Moles are small mammals found across the world, except in Antarctica and South America. While they are often seen as garden pests due to their tunneling, they play an essential role in improving soil aeration and controlling insect populations. Moles dig complex tunnel systems, which help them search for food, escape predators, and establish burrows. If you’re struggling with moles in your yard, understanding their behavior is the first step in managing them effectively.
What Are Moles?
Moles are small, hairless mammals with tiny eyes, a pointed snout, and no visible ears. They can grow up to 6.25 inches long, with tails reaching 1.6 inches. Some species, like the American mole, can grow as big as 7 inches, making them one of the largest mole species. They typically weigh around 4.5 ounces, which is similar to a deck of cards. Moles come in different colors, including black, orange, cream, and white, depending on their habitat and genetics.
Moles thrive in grasslands, gardens, woodlands, and sand dunes, as these areas offer loose, moist soil that is easy to dig through. They are rarely found in acidic soils or mountainous regions, where the soil is either too compact or unsuitable for burrowing. Their underground tunnels help them stay safe from predators like owls, foxes, and snakes, making them efficient diggers and survivors.
Moles primarily feed on earthworms, insects, and small invertebrates that they find in the soil. A fascinating fact about moles is that they bite off the heads of earthworms, which keeps them alive but immobile, allowing them to store them in underground chambers for later consumption. A record-breaking chamber once contained 470 earthworms, showing just how much food they stockpile to sustain themselves (The Mammal Society).
Helpful for you: What You Should Know About Mole Removal
Breeding and Reproduction
During the breeding season, male moles expand their tunnel networks in search of female mates. This is the only time they actively seek out companionship, as moles are otherwise solitary creatures. After mating, female moles give birth to 3-4 hairless pups, which are completely dependent on their mother for survival. These pups start growing a soft coat of fur at 14 days old, which helps them regulate their body temperature. By 5-6 weeks of age, they become independent and leave their mother’s tunnel system to establish their own burrows elsewhere.
Are Moles Harmful or Beneficial to Your Garden?
| Harms | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Can create molehills that damage lawns and garden aesthetics | Aerates soil, improving water and nutrient absorption |
| Tunnels may accidentally disturb plant roots | Helps control insect and pest populations, like grubs and larvae |
| Can make digging or lawn maintenance more difficult | Promotes healthy soil by mixing organic matter |
| May attract predators to your garden | Creates natural channels that aid soil drainage |
| Can disrupt flower beds, vegetable patches, or delicate plants | Encourages biodiversity by providing habitat for other organisms |
How to Identify Mole Activity in Your Yard
Look for these common signs:
- Molehills: Small, conical piles of soil pushed up from underground tunnels.
- Raised Tunnels: Visible, winding ridges across lawns or garden beds.
- Soft, Loose Soil: Areas that are unusually easy to dig into or appear disturbed.
- Wilting Plants: Indirect damage where roots are disturbed by tunneling.
- Active Tunnels: Press down lightly—if tunnels spring back, moles may be present.
- Frequent Insect Presence: High grub or insect activity can attract moles to the area.
Tip: Moles are more active during spring and fall when soil is moist and easier to dig.
Top 10 Fun Facts About Moles
Moles Are Not Blind
While they spend most of their time underground, moles are not completely blind. They can detect light and movement, which helps them differentiate between day and night cycles. However, they primarily rely on their extra-sensitive noses and touch receptors to navigate their surroundings and locate food.
Moles Create Complex Tunnel Systems
Moles build intricate tunnel networks that serve multiple purposes, including hunting, shelter, and breeding. Their tunnels act as highways, storage rooms, nurseries, and sleeping chambers, allowing them to live efficiently underground. Some tunnels can remain active for several generations, with new moles taking over old burrows.
Moles Are Solitary Creatures
Moles prefer to live alone and are highly territorial, only coming together for breeding. If you spot multiple molehills in your yard, it’s likely the work of just one mole, as they require large territories to sustain their food supply. Having 3-5 moles per acre is considered a high population.
