Mole

• Raised, rounded surface tunnels running in irregular patterns across the lawn or garden bed — the soil is pushed up from below in a ridge
• Conical or fan-shaped mounds of loose excavated soil pushed up to the surface (molehills) — distinguishable from vole runways by the raised cone rather than a collapsed tunnel
• Plant roots loosened, heaved, or air-pocketed as tunnels pass beneath them — secondary root damage, not direct feeding
• Seedlings or transplants wilting despite moisture because tunnel collapse dried out the root zone
• No gnawing damage on plant material — moles are insectivores and do not eat roots or bulbs (voles do; moles often take the blame)

Moles are solitary, fossorial (tunneling) mammals that spend almost their entire lives underground. Eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) and star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) are the most common garden species in North America. They feed on earthworms, grubs, and other soil invertebrates — not on plant roots. A single mole uses two types of tunnels: shallow surface runways used for active hunting, and deeper permanent tunnels for travel and nesting. Surface tunnels are most visible after rain when earthworm activity peaks near the surface. Mole territory can cover 0.5–5 acres; a single individual may create extensive surface tunnel networks in your garden while the same individual's territory covers several neighboring yards.

1. 01Confirm you have moles rather than voles before taking action: press down a tunnel and check in 24 hours — moles will reopen the tunnel; voles typically will not
2. 02Mole activity often peaks after lawn irrigation or rain; reducing irrigation frequency in non-critical areas can shift earthworm depth and reduce surface tunneling
3. 03In garden beds: tamp down raised tunnels and firm soil around recently disrupted transplants promptly — the root damage from loosened soil is usually recoverable
4. 04Mole-specific traps (scissor-jaw or harpoon style placed in an active main tunnel) are the most reliably effective control when tunneling is severe
5. 05Grub control (targeting white grubs with beneficial nematodes or Milky Spore) reduces one food source but rarely eliminates moles, as they primarily hunt earthworms
6. 06Repellents — castor oil granules, vibrating stakes — have limited evidence of effectiveness and no lasting impact on population

If you're seeing extensive root damage alongside tunnels, consider that voles may be using the mole tunnels as pathways — a local wildlife specialist can help distinguish the two and advise on targeted control.

• Managing Moles— Penn State Extension
• Moles in the Garden— UC ANR Integrated Pest Management