What Does Ground Moles Eat?

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Last Updated on March 25, 2022 by Fabiola L.

When researching how to get rid of moles you should first identify what does ground moles eat to know what attracts them to your yard and how to stop them.

Moles may be small but they wreak havoc as they dig through the root system. If you see small mounds of soil in your yard that look like little volcanoes, these might be molehills.

These little volcanoes are entry and exit ways created by moles that lead to their tunnels.  Some of these tunnels are about 3 to 30 inches deep on lawns and gardens causing major inconveniences If you are trying to grow crops.

Moles are in the family of Talpidae animals that reside in burrows underground.  They rarely emerge from their cozy abode down in the dirt but they feast predominantly on creepy crawlies.

Moles are attracted to your garden because of food.  If you would eliminate the source of foods they will not lose interest to live there rather they will move to another garden.

What Do Moles Eat?

Moles are generally insectivores with various exceptions.  They commonly feed on invertebrates that include insects that they come across while digging around in the soil.

Moles eat up insects of many varieties including those that inhabit the water with beetles being one of the most common insects in their diets.  They also eat the larvae of insects such as the caddisflies.

Besides insects, moles consume many invertebrates in general.  The star-nosed moles for example enjoy dining on invertebrates in the water.  They are also adept at swimming and regularly eat slugs.  Arthropods make appearances in the mole diet specifically the centipedes and spiders.

What Do Moles Eat

Some moles even eat vertebrates like rodents ad reptiles.  Even though it eats mainly animals, some mole species eat plants too but in tiny portions.

Insects are mole’s number one staples but they are not their first priority.  Large earthworms are actually, what moles generally like to eat most times. Earthworms are so valuable to moles that they stash them away for later meals.  If they happen to have earthworms surplus they safeguard them for future meals.

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How To Get Rid Of Moles

Now that we know what ground moles eat, let’s look at how to eradicate them successfully.

  • Use Castor Oil.  Moles don’t like the taste of castor oil plus this oil contaminates the ground for insects.  Create a spray using 3 parts castor oil. 1 part dish soap and 3 parts water.  Spray this solution wherever you see mole tunnels and molehills.
  • Plant Deterring Flowers. Marigold and daffodils are some of the plants, which serve as natural mole deterrents. Any plant from the allium family also drives away moles. Pick up bulbs, plants, or seeds of these plants and plant them across your garden.
  • Use Household Items.  Cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, or red pepper are some of the household items you should sprinkle in the mole’s tunnels. Prevent moles from coming back by sprinkling these substances in your lawns or gardens.

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Ground Mole Facts

  • Moles can dig tunnels as fast as 15 feet per hour.
  • Male moles are called boars and female are called sows
  • Although moles may resemble mice and rats they are not rodents.  They are insectivores and more closely related to bats.
  • Its saliva contains toxins that paralyze worms and allows them to gather and store food for consumption at a later date.
  • Their unique adaptation of their hemoglobin allows them to survive underground with low levels of oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide.
  • Before eating an earthworm, it squeezes the worm between the forepaws to release the unwanted dirt from its gut.
  • In cold or dry weather, following their food source, moles will often dig deeper into the ground.
  • It is common for moles to get the blame for eating the roots and seeds but moles are insectivores almost ever eating plants or plant matter. Some other plant-eating animals like voles will use the hunting tunnels left behind by moles. Because of their tunneling, moles can dislodge plant roots and kill them.
  • Moles are some of the only animals that can smell in stereo – this means they can detect odors immediately.  They can also determine the direction from which they are traveling to. Smelling in stereo is a great advantage for moles, it allows them to quickly and accurately locate food and predators.

Mole Animal Conclusion

With all the knowledge about ground moles, you can still get rid of moles yourself or call a professional to help.  Do not allow them to destroy your lawn or garden.

If you have tried most of the methods, we have explained above and they are not working, the best thing to do is to call a professional to help you solve this problem. They will inspect your property, and provide you with an assessment and solution to the mole issue.

FAQs

What do moles like to eat?

Moles are a type of mammal that has a unique and very specific diet. This means that they are able to eat almost anything, but not everything. Moles are carnivores, meaning that they eat meat. Their diet is composed of mainly small mammals, but they are not only carnivores. They are omnivores. Omnivores eat both plants and animals.

Moles don't have teeth, so their diet is made up of roots, insects and worms. They also eat small amounts of soil and vegetation when they can find it.

Moles can also be found in areas where there are large amounts of grass.

Moles are rodents and have a variety of different types. The most common type of mole is the earthworm mole. The earthworm mole is known for having a long snout that is used to dig tunnels through the soil.

What are ground moles attracted to?

Ground moles have a taste for earthworms and other invertebrates. They dig in loose soil or leaf litter, sometimes making holes that can be as big as a foot across. They will also eat the roots of plants, especially trees. This habit makes them useful for controlling the spread of diseases, such as Dutch elm disease, and they also eat invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed.

Do moles eat bird seed?

The answer to this question is NO. Moles eat only insects, worms, and other small creatures. They do not eat bird seed.

Are ground moles good for your yard?

Ground moles are not pests and can be beneficial to the health of your yard. They eat leaf litter, and they help keep lawns, gardens, and plantings healthy. If you have a home or business that is on a lot with an area of grass, then you may want to consider adding some ground moles.

How do you control the moles in your yard or garden?

Moles are very good at tunneling and burrowing. I'd recommend using a mole-proof border that goes around the perimeter of your yard. This will prevent them from burrowing into your yard from the perimeter. They also don't like water, so if you can keep the area around your yard dry (by not watering) they won't have an easy time finding food and breeding.

Moles can be a big problem for homeowners and can be a huge expense to fix. There are many different ways to control moles in your yard and keep them from returning. Mole traps are the easiest and most effective way to get rid of moles.

 

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