Moles
Small burrowing mammals that push up mounds of soil and raise ridges in lawns and beds while hunting earthworms and grubs.
Also known as: Garden moles
Symptoms and identification
Conical heaps of fine soil appear on lawns and beds, and raised ridges of tunnels cross the ground. Plant roots may be left hanging in air gaps, and seedlings and young plants wilt as their roots dry out.
Causes
Moles feed mostly on earthworms and soil insects, not on plants, and they dig long feeding tunnels through moist, loose soil. Gardens with plenty of worms and grubs attract them.
Organic treatment
Flatten the mounds and firm the ridges, and use humane traps set in active tunnels where they are legal. Check local rules, as moles are protected in some areas. Repellents give only temporary results.
Prevention
Reducing grubs may make a lawn less attractive, but moles are hard to deter. Fine wire mesh buried under new lawns or beds keeps them out of small areas.
Chemical treatment (use with care)
No poison is recommended for moles. They are valuable for aerating soil and eating grubs, so tolerate them where you can.