It is difficult to say exactly what mole damage looks like because the damage caused by moles can sometimes be mistaken for damage caused by other lawn pests such as voles, rats, gophers, and ground squirrels.
If you see patches of dead grass in your yard, that is a good sign that you have a mole problem but that dead grass could be the result of the burrowing efforts of another animal. It could also be damage done by grubs, which are the larvae of beetles or some other insect pest. Here are a few ways you can zero in on moles as your culprit.
What You’ll See If You Have Moles
Are you seeing mounds in your yard? Those mounds could be the evidence of a mole infestation. They could also be evidence of a gopher infestation. Look closely at those mounds and see if you notice any chunks of dirt. Gophers don’t make chunks. Gophers make smooth powdered dirt.
Are the mounds in your yard close together? If they are, you’re probably dealing with gophers. Moles will have more distance between each mound, sometimes six or more feet.
When you remove a mound of dirt, do you see the entrance to a tunnel? Often mole tunneling can be seen when the dirt of a mound is removed. Gopher holes are large and sturdy enough to be seen.
What You Won’t See If You Have Moles
Are you seeing chewed plants? If so, you probably don’t have a mole problem. Moles aren’t vegetarians. In fact, their diet is almost 100% protein. They eat earthworms, grubs and centipedes by the truckload. They’re not going to get into your vegetable garden and dine on your veggies and they aren’t going to chew on your ornamental plants and flower stems.
The Good News
If you see a mound in your yard and you determine that it is a mole, you may not be in too much trouble. You can get rid of that dirt, stamp down on the spot and you might not see any more mounds appear. But sometimes moles are persistent and cause trouble when they invade a yard. If this is the case for you and you are in the Greater San Jose area, reach out to us. The team here at Smith’s Pest Management aren’t just experts in gopher control, we know what is necessary to get rid of moles as well.
