Moles
Moles are often confused with the similar-sounding vole, but they are quite different animals. Moles are most commonly found underground, and usually humans don't even come into contact with them. Homeowners can definitely experience extensive mole damage if proper management solutions aren't put into place. Molehills are common landscape damage, and they can be expensive in yards or commercial properties. Wildlife X Team® can help you remove moles from your property and keep them away for good. Call (817) 431-3007 today!
Common Mole Problems
- Damage to yards due to burrowing
- Weakening building structures, also due to burrowing
Why Get Rid of Moles?
If you've ever stepped in a mole hole and twisted your ankle, you know why moles are unwelcome guests. More expensive landscapes like resorts and golf courses often report mole damage, which they can't afford not to fix. The best way to get rid of mole populations is to prevent them in the first place. Wildlife X Team® can help! Call (817) 431-3007 today!
More About Moles
- Moles are small mammals that are most well known for living in tunnels underground. Moles are commonly found in Europe, Asia, South Africa, and North America although there are oddly no moles inhabiting Ireland.
- Moles have long, curved claws which the moles use to burrow underground. Moles can quickly create long tunnels under the surface of the earth up to 300 feet a day. The tunnel entrances can easily be identified by the mounds of earth that appear (normally all over your garden lawn)! These mounds of soil are commonly known as molehills.
- There are around 20 different species of mole found in their natural, earthy environments. Some species of mole are also aquatic or at least semi-aquatic which means that these mole species spend at least some of their time in the water.
- Many of the different species of mole are very similar in appearance and range in size from just 2 cm to 20 cm. The oddest exception to this is the star-nosed mole that inhabits parts of Canada and the northeast of the USA. The star-nosed mole can be easily identified by the distinctive star-shaped ending to the mole’s snout.
- Moles are carnivores that primarily feed and hunt earthworms. The saliva in the mouth of the mole contains a toxin that can paralyze small animals such as earthworms meaning that the mole is able to eat its catch successfully but the mole is also able to store food to eat later. Moles are known to construct special underground larders in which the mole can store its food. Some of the larger species of mole have also been known to eat small mice. The mole does this by catching the mouse at the entrance to its burrow.
- The eyes and ears of the mole are very small and usually covered in fur. The small eyes of the mole are thought to have become like this due to the mole not using its eyes and through natural selection. The most powerful sense a mole has is its sense of smell, and some species of mole (such as the star-nosed mole) are able to detect, catch and eat their prey in less than a second!
- Moles breed in early spring with the female mole's gestation period lasting about a month. The female mole then gives birth to between 2 and 6 mole babies. The baby moles are usually completely independent within a month after birth. The average lifespan of a mole is about 4 years but some species of mole have been known to live until they are 6 or 7 years old.
- Due to their small size, moles are preyed on by reptiles, birds, and mammals when the moles are above ground. With most moles being killed while in their burrows from gardeners and their spades. When moles are in their burrows they are relatively safe from harm.