging claws will tear up the soil and molehills will appear across the grass. They use molehills to create traps for bugs, which can spoil your lawn. 

The Solitary Type

The good news is, if you’ve got a mole in your backyard, there are unlikely to be more than one or two of these critters in the area. Moles live alone and tend to give each other a wide berth.

On the downside, this means it may be quite difficult to find the mole that’s causing all the trouble. That’s why it’s a good idea to call in the experts to help. 

If you notice signs of a ground mole on your property, there’s no reason to delay calling out the professionals. 

Ground Mole Removal Services for Your Yard

We hope you now have the answer to the question “what do ground moles eat?” Moles can cause all kinds of problems if left to their own devices. Although they don’t eat your plants, their antics can be bad for your garden in other ways.

If you need to get moles out of your garden, it’s time to call in the professionals. We’ve got the experience and tools to help you out. Contact us today and find out more about our services. 

If you’re one of the 33% of people who tend to their lawns several times a week, the last thing you want is a mole ruining your hard work. When your garden gets disrupted by these little critters, it’s time for action.

The sooner you deal with a mole problem, the better. However, it can be difficult to tell how serious the situation is.

With the right information, you can determine whether you need to hire a professional or if you can handle the issue on your own. Here are some of the most common signs that your mole problem has gotten out of hand.

Holes in Your Garden

If a mole moves in, you might see signs of digging around your home. These holes are usually about an eighth of an inch wide. However, they can be smaller or much larger depending on how much work was done by the moles.

Underground Noises

Moles make a lot of noise in the ground, which can be deceiving for those who are not familiar with mole habits. They’re digging tunnels and pushing dirt around as they look for food, mates, and places to raise their young.

You can put your ear to the ground and hear their movements. Keep in mind that finding a mole isn’t always easy, but the noise will give you a good idea of where to look.

Detached Plants

When moles tunnel beneath a plant, they push it up in the process. If you see this happening with your plants, inspect their root systems and look for signs of mole damage. You may see small holes in random areas.

This is the most common indicator that moles are near your home.

Lots of Weeds

If you’re noticing a lot of weeds in your lawn and don’t remember planting any seeds recently, this may be a sign of mole activity. When moles dig, they disrupt your soil. Overturned soil makes an ideal environment for weeds to grow.

Numerous Earthworms

Earthworms are good for your garden because they make your soil more stable. However, where there are lots of earthworms, moles are probably not far away. They’re one of their favorite foods.

Moles push more earthworms to the surface during their digging. You’ll see an unusually large number of these creatures in your garden. They may even start appearing near your garage or doorway.

Get Rid of Your Mole Problem

As you can see, there are a lot of indicators that you might have moles in your yard. The first thing to do if you think you have moles is to check out the ground around your home for signs of digging. If this proves the case, then you have to act quickly.

If you spot a mole tunneling through your lawn, call Trap Your Moles immediately. We can set traps around your property and get rid of your mole problem once and for all.

The real estate market did pretty well in the last few years, with over 6 million existing home sales in 2021 alone. Of course, most homebuyers got inspections and looked for standard problems. They looked for issues with roofs, plumbing, electrical systems, and foundation.

Yet, most people don’t give as much thought to problems like animals in your yard or garden. Also, around 34 percent of 2021’s homebuyers were first-time homebuyers.

If that’s you, there’s a good chance you don’t know how to keep unwanted animals out of your yard. The good news is that our quick guide will help you keep animals from invading your lawn.

Animals that Dig

On the whole, you don’t want most animals living in your garden or your lawn. They’re often hard on vegetation and will frequently eat vegetables in a garden. Any animals living in your lawn or garden are also likely animals that dig.

All of those holes and tunnels can prove expensive to repair. Plus, they’re a hazard for your lawnmower and your feet. Some of the common digging animals you see in lawns include moles, groundhogs, raccoons, chipmunks, and squirrels.

Now that you know the common culprits, how do you keep them away?

