Moles

Mole Facts

Commonly found throughout North America, moles typically have velvety fur that can be silver, black, or brown. Mole tails are almost always hairless and covered in scales.

Their feet are webbed to make it easy for digging as they spend most of their time underground. Moles have very small eyes and no external ears. A mole’s snout is pointed and hairless — a distinct difference from voles, who have furry noses.

Moles mate between February and March, while birth occurs from April into May. Litters will range from three to seven offspring. Moles love to eat insects like grubs, beetles, larvae, and earthworms, but can occasionally feast on frogs or mice. Moles might also indulge in seeds, roots, and bulbs if that’s all that is available. 

Mole Damage

These beady-eyed creatures are generally very laid back and won’t get in your way too often. The only real problem moles cause is making your lawn and garden look disastrous. The tunnels they create are not pretty to look at, and your gardens may be destroyed from their feasting. However, this is mostly due to the fact that they are ridding these areas of harmful insects.

Mole Infestation

Tunnels or “runs” are usually a dead giveaway. You’ll see these most often during the spring and fall when soil is softest. There are two different types of mole runs — feeder and travel tunnels. Feeder tunnels are short, crooked, and only about two inches wide. Dead grass will indicate this tunnel. Travel tunnels are long and straight, often following an edge like a driveway or foundation. These will continue on into wooded areas.

Mole hills are cone-shaped mounds of dirt that can vary in size. You’ll see these pop up during the fall season as moles dig runs to avoid the impeding frosts of winter. In the summer, moles dig in search of earthworms to eat. Moles make very little noise and are rarely seen because of all the time they spend beneath the surface. Crop damage is often not the result of moles, but rather the similar vole, although moles do enjoy roots from time to time.

Types of Moles

Mole Identification

There are three main species of moles. The hairy-tailed mole, the star-nosed mole, and the Eastern mole.

Hairy-Tailed Mole

The hairy-tailed mole is five inches to 5 1/2 inches long and has grayish black to pure black fur on top with a slightly lighter shade on their belly. A good way to tell them from their cousins is the red-tipped snout.

Star-Nosed Mole

The star-nosed mole is around the same size as it’s hairy-tailed cousin, but can easily be identified by its star-shaped nose. Over 20 flesh colored tentacles make up their snout. Its hair is short and coarser than most other mole species.

Eastern Mole

The Eastern mole is the most common species in North America and ranges from 3 1/4 inches to 8 3/4 inches in length. They have a short naked tail and long, hairless snout. Its fur is thick and varies from silver to black or even copper.

Moles in the Yard & Garden

In general, moles love lawns, orchards, and woods. These areas provide soft, moist soil that allows them to tunnel. Hairy-tailed moles enjoy sandier soils, wet or dry, and even clay soils. Star-nosed moles are often seen near swamps, but don’t mind drier locations if moist soil isn’t an option.