Once a mole finds a new home in your yard, they often choose to stay there. In many cases, moles won’t simply find a new home. They have to be removed.

If your yard provides them with the atmosphere and food they need, then they’ll make themselves comfortable. 

Mole damage in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky can create more problems for you other than a damaged yard. Mole damage can also result in collapsed above-ground pools, driveways, and more. 

As the years pass by, the moles will reproduce, creating even more problems for your yard. This is why it’s essential for you to address and treat the problem before it gets worse. The best way to rid yourself of ground moles is to know the signs of moles in your yard.

What does mole damage look like? 

In the guide below, you’ll find out about a few different signs that there’s a mole problem in your yard. Continue reading below to learn more!

1. Dying and Dead Patches of Grass or Plants

Have you walked outside recently and noticed dead patches of grass or dying plants? This could be a sign of moles!

Moles make their way around your yard by digging tunnels under the top layer of grass and dirt. As the moles dig, they begin to remove the roots of plants and grass in their paths. Because of this, dying and dead patches of grass or plants in your yard is a common sign of moles. 

If not treated quickly, the moles will continue to dig their way around your yard, killing more plants and grass in their path.

2. Molehills or Mounds of Dirt

Although molehills or mounds of dirt aren’t as common as some other signs of a mole problem, you should still be on the lookout for them. Molehills appear when a mole forces dirt and other debris up to the yard’s surface as they dig in a deep tunnel. When searching for molehills, however, don’t be on the lookout for tall hills of soil.

Instead, look for volcano-shaped mounds about six inches tall. The mounds will most likely be connected to a tunnel system visible on the surface of your lawn. 

3. Tunnels Visible on the Surface

How do you know if there are mole tunnels in your yard? You should be able to see them on the surface. Because moles uproot all grass and plants in their way, they’ll leave paths on the surface of your yard with brown, dead, or no grass. Your lawn will look a bit raised in these areas as well, giving it a bumpy appearance. 

You can also use the tunnels to give you a good idea of how bad the mole problem is. Unfortunately, moles won’t normally use the same tunnel more than once. Because of this, there will be new tunnels throughout your yard each day. 

Once more moles inhabit your yard, there will be even more tunnels than before. 

4. An Increase in Weeds

Have you noticed an increase in the number of weeds in your yard as well? Tying a weed problem with a mole problem might not seem sensible, but here’s why it is: uprooting plants and grass gives weeds a chance to sprout. 

As the moles tear up your yard and uproot all your plants and grass, weeds will then try to take over. If not caught in the early stages, the majority of your yard can quickly become covered in weeds.

5. Visual Spotting of a Mole

Other than looking for signs of mole damage, you should also look for the moles themselves. Spotting a mole in your yard is a sure sign of a mole problem. What do you need to look for, though?

Moles are small mammals with dark brown fur. Their bodies are shaped almost like a potato, and they have small beady eyes. Their muzzles are pointed, and they have wide front flippers for feet. 

These flippers help them create a swim-like motion to get them through the soil. The best time to catch them in your yard is during the spring or fall and during the evenings or early mornings. These are the times when they’re most active. 

You should also try to catch them moving about after a rainstorm on a warm day. They tend to make their way to the surface afterward. You should also note that moles are only about seven inches long and only weigh about four ounces. 

6. Soft and Damp Dirt 

It’s important to know what type of environment moles like in order to determine if your yard is the perfect home for moles or not. If your yard contains soft and damp soil, then there’s a good chance there are some moles nearby. Moles like this type of soil because it’s easier for them to dig through.

You should avoid overwatering your lawn to prevent the ideal mole environment. Moles also feed on grubs and other insects. They don’t feed on actual plants in your garden. 

Grubs and earthworms will attract moles into your yard. If you can control the moisture level and the number of grubs or earthworms in your yard, then you might have a better chance of encouraging them to leave. Unfortunately more times than not, the moles will find another food source to eat and will need to be physically removed from the yard. 

How Can You Prevent Mole Damage?

After reading through these signs listed above, are you convinced you have mole damage in your yard? If so, then you’ll want to remove them as quickly as possible to prevent more damage from occurring. 

Let the mole professionals in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky help you. 

Click here for a free quote and to schedule an appointment!