Modify the Area

Animals aren’t particularly hard to understand. They want food, shelter, and water, preferably in close proximity to each other. If you’re struggling with animals if your yard or garden, odds are good that they’re finding at least two, if not all three, of those things.

For example, if you have a birdbath, it’s a great source of water. If you pull some sod and see grubs, you’ve identified the food source.

Getting rid of convenient water sources and treating a grub infestation makes your lawn and garden must less enticing.

Repellants and Deterrents

You can also use a variety of repellants and deterrents. For example, you can put up fencing or use chemical deterrents. Chemical deterrents can come in a retail or DIY form.

You can also use devices, such as sonic spikes and motion sensor lights, to discourage animals from taking up residence on your lawn.

Removal

Removal isn’t a DIY project, and it’s even against the law for homeowners to try in some locations. For the best results, you’ll want a professional pest removal service that specializes in digging animals. They’ll know the best options for capturing and removing your unwanted animal guests.

How to Keep Unwanted Animals Out of Your Yard? Consider Your Options

The problem of how to keep unwanted animals out of your yard has several potential answers. You can try to modify the areas to remove easy sources of food and water.

You can also employ a variety of deterrents and repellants that range from fencing to chemical repellants and motion-activated lights. If those methods fail, you’ll likely need professional pest removal services to deal with the problem.

TrapYourMoles.com offers pest removal services in Western Ohio, Eastern Indiana, and Northern Kentucky. For more information or schedule an appointment, contact TrapYourMoles.com today.

81% of Americans have a lawn. They ranked it as the second most important feature when buying a home, only behind a renovated kitchen. Any pest that ruins this important area is bound to get on their nerves, and one of the most common is the mole. 

There are at least 42 species, and they live in every continent except South America and Antarctica. At least 7 of them live in the United States. 

The star-nosed mole gets its name from its star-nosed snout, and the hairy-tailed mole gets its name from its hairy tail. The most common is the Eastern mole, otherwise known as the ground mole.

What does a ground mole look like? That question isn’t as easy to answer because it doesn’t have a stand-out physical feature like its cousins.

Read on to find out how to identify these pests and how to get rid of them once they enter your yard.

What Does a Ground Mole Look Like?

Looking up pictures of ground moles can help you know what to look for. They’re only 6-8 inches long and weigh less than a pound. Their fur is brow to dark gray. They have a snout protruding from their face.

One of the most distinguishing ground mole features is their feet. They’re large and paddle-like with large claws. They help the mole dig through the soil to find insects and worms to eat.

How Do I Know If I Have Them?

If you think you have an infestation, your first question should be “what does a ground mole look like?” The next one should be “what are the signs of mole damage in my yard?”

Ground moles dig their tunnels close to the surface. You may be able to see them, and they cause dead patches of grass. 

You may also be able to spot a molehill. They’re shaped like a volcano, only about 6 inches tall, and are connected to mole tunnels.

These tunnels and molehills can even increase the number of weeds in your yard. They uproot the existing root structures of your yard and allow weeds to thrive.

Ground mole signs also resemble the signs of voles. They’re rodents and are smaller with rounded ears. They also dig tunnels, but the major difference is that they eat plants instead of insects. This causes even more damage to your lawn, plants, and trees. Call a pest control expert to determine which one you have.

Who Should I Call to Get Rid of Them?

What does a ground mole look like? They don’t have a star-shaped nose or a hairy tail, but they do have a unique appearance.

One of the most notable ground mole characteristics is their flat, paddle-like feet that help them dig. They also have dark brown or gray fur and a protruding snout.

Look for the signs of their work in your yard. Check for tunnels, molehills, weeds, and uprooted plants.

Trap Your Moles can get rid of any ground mole infestation. Contact us for mole removal today.

Animal attacks are a major fear among humans, mostly due to movies, games, and various stories that depict animals as vicious, mindless, killing machines with no real reason for their actions. This image couldn’t be further from the truth, though. In reality, the animals most likely to seriously harm you are ones most of us wouldn’t expect.

