Like most people, I like the fact that the dirt underneath my feet a solid. That’s one of the reasons why I live in a state where earthquakes are rare. But sometimes when I walk in my backyard, my feet strangely sink into the grass. It’s going to realize that my world is not so solid. Animals are underneath my yard, digging. In this case the animal I’m talking about is the mole. And yet, I can find some spots in my yard year-round. Where do moles go in the winter time? Unlike most other animals, moles are active year round. In the colder months they will dig deeper to warmer areas where more insects can be fed upon.
Many people believe that moles are rodents, but this is not true. Moles are actually insectivores. They feed upon earth worms, grubs and other insects that are found in the dirt. When the ground gets colder, these insects will dive deeper underground to find warmer areas. The moles will follow in search of both heat and food.
DIGGING TUNNELS
For the most part, moles will spend their entire lives underground. They will create a nest underground, create tunnels to travel along, and dig in search of insects. They will start by creating a nest deep underground. This nest is about the size of a quart jar. Then they will create a system of tunnels deep underground to get the different places that they need to be. This nest and deep tunnel system will need the dirt removed from it. Because of this moles will push dirt above ground creating mole hills. An experienced Oklahoma Exterminator can help you rid your yard of these pests.
The insects that they feed upon are often found at the surface. Because of this they will create tunnels that are just under the surface of the ground. These are often what homeowners see when they find that they have a mole. These tunnels are unsightly, but really don’t do damage to the turf or plant life. Still these unsightly tunnels can be cause for removal. Because moles are active year-round, the surface tunnels can also be found year-round.
BIOLOGY OF MOLES
Moles are solitary. The only time that they gather together is during mating season. In March or April, female moles will bring forth their young. Litters are usually 3 to 5 young ones. The young walls will reach adulthood after one month, leaving the nest. The following year they will be sexually active adults. Often the boroughs can be interconnected, but the moles still stay to themselves.
In order to maintain enough energy to do the digging that they do, moles must eat 70% to 100% of their body weight every day. Digging is an extraordinary amount of work, and is done year-round. When moles dig they use a swimming motion to move through the dirt. The swimming motion uses their large paddle like front paws to move dirt behind them. At TopSpeed a mole can tunnel 1 foot per minute.
BENEFITS OF MOLES
As much as we hate to see the tunnels on the top of the ground, moles are beneficial to the ecosystem. First of all they are a natural predator to a lot of insects that damage turf and plants in your yard. Grubs and other insect larva that would damage trees and flowers are readily eaten by the mole. Moles also also work to aerate the ground above the tunnel. This allows for better growth of turf above them.
Moles have very few predators. The only time they’re in danger of predation is really when they find themselves above ground. This is only usually by mistake. Moles have very poor sight, and poor hearing. Their sense of smell is off the charts, though. Their fur is especially soft and repellent to getting matted with dirt. These insectivores are affectively equipped to dig underground for their entire lives. Your Tulsa pest control company will have more information for you.
REPELLANTS AND POISENS
There are many mole and gopher repellants on the market today. In my experience, none of them are very effective. Some people have had some luck with castor oil and related products. The most popular of these products are Mole-Med. One major publication suggested that this product had minor effectiveness after 30 days of use. Again, in my experience, it simply doesn’t work. Most animals can get used to any abhorrent smell in order to find food for survival.
There are also many poisons on the market as well. The most glaring issue with these poisons are that they come in the form of seeds. Moles are insectivores, so so they have no interest in them. Some of them are in the shape of gummy worms, which is better. Still, these animals are very good at smelling, and if these baits don’t have an authentic smell, they won’t fool a mole. You also will need to find the right tunnel for these moisten. Finding that tunnel takes a lot of experience, so it may be a good time to contact a Tulsa Exterminator for the job.
ELIMINATING MOLES FOR GOOD
In most cases, eliminating moles takes time, practice and a lot of experiencbecause of this that you can’t underestimate the value of an experienced Oklahoma pest control company. Here at TermMax Pest Control, we hare highly trained and ready to take care of all you pest control needs. We service the greater Tulsa area including Owasso, Bixby, Sapulpa, Broken Arrow, Coweta, Sand Springs, Claremore, Pratville, Catoosa, Jenks and much more. Call us today for a free estimate. We are here to help!