You’ve put a lot of work into your yard and it’s paid off. The garden is in full bloom, your lawn is healthy and green, and there are little hills of dirt poking out of the ground. Wait, little hills of dirt?

Those aren’t supposed to be there. Upon further inspection, you realize that you’re dealing with moles. They’re drawn to your yard for a variety of reasons but the main one is the food source.

It can be dangerous to deal with ground mole removal by yourself but if you don’t have a choice, we can tell you how to do it the right way. Keep reading to learn more.  

What Are Moles? 

Moles are carnivores that burrow themselves in the ground and feed on insects. You would think the fact that they eat the harmful insects in your yard would make moles helpful but this isn’t the case. They can ruin the roots in your plants and if you have any germinating plants, the moles might eat them if that’s their only food option. 

During the winter, the moles may decide to dig closer to your home to seek out warmth. As you can imagine, this won’t do your foundation any favors. They’ll also destroy that expensive sprinkler system you had installed. 

Most of the time, they travel by themselves. The only exception is for the mating season. 

So, rest assured there’s most likely only one in your yard. That makes it a little less daunting to deal with, right? 

Why They’re on Your Property

Moles will enter your property for two reasons. The main one is for the food source. Moles eat grubs, warms, and many other things that lurk in the ground. 

Moles use up so much energy with their digging that they have to literally consume their weight in insects each day to stay alive. The more they eat, the deeper they have to plummet to find their food source. 

Moles may also enter your property so they can give birth. They’ll build nests in your yard to hold and raise their young. 

Identifying Moles

The first step in getting rid of moles is to identify them. They’ll leave obvious volcano-shaped mounds all over your yard.  You may see them pop their heads out after it rains. 

They have a hairless snout that extends outward. From far away, it doesn’t look like they have eyes because they’re covered by the mole’s fur.

Their forefeet are large and webbed. Their hind feet are skinny with long, slender claws. 

Getting Rid of Moles 

Now that you’re sure you have moles, it’s time to discuss getting rid of them. There are several ground mole removal methods that will work. Some of them are more effective than others. 

Shovel Method

The shovel method is the most difficult of mole removal techniques. It’s also one of the more humane options available to you. Use the back of a shovel to flatten the entry mounds. 

After you do that, you’ll want to stand back and look for a place to do a stakeout. Every movement you make causes vibrations in the ground that will discourage the mole from surfacing. They’ll also be able to smell you if you stand too close to them. 

Watch the soil. As soon as you see movement, that’s your queue to strike. Plunge two shovels in the ground to trap the mole. 

Dig the mole out of its home and carefully transfer it over to some sort of container or box. Carry the box well away from your home and release it back into the wild. 

Traps 

Traps can be humane depending on which one you get. First, we’ll go over the not so humane option. Take a shovel and flatten one of their entry mounds. 

Wait a few days. If the mound has been uncovered, you know that’s where you should place your trap. Check the trap every so often to see if you’ve got your little pest. 

Keep in mind that killing one mole might not be the end of your issue. It’s rare but you could have multiple house guests. Set your trap again and check it for further activity. 

Another thing to note is that not all states allow you to kill moles. If this is the case, you’ll need to go with the more humane trapping method. Catch and release traps will allow you to capture the mole and relocate it to another location. 

Call a Professional 

Dealing with moles yourself might be a little dangerous. Moles can transmit diseases and they can get aggressive. It’s much safer to call ground mole removal companies in your area. 

They are equipped with all the knowledge and tools needed to get rid of your mole problem the right way. 

Preventing Moles 

The best way to get moles out of your yard is with prevention. Rodents won’t want anything to do with your garden if you own a cat. If you coat their food source with castor oil, it might discourage them from sticking around to snack. 

Create a solution by mixing together castor oil, dish detergent, and water. Spray any tunnels and entrances that you’ve noticed.

Moles don’t like vibrations or loud noises. So, Ultrasonic noisemakers might drive them away. 

The Secret to Ground Mole Removal 

You’ve worked hard on your yard. You don’t want to see it get destroyed by moles. While letting them stay can prove beneficial, they may also eat your germinating plants and destroy the roots with their digging. 

Don’t let it get that far. Contact us today to tell us about your issue and set up an appointment for ground mole removal.