Mole Damage in Lawns: What’s Causing It and What You Can Do

Moles are common in residential lawns in Minnesota and Wisconsin. They can quickly become a concern due to the visible damage their tunneling creates.

How to Identify Mole Damage

Mole activity in a lawn is usually very noticeable. The most common signs include:

• Raised, winding ridges that look like snakes running through the lawn
• Soft, spongy areas underfoot
• Small mounds of soil (molehills) pushed up to the surface
• Grass that dries out or dies along tunnel paths
• Scalped grass after mowing
• Tripping while walking on the ground

What Are Moles and Why Are They in Your Lawn?

Moles are small, underground mammals that spend nearly all of their time tunneling through the soil. These tunnels are created just below the soil surface as moles search for food. Their primary goal is not to damage your lawn, but to find food. Over time, the tunneling disrupts the roots of the grass, which can lead to thinning or dead patches.

Their diet consists mainly of:

• Earthworms
• Grubs
• Other soil insects

As moles tunnel in search of these food sources, they create the ridges and mounds you see on the surface. It is important to understand that moles are not feeding on your grass directly. The damage occurs as a byproduct of their tunneling activity.

Common Misconceptions About Moles

There are a few common misunderstandings about moles that can lead to frustration when trying to control them.

• “If I get rid of grubs, I will get rid of moles” This is one of the most common beliefs, but it is only partially true. Grub control can help reduce mole activity because grubs are one of their food sources. However, moles do not rely solely on grubs. Their primary diet often consists of earthworms and other soil insects. This means that even if grubs are completely eliminated, moles can continue to live and tunnel in your lawn as long as other food sources are available. Grub control should be viewed as one piece of the solution, not a complete fix.
• “Moles are eating my grass” Moles are not feeding on your grass. They are insectivores, meaning they feed on insects and worms in the soil. The damage you see is caused by their tunneling, which disrupts roots and dries out the grass above the tunnels.
• “More tunnels means more moles” It is easy to assume that a large number of tunnels means you have many moles, but often a single mole can create an extensive tunnel system. This is why mole damage can appear severe even when the population is relatively small.

Now That You Have Moles: What Can You Do as a Homeowner?

If you are currently seeing mole activity, the goal is to minimize damage and avoid making the problem worse. Here are the best steps you can take:

• Avoid collapsing tunnels immediately after activity is noticed, especially if treatment is planned
• After a few days, you can gently press down tunnels to reduce lawn unevenness and prevent mower damage
• Always press down tunnels before mowing to avoid further lawn damage
• Keep pets, especially dogs that like to dig, away from active tunnel areas
• Identify areas of highest activity so treatments can be focused effectively

Now That You Have Moles: What Can bioLawn Do?

If you are on a mole management program, reach out to our office so we can schedule a treatment. Depending on when your last treatment was performed, it may be appropriate for us to do a service call or schedule your next treatment.

If you are NOT on a mole management program, reach out to our office and we can get you set up on a plan. bioLawn’s mole management program is designed to reduce mole activity and protect the lawn using a targeted, behavior based approach. Learn more about the mole management program by visiting our webpage.

In more severe cases, trapping in combination with treatment may be recommended to fully control the population.

In the Future: What Can You Do as a Homeowner to Prevent Moles?

While it is not possible to completely eliminate the chance of moles, you can make your lawn less attractive over time. Key prevention strategies include:

• Reducing food sources, especially grubs, through proper lawn care
• Maintaining balanced watering – avoid overwatering
• Monitoring early signs of tunneling and addressing activity quickly

In the Future: What Can bioLawn Do to Prevent Moles?

Prevention is where a long term lawn care strategy becomes important. When you are on a mole management program we can:

• Perform ongoing monitoring with regular visits
• Regular visits allow us to identify early mole activity and treat before it gets extensive
• Use repellants to discourage mole activity in your lawn

Final Thoughts

Moles are a natural part of the ecosystem, but their presence in a lawn can quickly lead to frustration due to the visible damage they create.

The key to managing moles is understanding:

• They are attracted by food sources, not your grass
• The damage is caused by tunneling, not feeding
• Effective control requires targeting their behavior underground

With the right combination of professional treatment and homeowner awareness, mole activity can be significantly reduced and your lawn can recover.

If you have concerns that moles are in your lawn, you have questions or need diagnosis, please reach out to us so our agronomist can assess.