The deadliest animals in the United States, for instance, include cows, deer, dogs, and bees. The good news is that some dangerous or even just pesky animals can be dealt with by calling for animal removal.

Much like the animals we fear, there are many misconceptions about animal control that continue to persist. We’ll discuss and dispel them in this article.

Animal Control Only Catches Unruly Animals

In addition to helping get rid of pests, animal control also picks up strays and takes them to shelters. There’s a persistent belief that all stray animals were abandoned because they are misbehaving.

Behavioral issues are the most commonly-cited reason for animal surrender, this covers a lot of situations, many of which aren’t really the animal’s fault. The biggest is difficulty training the animal.

Let’s face it, training a cat or dog isn’t easy, and many people underestimate the amount of dedication it takes. In some cases, the pet runs away and the owners can’t find it. Cats are notorious for this, sometimes running away for days, weeks, or even months at a time and then returning whenever they feel like it.

Animal Control Will Only Catch Stray Animals

Animal Control does a lot more than just catching former pets. Anybody who’s ever had an unwelcome wild animal in their home knows this. 

The problem is that getting rid of animal intruders isn’t easy. Whether your problem is squirrels, moles, or even a raccoon, kicking them out is often much harder than it seems. 

If you find a raccoon in your house, for instance, chances are it isn’t alone. Raccoons often sneak into people’s attics to raise young.

Putting Animals in Shelters Just Guarantees Them an Unhappy Life

This idea is blatantly false and does nothing but discourage less wealthy people from adopting. Being rich doesn’t make you a better pet owner, and most people benefit from having a pet.

Adopting animals is often more affordable than breeding them, but that money isn’t taken from any vital parts of adoption. Shelters still run background checks on potential owners and ensure that the pet isn’t too aggressive to adopt. The only thing that’s been slashed is the adoption fee because the shelter is a nonprofit and is more about helping animals than making money.

Animal Removal and Rescue

Animal control has gotten a bad reputation over the years, and it doesn’t deserve it. Animal Control workers catch animals so the animals can go to a shelter and get a chance at adoption and a better, safer life.

The same is true for animal removal. Humans and wild animals are an active danger to each other, so it’s better for both species if they’re separated.

Do you have moles in your yard? We can tell you what to look for.

Holes, holes, holes!

Patches of your grass are dying, and there are little mounds of dirt everywhere. Instead of the problem being temporary, the holes only increase, and soon enough your yard looks like a prairie!

It looks like you have a mole infestation.

Moles might seem like cute critters you’d find in a Disney movie, but they’re difficult to remove, and they’ll wreak havoc on your lawn. It’s not as simple as flooding their warrens. These guys have intricate networks, and they can dig fast.

Fortunately, there’s a solution to your mole problem. Read on to find out more.

Are Moles Dangerous?

You might be tempted to think that moles are like mice, rats, gophers, or voles. But that’s not the case. They’re shy creatures that don’t bite humans.

Moles live most of their life underground. As such, they tend to have poor eyesight. However, they make up for this by having an incredibly sensitive nose that allows them to navigate their subterranean home with ease.

You may be worried that moles are responsible for eating your plants. But moles are insectivores (meaning they only eat insects) which is why they spend most of their time underground. Their diet consists of grubs, worms, and anything else they can find in the dark, moist soil.

Why Are There Moles in Your Yard?

Moles may be attracted to a number of features that your yard provides. As a result, they may remain in your yard for many mole generations.

They seek out cool soil that is filled with insects. They have a tendency to follow human-made borders: hedgerows, fences, and walkways. They love the root systems of bushes, shrubs, and trees since these places are filled to the brim with bugs.

Moles will only migrate to another yard if their food supply diminishes. Pesticides may drive moles to leave your property for greener pastures, but this process could take a long time.

What Damage Can Moles Do to Your Yard?

