Should I worry about moles in my yard?

Should I worry about moles in my yard?

Despite the damage that moles cause to a yard, they are not that bad. In fact, they are mostly good, bringing lots of benefits to your lawn. In terms of damage done to your yard, moles are usually blamed for eating bulbs and the roots of ornamental plants.

How do you tell if you have voles or moles?

One way to distinguish the difference is by the diet of each animal. Moles “M” are meat-eaters, and their diet consists of insects, grubs, and earthworms. Voles “V”, on the other hand, are vegetarians and eat the roots and stems of plants.

What does an active mole tunnel look like?

Mole Damage Their tunnels are usually at least ten inches underground, unless they’re scanning the surface in search of a mate. Check your soil and lawn for their tunnels. They will look like raised volcano-shaped swellings in your yard. Surface tunnels or ridges also indicate mole activity.

Do moles make holes in the yard?

Moles are in your lawn because you have a food source in your soil; most likely grubs or earthworms. Moles burrow their way into our yards, creating raised tunnels on the surface and stacking up dirt when they make exit holes.

What time of day do moles tunnel?

They prefer moist, loamy soil and are most active in the early morning or evening in the spring or fall; they also come out after a warm rain. Moles have the distinguishing characteristic of a hairless, pointed snout. Their small eyes and ear canals are concealed by fur, and they do not have external ears.

Do moles come out of the ground?

Moles spend the vast majority of their lives underground, but they do venture out every now and then. If they hit a rocky area that they can’t tunnel through, under or around, they come out of their tunnel and walk to an area nearby where they can continue their underground journey.

Do voles ruin lawns?

Chewing by voles at the base of unprotected stems can cause girdling and result in significant dieback and even plant death. As turf pests are concerned, voles are among the vertebrate pests most likely to cause turf damage. Notable damage to turf most commonly occurs during the winter season under snow.

How far down are mole tunnels?

Unlike vegetarian voles, moles dig deep. Their tunnels are usually at least ten inches underground, unless they’re scanning the surface in search of a mate. Check your soil and lawn for their tunnels.

How do you know if you have moles in your yard?

Moles leave behind unmistakable signs of activity. A few of them include: Raised ridges crisscrossing your yard. Areas of discolored or dead grass that follow a specific path. Raised mounds of dirt. These are usually the entrance/exit to mole tunnels.

Why are moles digging holes in my lawn?

When moles are digging their tunnels they detach the roots of plants. This not only allows weeds the opportunity to root, but it can kill your lawn, plants, and trees. These surface tunnels leave your lawn looking lumpy and raised. Another sign of moles in your yard are molehills.

Do moles have tunnels in your yard?

Their tunnels can also give other yard pests, some of which will go after roots. When moles burrow in your yard, their tunnels can leave visible trails and when moles operate close to the surface, it can cause damage to grass’ roots, leaving behind unsightly brown patches.

What does a mole runway look like?

Your main mole runways are often the straight-looking tunnel mounds through the yard, or those that follow your yard’s general perimeter. You can investigate a tunnel by using your finger or a small probe device to poke a nice little hole in the tunnel ceiling.