How to Get Rid of a Ground Mole
A ground mole emerges from its tunnel to the surface of its mole mound in a grassy yard with pink flowers in the background.
Ground moles are quite prevalent across the Eastern and Southern US. They also go by the name eastern mole, yard mole, or common mole.
If you are reading this post, there is a good chance you are dealing with yard moles and want to find out how to get rid of moles in your yard.
You’re in the right place.
In this article, we’ll cover the most commonly asked questions about moles in the yard and what on earth to do about them if your yard is overrun by moles.
What is a ground mole?
Where do ground moles live?
What species of moles live in South Carolina?
How do moles dig?
Signs of a mole in the yard
Vole vs mole tunnels
Do moles cause damage to lawns?
Mole control and how to get rid of moles in your yard
Professional yard mole removal
If you’d like to know how you can tell the difference between moles, voles, shrews, and mice, check out our resource here.
Ready for mole control near you in the Columbia, SC area?
At Boots On Enterprises, we provide local mole control services/mole treatment for your lawn.
And here’s a huge advantage of using a landscaping service to take care of a mole issue: We can also fix the damage moles may have caused in your yard, restoring it to health and making it look more beautiful than ever because we can do any lawn care services or landscaping you may need.
Contact us today for a FREE estimate.
Phone: 803-521-4978
Email: bootsonenterprises@gmail.com
Townsend’s mole (scapus townsendii) digging a hole in the dirt, showing its long claws.
What is a ground mole?
Eastern moles, yard moles, or ground moles are small rodents that look a bit like mice except that they have massive, hairless front feet and claws that point outward.
They also have very small, poorly-developed eyes that are mostly covered by fur. This protects their eyes from getting dirt in them and they don’t rely much on their eyesight underground anyway.
Moles have gray or black fur and very noticeable, long snouts.
Where do ground moles live?
Ground moles or yard moles live under the soil in underground burrows and tunnels. They prefer loose soil where there are plenty of food sources and not too much water that doesn’t drain well.
Geographically, ground moles live in the eastern and central areas of the United States.
A star-nosed mole above ground feeding on grubs.
What species of moles live in South Carolina and what do they eat?
We have three main types of moles in SC.
The eastern mole is the most common and widely seen in our state.
A large white lawn grub in brown, moist soil near a clump of grass.
What do ground moles eat?
Yard moles are insectivores that eat invertebrates that live in the soil like earthworms, grubs, insects, beetle larvae, snails, slugs, and even small frogs, toads, and lizards.
They do not eat fruits, vegetables, or other plant matter.
Multiple mole mounds/mole holes in a flat, grassy yard in a suburban neighborhood under a cloudy sky in winter.
How do moles dig?
A mole digs a hole with its enormous front feet and claws. They are extremely good diggers and create long tunnels quickly and easily.
Above, you can see evidence of moles digging up a yard.
Mole digging has a purpose — other than to annoy humans. They dig in search of food and to create shelter for themselves and their babies.
How deep do moles dig?
How deep a mole digs depends on the soil conditions and other factors like how available food sources are in the area.
But usually, mole tunnels run close to the surface of the soil in the top 6 to 12 inches. They also dig secondary tunnels and deeper burrows for their nests and for protection. These may be 24-40 inches below ground.
Why do moles dig tunnels?
Ground moles generally tunnel to hunt for earthworms, grubs, and other insects that are found just below the surface of the soil.
They also create nests in the deeper tunnels.
What are mole mounds?
A mole mound, or molehill, is a pile of dirt with a hole where lawn moles have been digging and kicking extra dirt out of the tunnel.
Raised dead patch of grass caused by a mole tunnel underground in a yard.
Signs of a mole in the yard
Moles in the yard will create mole tunnels and mole holes/molehills. They are not very pretty. The pictures above and below show what a mess a mole family can make on your lawn. And a yard covered with mole mounds is probably not the look you were hoping for.
A lawn full of mole tunnels in winter.
What do mole tunnels look like?
A yard mole loves to dig mole tunnels in the yard all over the place. They are raised and very easy to see. When homeowners notice these raised channels, they often start looking for the best way to get rid of moles in the yard.
A vole tunnel causes damage to a lawn in the spring.
Vole vs mole tunnels
You can tell the difference between having a mole in the yard vs vole tunnels because mole tunnels are not as close to the surface and are usually larger than vole tunnels. Vole tunnels are smaller and closer to the surface where they can more easily eat seeds, bulbs, and roots.
Voles look more like mice than moles do. You can find out more about voles here.
A mole hole with a mole mound around it in a yard.
Do moles cause damage to lawns?
Wondering, “Are moles bad for your yard?” The answer is, yes. You can notice mole damage to a lawn in several ways.
Surface tunnels cause the affected grass to die because roots are disturbed, which causes ugly brown patches.
The raised ridges often get further damaged by being “scalped” when the lawn is mowed.
Mole hills create an eye-sore, tripping hazards, and are difficult to mow around.
Increased weeds.
If you have moles in your lawn, you’d probably like them to be gone ASAP.
A black mole in a man’s hands.
Do moles in the yard do anything positive?
Moles do help with soil aeration and nutrient cycling. They eat some insects that are pests. They also help to mix the subsoil with topsoil which helps to promote soil fertility. And they can inadvertently help to spread and plant seeds.