For starters, mole tunnel networks can weaken the ground. You risk twisting an ankle when you accidentally collapse a section of the tunnel. This may cause future problems when having to fill in and replant areas of your lawn or garden.

Moles are also notorious for killing off grass and other plants. While moles do not eat plants (remember, they’re only insectivores!) they often disturb the root systems. These root systems tend to have abundant food sources. 

If moles like your yard, they may stay there for a long time. Meaning more tunnels, more dead plants, and more risk of tripping when you accidentally collapse a tunnel.

Another threat moles pose to the integrity of your yard is not the moles themselves, but what comes after. Voles, another species entirely, will use the networks moles have already dug. And voles love to eat your plants and roots!

How Do You Identify a Mole Infestation?

Moles are quite easy to identify since they have three main signs:

1. As mentioned earlier, moles cause the grass to die when they burrow past its roots. You may be able to identify lines of dead grass and dying shrubs. This may be a result of the tunnel running directly beneath your landscaping.
2. Wherever moles dig an entry or exit hole, they leave a mound known as a molehill. These may be up to 6 inches in height. So while the saying “don’t make a mountain out of a molehill” may be useful advice, molehills can be a sign of serious problems!
3. Molehills, unlike the holes of other species, are spaced apart by as much as 6 feet or more. In addition to this, molehills are often piled with dirt clods and clumps of earth, rather than finer dirt. If you find holes that are very close together, you might not have a mole issue.

If you’re not sure whether your yard is showing these signs, there are experts in mole control who can take a look.

How to Get Rid of Moles

There are plenty of home remedies circling the internet, but your best bet is to hire a professional. This will save you time and avoid an infestation that never seems to end. There are three main methods of eliminating moles from your yard:

1. Eliminating their food source via pesticides. This is the slowest method and may take time to work–if it works at all. Remember, most of a mole’s food supply is beneath the earth!
2. Trapping is the fastest and most effective method of mole removal. Moles are driven out or isolated and then captured with mole traps. 
3. Baiting involves feeding the moles poisoned grubs. While this will kill moles quickly (usually in a day or less) that risks a dog or a cat eating a poisoned mole and getting sick as a result!

Once you’ve eliminated the local mole population, there are methods to ensure they don’t return.

How to Prevent a Future Mole Infestation

You’ve paid a professional and gotten rid of those pesky moles! However, there are some tips to keep your yard mole-free for the coming years:

1. Maintain a trimmed, tidy yard. Moles prefer staying in cover. Eliminate tall grass, piles of mulch, and other debris that will encourage moles to move in.
2. Control a mole’s food supply. Solutions such as milky spore and beneficial nematodes will kill off their favorite grubs.
3. Create barriers of fragrant plants. Moles are especially averse to anything from the allium family. These include marigolds and daffodils.
4. Purchase a sonic spike. These can be found in your local home and garden. When inserted in the ground, they create uncomfortable electric pulses to drive away moles–but which you and your family won’t feel.

Final Thoughts

If moles are infesting your beautiful lawn or garden, it’s time to act. Find a professional near you who can give you back your outdoor property.

Picture this. 

You walk out to your yard in the morning, a cup of coffee in hand. You just mowed the grass yesterday so you’re expecting a pristine expanse of green.

Instead, you see large piles of dirt and tunnels near the surface. You immediately know the culprit. 

It’s the dastardly mole. 

At least 42 types of moles live in the world around us. They’re found on all continents except South America and Antarctica. Seven of these are North American moles. Moles dine on invertebrates and insects and they dig elaborate tunnels to find their prey. 

Some moles can even dig 15-foot tunnels in an hour. 

Moles are generally harmless until it comes to your yard. Their tunnels are long and winding, damaging the grass above them. And the dirt they displace ends up in piles in your yard.

And that’s what ruins your beautiful grass. 

If you see signs of moles read on to learn more about types of moles in the United States. We’ll also learn how to get rid of moles once and for all. 

