Many home and business owners consider moles to be pests because they destroy lawns and wreck plants as they search for those tasty bugs. This can be quite a problem for a golf course, park, or homes with a large lawn. Mole activity is damaging to root structures and will lead to dry or damaged grass.
What is a Mole?
A mole is a 6″ – 8″, brownish-gray mammal of the class insectivore. It is not a rodent as some believe. It does not chew, it digs. Their necks are strong with elongated heads. Because they spend most of their time underground, they have very small eyes and ears that are almost completely covered with fur. Their most distinctive feature is their powerful paddle-like forefeet with large thick toenails that they use for digging their tunnels. A mole can make up to one hundred feet of tunnel every day as it searches for bugs and worms to eat. It really loves those bugs and worms. Your standard mole can eat two to three times its body weight each day. Mmmmm. Yummy!
Many home and business owners consider moles to be pests because they destroy lawns and wreck plants as they search for those tasty bugs. This can be quite a problem for a golf course, park, or homes with a large lawn. Mole activity is damaging to root structures and will lead to dry or damaged grass.
Do Moles Hibernate?
Moles do not Hibernate. It may seem like moles go into hibernation in the winter, because you may not notice them until the weather warms up, but moles remain active all winter long. They simply dig down deeper into the earth during the colder months. Moles retreat to their nesting burrows down below the frost line, but they will stay active all winter. During the winter they stop digging surface tunnels in the soil since the ground is frozen. So while you may think your property is safe, they are still digging and doing damage underground. If you were thinking that you don’t need to worry about moles in the wintertime because they hibernate, think again.
Where Do Moles Go in the Winter?
Moles have tunnels much further underground that they nest in. These nests are below the frost line. So while mole activity in your yard may seem to stop in the winter, moles are still there but are far less likely to be noticed.
How Do You Get Rid of Moles?
Proper mole protection requires six visits a year, every other month, to treat tunnels. The reason for these treatments is so that new moles don’t take up residence in old tunnels. An active mole will leave its scent to mark its territory. If a mole stumbles onto a marked tunnel, it will move on. If no scent is present, it will use these tunnels as its own. This is called “recolonization”.
After a pest control company has removed all of your moles, they must do visits to prevent old tunnels from being recolonized, and to inspect for any new tunneling. These visits are necessary, even in winter. If you’re dealing with moles, it can be very frustrating. Get a pest controller involved, and, at the very least, learn more about the habits and destructive nature of this pest. You will never be able to rid your lawn of moles, but you can severely deter them. Keep your sanity and get professional assistance. For more information on mole control, contact Rottler today!
