Eastern
mole emerging from the ground. Note the teeth and the enlarged front
feet. Photographer Unknown.
Biology
Moles do not hibernate
Moles are insectivores, eating insects and earthworms
Live a subterranean life
Signs
Raised ridges of turf or bare soil 3 in. wide X 2 in. high that run erratic. Density of three moles per acre; usually one per tunnel system.
Mole hills indicate deeper tunnel below it.
Damage
Tree Damage Mole tunnels may serve as runways for voles, field mic,
and others that may feed on roots.
Moles produce erratic and extensive feeding ridges in turf with
occasional, fist-sized conical mounds.
Rarely moles feed on bulbs and roots of flowers and garden
crops.
Insect-foraging activity and tunnels may cause drying of roots.
Lawn Damage Raised ridges may cause temporary drying to death of turf
and impede lawn care operations.
Structural Damage extremely rare. Water diversion through mole tunnels may
occur.
Agricultural Damage Little or local effects on root crops
mole
hills are signs of deep tunnels.
A
mole ridge or surface feeding tunnel Description: Opened to show one to
two-inch wide burrow. Photo Credits: Dallas Virchow
Mole run of an eastern mole. Note how the ground is pushed up.
Solutions
Habitat Modification
Moles eat earthworms, insects, and invertebrates. Reducing prey populations may reduce mole populations.
Exclusion by metal barriers; rarely flooding. Metal perimeter barriers buried at least 4 inches may lower mole foraging activity;
buried to 30 inches may eliminate mole travel.
Repellents
Frightening Agents, such as vibrators of ground and sonic devices are unproven.
Repellent castor oil-based repellents may be registered;
Home-remedies of chewing gum,
broken glass, repelling plants, and others are unproven.
Traps
Traps (many types) and
waiting with shovel at active tunnels. Occasionally cats and dogs take
but seldom eat moles. Victor (harpoon), Nash (choker loop) and
Out-of-Sight grip are most common. Pit fall traps of baited glass quart
jars buried with lip at bottom of covered feeding tunnel.
Traps placed in feeding tunnel ridges.
A
scissors type mole kill trap Description: Designed and set into the mole's surface feeding tunnels. Univ. of Nebraska
A
mole scissors-style trap set Photo Credits: University of Nebraska
Toxicants
Talpirid
Kaput
fumigants, not generally recommended as the tunnel systems
are too long and often too porous for gas to be effective.
Do Not Use grain-based baits. Moles don't eat grain
Mole run of an eastern mole. Note how the ground is pushed up.
Eastern
mole emerging from the ground. Note the teeth and the enlarged front
feet. Photographer Unknown. 
mole
hills are signs of deep tunnels.
A
mole ridge or surface feeding tunnel Description: Opened to show one to
two-inch wide burrow. Photo Credits: Dallas Virchow 
scissors type mole kill trap Description: Designed and set into the mole's surface feeding tunnels. Univ. of Nebraska
A
mole scissors-style trap set Photo Credits: University of Nebraska