Moles cost homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs each year and can significantly reduce property value. Preventing moles from making a home in your yard is best to avoid this threat to your home and wallet.
There are few animals that can destroy your property as quickly as moles. These critters have enormous appetites and spend their days digging through your soil, searching for food.
But if you suspect it might be too late for prevention and you think you might have a mole damaging your lawn. Keep reading to learn how to identify types of mole infestations and the damage they can cause to your property.
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Mole Types in the US
Not all moles are the same when it comes to appearance and diet. The Townsend’s mole tends to eat the bulbs and seeds of plants. And the Shrew mole is less destructive than the other mole types.
Here are the seven types of moles found in the United States:
- Eastern Mole
- Hairy-tailed mole
- Star-nose mole
- Broad-footed mole
- Townsend’s mole
- Coast mole
- American shrew mole
In small numbers, moles can be helpful for landscaping. They help aerate the soil and keep harmful insects under control. If you have too many moles, though, it’s time to act.
Types of Mole Infestation and Damage
As a homeowner, there is plenty to worry about when it comes to damage to your property. Rats, cockroaches, moles, and pigeons are things to be mindful of.
Lawn damage caused by mole infestations can be pretty easy to spot. But some mole lawn damage can be less noticeable. Here are several tell-tale signs that indicate you have a mole infestation:
- Raised ridges of soil that indicate surface tunnels
- Molehills (volcano-like mounds of dirt)
- Areas of earth that feel spongy
- Dead grass
- Dead or damaged ornamentals
It is also helpful to know that voles can also cause lawn damage. Voles are rodents but tend to gnaw on plants’ roots, leaves, and stems. So if you notice bite marks on your plants, it’s probably not moles.
What Attracts Moles?
Moles are attracted to areas that offer their ideal habitat for feeding, burrowing, and breeding. Yards with lots of insects, cool shady, moist soil, and landscape elements are major attractions for moles.
How to Deter Moles
The best way to prevent moles from becoming a problem is to make your property uninviting.
Eliminate their food sources through grub control and other pest treatments. Moles eat 70 to 100% of their body weight per day, so controlling their food source is an excellent strategy.
Don’t overwater your yard to prevent them from tunneling and building their homes in your yard. You can also plant natural mole repellents like daffodils, marigolds, or castor beans.
Mole Control
Dealing with a mole infestation is a big job. There are natural remedies and store-bought devices to prevent different types of mole infestations. But if you already have an infestation, it might be too late for those options.
Contact a professional pest control company; they are the safest and most effective way to get rid of mole infestations. Thanks to their professional tools and tactics, they are better equipped and can get rid of moles humanely.
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