Finding lawn damage is incredibly frustrating. You spend hours keeping your grass green, only to wake up and find it torn apart. Identifying the culprit is the first step toward fixing the problem. Moles, voles, and gophers all cause different types of damage, so knowing which pest you have is critical. Here are the top five signs of moles in your yard.
Look for Volcano-Shaped Mole Hills
The most obvious sign of a mole problem is mole hills. These look like small, rounded mounds of loose soil pushed up from below. They are often compared to a tiny volcano. These mounds are created when moles dig deep tunnels and push the excess soil to the surface. This is different from gopher mounds, which are more crescent-shaped and have a plugged hole on one side.
Raised Surface Tunnels Across the Grass
Another very common sign is raised surface tunnels. Moles create these ridges just below the surface of the lawn as they search for earthworms near the top of the soil. These surface tunnels look like long, raised lines running randomly across the yard. They are the most visible sign of mole activity and can appear overnight.
Soft Spots and Spongy Soil
If you walk across your lawn and the ground feels soft or spongy underfoot, you might have moles. Deep tunnels can make the soil collapse when walked on, creating dips and holes in the yard. This is a sign of more extensive mole activity below the surface that you cannot see.
Dying Grass and Damaged Plant Roots
Moles do not eat grass roots. However, their tunneling separates the roots from the soil. This cuts off the grass's access to water and nutrients. The result is brown, dying patches that can spread quickly across the lawn. This root damage can also affect your garden plants.
When to Call for Mole Control in Overland Park
If you see any of these signs, the best course of action is to call a professional. DIY methods rarely work, and the longer a mole is left unchecked, the more damage it will do. Contact Frontier Trapper for expert mole control in Overland Park today.