Common Types of Moles and Their Behavior

The majority of the moles in the United States live east of the Rocky Mountains. Their bodies are about six inches in length and they have broad, flat paws designed for digging. 

Most moles are active at dawn and dusk during the spring and fall months. They may surface during heavy rain. Moles stay deep underground during the hot summer months. 

Moles do not hibernate. When the ground begins to freeze they dig deeper in search of food. They return to the surface when the weather warms up.

Contrary to lore moles are not blind. Moles’ eyes are small and, like their ears, are covered with fur.

Since they spend their lives underground their eyesight has developed to focus on various shades of light and dark. To make up for this moles have an exceptional sense of smell. 

Regardless of these fun facts, moles are a nuisance. Here are the common types of moles that are ruining your beautiful lawn. 

Eastern Mole 

The Eastern mole is the most common destroyer of yards in the United States. Their range extends from Wisconsin in the north to Florida in the south. 

Eastern moles live in all types of habitats, including forests and fields. But they prefer to dig in loose, well-drained soil. 

And this is the exact type of soil you’ve cultivated for your yard.

Eastern moles produce one litter of about 4 pups each year. But baby moles grow quickly and reach sexual maturity at about ten months of age. The Eastern mole lives for six years so each female can produce up to 24 pups in her lifetime. 

Eastern mole tunnels are close to the surface. You’ll notice the dead and dying grass right above these tunnels. These tunnels can collapse. Collapsed tunnels have the potential to injure livestock and humans.

Horses are especially vulnerable to collapsed mole tunnels. 

Star-nosed Mole

Known for its nose the star-nosed mole is aptly named. Its unique nose senses vibration and electricity, making it an efficient predator. But it likes to feed on earthworms which are vital to the health of your lawn. 

Star-nosed moles live in eastern Canada and the eastern portions of the United States. Their range extends south to northern Florida.

Star-nosed moles prefer low-lying, damp areas and are even good swimmers. Star-nosed moles love golf courses because they’re frequently watered. But they’re not too discriminatory; they love to dig up lawns too. 

The star-nosed mole’s tunnels result in numerous piles of dirt in your yard. But their tunnels are also very deep, making them harder to control. 

Star-nosed moles also produce about 4 pups a year. Weaning starts at 30 days and star-nosed moles reach reproductive age at 10 months. 

Hairy-tailed Mole 

Hairy-tailed moles live in southern Canada, Ohio, and other parts of the Great Lakes region. Their behavior is like other North American moles. But this mole has a distinctive hair-covered tail.

The hairy-tailed mole’s tunnels are shallow resulting in strips of dead grass in your yard. Hairy-tailed moles don’t eat the grass. Instead, when they burrow they disturb or injure the roots, causing the grass to die.  

Hairy-tailed moles reproduce in much the same manner as their Eastern mole and star-nosed mole cousins. An average litter consists of four pups and the female pups are ready to reproduce at 10 months of age. 

Do Moles Have Natural Predators? 

If you’re wondering how to get rid of moles you may also wonder if moles have natural predators. They do but since they spend their lives underground it’s difficult for predators to find them. 

Red foxes, possums, and even bullfrogs are known to eat moles. Hawks and other raptors hunt them during their brief moments of surface visibility. Sometimes snakes will enter mole tunnels and feed on the young. 

Dogs can sometimes detect moles and will dig to reach them. But this exacerbates the problem and leads to further lawn damage. 

But predators do very little to control mole populations.  

The best way to get rid of moles is to hire a professional who specializes in mole trapping services. 

Eliminate Your Mole Problem Today

Some Americans spend up to $500 per month on landscaping services. Specialized yardwork can cost even more. All this money flies out the window when moles move onto the property. 

It’s easier and cheaper to stop a mole infestation before it gets out of hand.

All types of moles cause costly damage to your yard. Consult a professional today and learn how beautiful lawns are restored with mole trapping services.