By Jessica Loticus

Moles are burrowing animals like gophers and voles. When they invade a property, they can cause extensive damage to yards from their burrowing activities. Because moles burrow similarly to gophers and voles, it may be difficult to tell whether the yard damage was caused by moles or voles and gophers.

Let’s consider how moles can seriously damage your yard and how you can recognize mole damage from mole and gopher damage.

The burrowing habit of moles

We should begin by stating that vegetation is not a major component of the diet of moles. The major components of the diet of moles are centipedes, grubs, and worms. Thus, your yard is more at risk from the burrowing habits of the critters than from them feeding on vegetation.

You should also note that moles are excellent burrowers. These critters can dig up to 150 feet of tunnels in a day. So, it wouldn’t take long for them to turn your yard into your worst nightmare.

Moles create two types of tunnels, shallow and deep tunnels. The shallow tunnels are created as pathways that they apply to travel underground. The deep tunnels, on the other hand, are for the storage of a large volume of food.

The extensive damage moles can cause to yards is related to both types of tunnels. When they create shallow tunnels, they produce runways. When moles create deep tunnels, they produce mounds.

Runways

Mole runways are created as moles dig shallow tunnels and they appear on the surface as long ridges. Because the soil underneath the ridges has been excavated in search of worms, grubs, and other foods, mole runways are uneven when walked upon. By walking on an area where moles have created shallow tunnels, one can sprain their ankles and sustain significant injuries.

Mounds

On the other hand, the extensive digging associated with the creation of deep tunnels produces mounds. These mounds are evenly shaped, although they differ in size. Vegetation in areas where moles dig deep tunnels also die quickly because of the extensive digging.

The mounds from the deep tunnels of moles can be mistaken for those created by the burrowing activity of other animals. The mounds of moles differ from those of gophers by features such as spacing. Moles leave 5 to 6 feet of space between mounds, while gophers do not necessarily space out mounds. The entrance of the mounds of gophers can also be easily seen. For moles, you have to move the dirt to see the entrance of the mound.

You can also differentiate mole mounds from gopher mounds by whether there are chunks of dirt or powdered dirt. Moles create chunks of dirt. Gophers create powdered dirt. 

If you look around the yard and notice chewed plants, it is most likely a gopher problem. Otherwise, it is a mole problem. For more information, go here to tell if you have a mole problem.

Moles create tunnels that can destroy your yard in no time. Apart from the damage to the vegetation and landscape, the structure of your property can also be significantly affected. As the critters can cause significant damage in a short period, it is best that their infestation is prevented. In the case that an infestation does occur, it is important to know the right gopher and mole removal information to handle the issue.