Moles Have High Metabolism
Moles have one of the highest metabolisms among small mammals, requiring them to eat their body weight in food daily. Without a steady supply of earthworms and insects, they can starve within 24 hours. Their constant digging helps them locate fresh food sources quickly.
Moles Are Surprisingly Strong
Despite their small size, moles are incredibly strong diggers. Their large, curved front paws act like shovels, allowing them to move soil efficiently. A single mole can dig up to 18 feet of tunnels in just one hour, making them some of nature’s best underground engineers.
Moles Don’t Hibernate
Unlike some animals, moles remain active throughout the entire year, including winter. They simply dig deeper into the soil where temperatures are more stable, allowing them to continue searching for food regardless of the season.
Moles Have Unique Blood Composition
Moles have twice as much hemoglobin in their blood as other mammals of similar size. This allows them to store more oxygen, which helps them survive underground where air supply is limited. This adaptation enables them to stay underground for extended periods without coming up for air.
Moles Are Resistant to Pain and Disease
Moles have an unusual resistance to pain, particularly from acidic substances found in soil. This helps them dig through different soil types without discomfort. Additionally, studies suggest that moles rarely develop cancer, which has sparked scientific interest in their unique biology.
Moles Can Survive Without Oxygen
Moles can survive up to 18 minutes without oxygen, making them well-adapted to life underground. This ability allows them to dig for long periods without needing to surface, reducing their risk of predation.
Moles Are Not After Your Plants
Despite their reputation as garden pests, moles do not eat plant roots or vegetables. Their tunnels may accidentally damage plant roots, causing them to wilt, but moles are strictly carnivorous and only hunt for worms and insects.
Moles vs Gophers vs Voles: How to Tell the Difference
| Feature | Moles | Gophers | Voles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 4–7 inches | 6–12 inches | 3–8 inches |
| Tunnel Type | Deep, irregular, often invisible from surface | Shallow, extensive, noticeable mounds at entry points | Shallow surface runways, often zigzag across lawn |
| Diet | Insects, earthworms, grubs | Roots, bulbs, plants | Grass, seeds, fruits, plants |
| Activity | Year-round | Year-round | Mostly winter and early spring |
| Signs in Yard | Conical molehills, raised ridges, soil pushed sideways | Fan-shaped mounds, disturbed root systems | Shallow surface trails, nibbled grass or plants |
| Plant Damage | Rarely eats plants, tunnels may disturb roots | Eats roots, bulbs, and vegetables | Nibbles on stems and leaves, can damage lawns |
How Wildout Animal and Pest Removal Can Help You
If moles are damaging your yard, creating molehills, or disrupting plant roots, Wildout Animal and Pest Removal is here to help. Our trained experts provide a free and thorough inspection to assess mole activity. We use safe, humane, and effective removal methods that prevent moles from returning. Our approach ensures that your lawn, garden, or farmland remains mole-free without harming the environment.
Conclusion
Moles are fascinating yet misunderstood creatures. While their tunneling benefits soil aeration, it can become a nuisance for homeowners and gardeners. Understanding their behavior and ecological role can help you manage them more effectively. If you’re dealing with persistent mole problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to Wildout Animal and Pest Removal for professional animal control services.
FAQs
Do moles eat plant roots?
No, moles do not eat plants. They primarily feed on earthworms, grubs, and insects, but their tunnels can indirectly disrupt plant roots.
Can moles see?
Moles are not completely blind, but their eyesight is very poor. They rely more on their sense of smell and touch receptors to navigate underground.
How fast can moles dig?
Moles are powerful diggers and can tunnel through 18 feet of soil per hour using their specialized front paws.
Do moles hibernate?
No, moles remain active all year round. In winter, they dig deeper underground to find food where the soil is softer.
How long do moles live?
Moles have an average lifespan of about 3 years in the wild, though some can live up to 6 years in favorable conditions.
Are naked moles related to moles?
No, naked mole rats belong to the rodent family, while true moles are insectivorous mammals from a different biological group.