How do you get rid of moles in your yard?
Key Points
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Identify your culprit: Moles are insectivores, not rodents. They leave behind raised ridges and volcano-shaped mounds as they hunt for earthworms and grubs.
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Set a trap: The best DIY mole removal method is a harpoon trap placed correctly on an active surface runway.
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Don't rely on grub control: Getting rid of grubs won't solve your mole problem since their diet is mostly earthworms.
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Try prevention first: Avoid overwatering your lawn. Drier soil forces earthworms and grubs deeper, making your yard less appealing to moles.
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Know when to call a pro: If mole activity continues, call a professional. Trapping can be tricky and potentially hazardous to pets and children if done incorrectly.
Question: I have moles or gophers in my back yard. They have made tunnels and hills all over my yard last night. How can I get rid of them? Please help, my yard is being destroyed.
Answer: Moles can turn a pristine lawn into a massive construction zone overnight. Think of them as tiny, subterranean bulldozers with a relentless appetite. Let's break down how to identify these underground intruders and reclaim your yard.
Signs of Moles in Yards
How do you know it's a mole and not a vole or a gopher? Look at the dirt. Moles dig two distinct types of tunnels:
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Deep tunnels: These runways sit up to 24 inches underground. When moles excavate them, they push the dirt to the surface, leaving behind classic, volcano-shaped "molehills."
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Surface tunnels: These are the winding, raised ridges you see cracking the surface of your grass.
If you see open entry holes or chewed-up grass blades, you likely have voles, not moles. Moles strictly eat meat and leave no visible entrance holes.
What attracts moles to yards?
They are simply looking for their next meal. A mole's diet consists primarily of earthworms, along with a side of grubs and soil insects. A common myth is that treating your yard with grub control will automatically eliminate your mole problem. The reality? As long as your soil is healthy, moist, and full of earthworms, moles will happily stick around for the all-you-can-eat buffet.
How to Get Rid of Moles in Your Yard
Trapping is widely considered the most effective method for controlling a mole population. Home remedies like chewing gum, broken glass, or flooding the tunnels simply don't work.
To effectively use a mechanical spike or harpoon trap, you need to find an active surface runway. Here is how to do it:
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Test the tunnels: Find a relatively straight surface ridge and poke a small hole into the top of it with your finger or a stick.
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Check for activity: Return in 24 hours. If the mole has repaired the hole, you have found an active runway.
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Prep the trap site: Use the side of your hand to collapse a small, one-inch section of that active tunnel to about half its original height.
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Set the trap: Place your harpoon trap directly over the collapsed section so the trigger pan rests lightly on the dirt. Moles are not suspicious of blocked tunnels; when the mole pushes up to clear the blockage, it springs the trap.
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Monitor: If you haven't seen any action in three to four days, move the trap to a new active spot.
Always place a heavy bucket over your traps to protect curious pets and children.
How to Prevent Moles in Your Yard
Since moles prefer soft, damp earth that is easy to dig through, the simplest prevention method is adjusting your lawn care habits. Avoid overwatering your grass. A drier lawn forces earthworms to travel deeper underground, making your yard less attractive to wandering moles.
For small, high-value garden plots, you can install a vertical barrier made of galvanized hardware cloth. Just make sure to bury it at least 24 inches deep and leave about six inches exposed above ground to prevent moles from tunneling under or over.
When to Call a Professional for Wildlife Management
DIY trapping requires a lot of patience, practice, and precision. If you are exhausted from playing an endless game of whack-a-mole or if you are concerned about managing traps safely around your family, it is time to bring in professional wildlife management.
Contact an Orkin Pro to learn more about how our wildlife management services can help keep your yard protected from moles and other pests.
Mole Resources
Indoor pest activity that seems like a mole is usually caused by a mouse, since moles are outdoor-dwelling animals that tunnel through soil rather than enter homes.
How to Identify Voles vs. Moles
Moles and voles may look similar, but they cause different types of yard damage, with moles creating raised tunnels and soil mounds while voles form surface runways and feed on plants and roots.
Orkin offers professional mole control services that address lawn and landscape damage caused by underground tunneling through science-based trapping and customized treatment plans.