Is getting rid of yard moles always necessary?
Lawn mole removal may not be necessary in some more rural areas where having a pristine lawn isn’t a big priority.
But ground mole removal probably will be something homeowners are interested in if they live in the suburbs and moles are causing a lot of aesthetic damage and other practical problems.
An orange, fluffy cat hunting and playing with a mole in the grass.
Natural mole control: How to get rid of moles in your yard
You could go the old-fashioned method by adopting an outdoor cat or dog. They can be pretty good mole hunters. The problem is that moles generally spend most of their time underground. So it can be difficult for cats or dogs to completely eliminate a significant mole infestation or serve as a primary method of mole pest control.
Other than having an outdoor pet who loves to hunt moles, your other options for mole control include natural methods and professional mole treatments.
How to get rid of moles in the yard with a home remedy
If you want to know how to get rid of a mole in the yard, there are some homemade mole treatments for lawns.
Natural mole repellents include some of the following options:
Castor oil
Some gardeners like to mix castor oil with liquid dish soap and water and spread the mixture around the outside of the mole holes. This mole repellant will have to be frequently reapplied because rainwater or irrigation can wash it away.
Hardware cloth
For limited areas, like a raised garden bed, you can try protecting your plants with ½” hardware cloth buried under the garden beds. This will keep moles from digging tunnels in your garden.
Natural predators
It may be helpful to install nesting boxes or perches for hawks or owls who will prey on moles and other rodents in your yard.
Vinegar
If you are interested in how to get rid of ground moles with vinegar, you can certainly try applying it in mole holes or around mole hills in your yard as a mole treatment for your lawn. They likely won’t like the smell.
The thing about vinegar, though, is that it may not be very effective at repelling moles since moles won’t be coming in contact with it much. They also tend to depend more on their sense of touch and vibrations than their sense of smell. And vinegar has some downsides in that it can definitely kill grass and other plants if it gets on them.
A mole trap is set on the lawn on top of a mole hill.
Professional yard mole removal
For professional mole control, the landscape contractor or exterminator will generally use one or more of the following approaches. Often, a comprehensive strategy is required to completely eradicate moles from a yard.
1.Mole traps
Traps come in two main varieties, live traps that don’t kill the mole and lethal traps that do kill the mole.
Live traps are considered to be the most humane method of getting rid of moles.
Types of live mole traps include:
Scissor-jawed trap
Harpoon Trap
Choker trap
Pitfall trap
Bucket trap
Box trap
With live mole tunnel traps, it’s essential to check the traps frequently so that the moles can be released quickly away from your property.
If you aren’t sure about local regulations or dealing with wild animals and the risks involved, it may be best to contact a professional for yard moles removal.
Types of lethal mole traps include:
Scissor trap (lethal variant)
Harpoon trap (lethal variant)
Tunnel trap
Drowning trap
Tunnel mole traps are installed in the moles’ own tunnel system.
Again, be sure to follow all safety instructions and manufacturer’s warnings when using lethal mole traps. And be sure you know the local laws and regulations involving the use of these traps. Or contact a professional pest control or landscaping company to handle this for you.
2. Mole deterrents
Moles hate the smell and taste of castor oil. So there are commercial products available, like Tomcat Mole & Gopher Repellant Granules, that can be effective to help make moles feel unwelcome in your yard.
Some people like to try vibrating or sonic repellants. But not all of these are proven to be effective. So it will be important to let a professional decide what is best or do your own extensive research so you don’t waste your money.
3. Mole poison
The thing about a poison that works for moles is that it can be toxic to pets and other animals. And that’s a big concern.
Over-the-counter mole poison
Consumers using over-the-counter mole chemical treatments is generally not a great idea for several reasons.
OTC mole poisons may not be as effective as professional-grade mole treatments.
These chemicals can be toxic to people, pets, and other animals if not handled properly.
Many of these poisons can contaminate the soil, water, and ecosystem.
Local laws and regulations may prohibit the use of certain mole or rodent poisons.
Professional mole treatments
Professional-grade mole poisons are only available to pest services or landscapers with a license. That is the kind of mole treatment we use and we get very good results with getting rid of moles in the yard this way.
Some homeowners prefer traps and other methods instead of chemical treatments due to environmental and toxicity concerns. Talk with your professional landscaping company or pest control company about the options that are best for your lawn and situation.
4. Exclusion/physical barriers
A landscaper may install wire mesh or hardware cloth a foot into the soil to block moles from tunneling into certain areas or around the entire perimeter of your yard.
5. Modifying the lawn environment
Reducing your lawn watering schedule and keeping your grass well-mowed can help with getting rid of moles in the yard by reducing the attractiveness of your lawn to moles. This may encourage them to go elsewhere.
Also, using raised garden beds will discourage moles, especially if the beds have a solid bottom that moles can’t tunnel through.
Lawn with significant mole infestation and dozens of molehills.
Ready to find yard mole removal near you in the Columbia, SC area?
At Boots On Enterprises, we know how to get rid of moles in the yard fast. We can provide mole pest removal and rehabilitate your lawn and landscaping from any damage moles may have caused.
Contact us today for a FREE estimate.
Phone: 803-521-4978
Email: bootsonenterprises@gmail.com
