Signs of Moles in Your Yard

mole in a garden

Key signs of mole presence in your yard include volcano-like molehills, raised ridges across the lawn, loose soil beneath the turf, patches of discolored or dying grass, and increased weed growth. In some cases, you might even spot a mole.

Moles help control nasty lawn pests like grubs and don’t eat plants, but they are passionate diggers and can turn your lawn upside down in a few days. Keep an eye on signs of mole presence so you can remove these little critters before they do too much damage.

What are Moles?

Moles are small, furry animals that live in underground tunnels. They eat 60 to 100% of their body weight in insects, grubs, and earthworms daily, damaging lawns and gardens while digging for food. 

Adults grow 5 to 8 inches long and are covered in short, smooth, black to brownish-gray fur that helps them slide easily back and forth along their tight burrows. Moles are easily recognizable by their elongated heads with pointed pink snouts, tiny eyes hidden by fur, and no external ears. 

Another striking feature is their broad, paddle-like paws with long, webbed claws. Moles’ strong paws are oriented sideways, allowing moles to push the dirt like swimmers push water, digging up to 150 feet of new tunnels daily. 

Moles spend most of their underground burrows and rarely see above the soil. If you do see one, that’s a sure sign you’ve identified the culprit tearing up your yard. If you don’t see a mole, look for these five signs of mole presence.

5 Signs of Moles in Your Yard

1. Volcano-Like Molehills

mole hills in a yard
Photo Credit: ToniFix / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Moles make volcano-like dirt mounds up to 2 feet in diameter and 2 to 8 inches high.

Extension experts Dennis M. Ferraro, Stephen M. Vantassel, and Scott E. Hygnstrom at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln say mounds appear when moles burrow deep or tunnel under solid objects such as tree roots or sidewalks and push the extra soil to the surface.

Molehills are often the first sign of mole presence noticed by homeowners. Here’s what to remember about them:

  • They are conical mounds of dirt that look like small volcanos.
  • They appear suddenly on your property.
  • Mole mounds have no visible holes – the mole plugs the entrance to its burrows with dirt. 
  • If you shovel away the soil, you’ll find the entrance in the center of the hole, opening to a vertical tunnel.

Mole vs. gopher mounds: Gophers make larger, fan-shaped mounds that have a plugged hole on one side.

2. Raised Ridges Crisscrossing Lawn

mole tunnel in dirt
Photo Credit: Jomegat / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Mole ridges are trails of pushed-up soil, mulch, or grass about 3 inches wide and a few inches tall.

Moles build shallow tunnels, 1 to 4 inches deep, to hunt worms and insects. Above the soil, their raised tops look like ridges of grass or dirt. 

These shallow runways are mostly dug during spring and autumn when the soil is cool and moist. In periods of heat and drought, moles dig deeper tunnels to cool, moist areas where worms and insects seek shelter.

Not all mole ridges look alike: 

  • Long, fairly straight ridges with only soft curves indicate tunnels connecting hunting grounds. These tunnels are frequently used and are good for installing traps and mole baits.
  • Short, scribbly ridges that turn and twist on a small area indicate hunting tunnels that moles use once or twice and then abandon. 

According to experts at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, you should scout for new mole runways after rain. “Moles prefer to dig when the soil is moist, which is why tunnels often appear after a heavy rain.” 

Moles vs. voles runways: Vole runways are above-ground trenches created by voles cutting grass stems close to the soil and their relentless traffic.

3. Loose Soil or Soft Spots

Moles’ raised ridges have hollow tunnels underneath, often separated by a fluffy layer of soil only a couple of inches thick. When you walk on them, the ground feels soft and spongy underneath your feet. 

Note: The spongy feeling is also common in grub infestations. If you don’t see molehills around, dig the soil with a trowel to check for grubs.

4. Discolored or Dead Grass

Strips of discolored or brown grass crisscrossing the lawn might indicate the presence of moles.

Moles don’t eat plants, but they can damage their roots while digging. When moles plow their tunnels under turfgrass, plant roots are stripped of the soil around them and left in direct contact with warm air. 

In time, exposed roots dry out. Above the soil, turfgrass turns yellow and brown, wilts, and dies. 

You can reduce the damage by flattening the mole ridges with your feet or using a lawn roller. 

5. Weed Growth

A mole coming out of hole
Photo Credit: Pexels

Mole digging can damage the grass, resulting in weakened or dead areas. 

These thinned and bare patches are more vulnerable to weed growth because there is little to no healthy grass competing for sunlight, water, and nutrients. 

Mole digging also can bring buried weed seeds closer to the surface.

FAQ on Signs of Moles in Your Yard

What causes moles to appear in your yard?

According to experts at the University of Arkansas, moles most often appear in lawns close to their natural habitats (wooded areas, grasslands). Moles are attracted to lawns that:

  • Are well-watered and fertilized
  • Have loose, well-drained soil
  • Have lots of plants and fertile soil that can sustain large populations of insects and worms – mole’s favorite food

What is the fastest way to get rid of moles in the garden?

The fastest way to get rid of moles in the garden is to use traps, gummy baits, or mole repellants.

What time of day are moles most active?

Moles hunt throughout the day, with two- to three-hour breaks for rest, but they are most active in the early morning and late evening when it’s cooler outside.

Protect Your Lawn from Mole Damage!

If you spot signs of moles, don’t wait too long. The larger their tunnel maze, the harder it is to get them. Find a trusted pest control company with LawnStarter and protect your lawn from unsightly molehills and tunnels.

LawnStarter pros can also help you fix the damage after the culprit is gone. They can clean the lawn, remove the weeds, seed new grass, and mow the turf to perfection. 

Main Image Credit: Petr Bonek / Adobe Stock Free / License

Sinziana Spiridon

Sinziana Spiridon

Sinziana Spiridon is an outdoorsy blog writer with a green thumb and a passion for organic gardening. When not writing about weeds, pests, soil, and growing plants, she's tending to her veggie garden and the lovely turf strip in her front yard.