Long-Term Success

Moles require between 60-100% of their body weight in food each day, they eat mainly insects, earthworms and grubs. Grubs being their favorite. By removing these sources of food from your property, they’re less likely to stay. 

1)  Treat for grubs. We recommend applying Grub-ex at least once per year and if you have severe ongoing mole issues, apply twice. Late Spring is best time to apply and fall is the second-best time to apply, anytime you put down new sod, even a small patch the grubs are often included for free with your new sod! Grub-Ex is applied using a hand and/or push spreader.

1)  Treat for insects. Use an insect granule that is applied using a spreader. We do recommend doing this in addition to any pest treatment programs you may be doing. We often have found that pest companies typically treat for bugs around the home and do not apply enough insect/grub killing treatments to your entire lawn and flower beds. Heavy treatments to your flower and mulch beds is recommended.

1)  Treat for earthworms. While we do not advocate using killing treatments on earthworms, we do recommend controlling your irrigation watering. Often moles will be found around those areas where your soil is always moist, and earthworms congregate. Adjust your sprinkler zones or add a smart sprinkler controller to help give you more control. A popular smart controller is www.rachio.com.

It is our experience with the local mole population, that this area has an extremely high density of moles and has resulted in moles adapting with a higher number per acre, sharing of their tunnels with other moles, pocket gophers and being less territorial. Moles do deliberately socialize during the spring breading season. 

Moles breed one litter per year of two to seven offspring and approximately 50% of all moles die each year of natural causes, principally from starvation. The benefits to eliminating even a small number of moles from your yard and combined with attacking their food source is the most reliable method of mole elimination.

Male moles begin to search out female mates in late February through March. After a gestation of approximately 6 weeks, the female gives birth in April through May to a single litter of two to seven moles in a grass or leaf-lined nesting chamber. This chamber is typically 5 - 18 inches underground and is frequently found under a large stone, tree, or man-made obstacle such as a patio or sidewalk. Maturation occurs rapidly, and pups are weaned from their mother's milk in approximately 4 weeks. Shortly thereafter, the female forcibly disperses her offspring which are nearly full grown and difficult to distinguish from adults. The young establish their own tunnel systems nearby through either excavation or adoption of abandoned ones. This initial dispersal occurs from mid-April to late-June. A second dispersal period occurs in the fall with the young establishing their own homeranges typically within 1/4 mile of the maternal burrows. Sexual maturity is reached the following spring, perpetuating the reproductive cycle.

Moles are unable to store either food or fat, and all moles remain active throughout the year. They typically will eat for 4 hours, sleep for the next 4 and repeat. Moles can be active at all times of the day. The median age has been estimated at 3-4 years and can be as high as six years of age.

Moles do not hibernate; however, as the ground's surface cools in winter, moles construct deeper tunnel systems in search of food retreating from the dropping temperatures. Visible activity above the ground typically diminishes giving the false impression that moles have hibernated. In early spring, or a period of unseasonably warm weather will often trigger new digging, and results in increased levels of lawn damage. 

While moles inhabit diverse soil types, they prefer those that are moist and loose, and they have adapted nicely to the lush lawns of Tarrant County. Our lawns are a preferred location for moles since they harbor a larger biomass of food per acre. Frequent lawn watering also facilitates mole tunneling, especially during periods of drought when the soil in other areas becomes dry and hard. Generally speaking, if you have cultivated a nice lawn, you have also created an excellent mole habitat. Their tunnel system will often span an acre in a residential setting, resulting in common concerns that moles will return, which is a result of their activity not being present on your property for some time as they feed on your neighbors only to return after they forge for new food sources. Mole density in this area is typically between 2-10 per acre. Our most common catch size is 4 per ½ acre.