Control moles in the lawnWhile moles can be beneficial to the soil because they  cultivate and aerate the dirt while tunneling for food, homeowners object to  the unsightly molehills and tunnels that can destroy a beautiful lawn. According  to the National Mole Hunters Association, moles can dig 100 feet of tunnels in  a single day. They dig because they are looking for food – mainly earthworms,  grubs and other insects. Be aware that when moles are present, voles and shrews  are likely to be around.


Voles are herbivores that travel through mole tunnels and  survive by eating grasses, bulbs, tubers, and herbaceous plants. While moles  damage your plants when looking for insects, voles are actually eating your  vegetables and flowers! Voles burrow into the root systems of shrubs and trees  and they will gnaw on tree trunks causing substantial damage.


Shrews create  dime sized holes in the lawn gaining access to existing mole tunnels. Shrews  are insectivores and can be found under logs and other damp, shaded areas  where insects live. Many people will leave shrews alone since they eat insects  and grubs and are not as destructive as moles and voles.

How To Get Rid of Them

There are several approaches to ridding your yard of moles,  voles and shrews. You may have to try more than one method depending on how  many types of creatures are living in your mole tunnels. The most successful  way to eradicate moles is to trap them using a mole  trap that is carefully positioned into the mole’s active tunnel. Voles and  shrews can be trapped and killed with mouse traps. Another option is to use poison.  While many people don't like this option, it can successfully rid your yard of  destructive lawn vermin.

If you don't want to kill the animals, you can try different  methods that are meant to deter and   discourage them from returning. Southern States offers mole  repelling products for this purpose. Since moles primarily eat earthworms  and other subterranean insects like grubs, removing the food source can often  eliminate the problem. Apply grub  control as part of your lawn maintenance program. Also, keep your grass cut  regularly and remove old logs, brush, leaves and rocks to eliminate the insects  that moles and shrews feed on. Removing overgrown vegetation and debris can  help control voles. Getting an outdoor cat is a great idea too!