Alright, I’ll go ahead and get a little secret off my chest at the start of this. I adore moles. I think they’re some of the cutest little critters you could ever find snuffling around in your yard. However, I know there’s plenty of people out there that don’t quite share my enthusiasm. That’s why today, we’ll be discussing Tampa Mole control and some signs and symptoms that you may have then in your lawn or garden.
Tampa Mole Control: Overview
Despite their adorable hands, faces, and fuzzy little bodies, the tunnels they create are often considered a garden nuisance. These little guys tunnel underground searching for insects and pests that live under your soil, so if it’s only one or two of them, honestly you don’t have so much of an infestation as you have a helper that’ll eat the pests that tear up your lawns. Moles feed on crickets, grubs, ants, and slugs. That grub part, in particular, is useful, for white grubs are not only on the menu for moles, but they’re one of the worst lawn-destroying pests out there.
However, an overactive mole or more than a few on your property can be a small issue. The damage from a mole is usually simply aesthetic, but enough tunneling could disturb plant roots and cause them to dry out. And while their tunneling does kill real garden pests, loosens, and aerates your soil, they do sometimes create 2-4 inch holes in the ground that can be considered unsightly. If it’s only one or two and every so often, you can easily tamp down those holes until they’re flat again.
Another telltale sign of mole damage is, simply, seeing one! Moles are small mammals with dark brown fur. Their bodies are round and potato-shaped. If you look closely you can see their eyes, but at a distance, they look eyeless. They have wide flippers for feet and pointed muzzles. You won’t find many more obvious signs than a mole that you may need some Tampa mole control.
Florida Mole Species
And as a little bit of an aside, let’s go over a few of the species of mole that can be found in Florida. It won’t take long, as there are only two of these guys that may cause you to need for Tampa mole control.
Star-Nosed Mole
We’ll start with the rarer of the two species. The Star-nosed mole is probably not the one you’ll find in your lawn. This mole likes to live in wet lowlands and spends its days eating mollusks, aquatic insects, and worms. Unlike what you may assume, this species is actually a strong swimmer. Star-nosed moles will actually forage along the bottoms of streams and ponds. They range through swamps in Georgia and Florida.
The biggest tell that this is the species you’re dealing with is the nose. As its name implies, the star-nosed mole has a very unusual snout, ringed with 11 pairs of pink appendages that form a fleshy star. There is actually not much of a consensus about what exactly this fancy nose is for.
Some have proposed that it is a super-sensitive olfactory organ that helps the nearly blind moles to sniff their way around underground. Others have suggested that serves as an extra “hand” for grasping prey or other objects. Still, others have argued that it serves as an antenna that detects electric fields as the moles swim through muddy marsh water.
The favorite food of this little rodent is earthworms! When they’re out in the muck searching for this treat, their tentacles are constantly in motion. However, once they catch a snack they clump together and lift out of the way. However, as I mentioned above, you’ll not likely find one of these fish-eating divers in your yard, so appreciate them if you do catch a glimpse of that wild nose! Because you won’t need Tampa mole control for this one in all likelihood.
Eastern Mole
Up next we’ll have the kind of mole that you’re more likely to find in your garden. Even so, these are small and rarely seen mammals. Most active at dawn and dusk, they spend the vast majority of their time underground. These moles have short, grayish-brown fur with large, webbed front feet. They look similar to the star-nosed mole mentioned above, but they have a more normal-looking snout. They do have very small eyes, but they’re covered by skin and fur. These eyes are basically useless to the mole and likely cannot see much more than detecting the presence of light.
The habitat of these little diggers is why you’ll find them in more yards and gardens. Eastern moles live in the woods, fields, lawns, and yes, gardens that we’re accustomed to. They make burrows and tunnels to get around underground. And this is the behavior that leads to their rare conflict with human homeowners.
Tampa Mole Control: Are Moles True Pests?
Now, let’s sit down and actually think about whether these guys are pests or not. As a pest control website, you’d expect their mere presence here to signify that the answer is yes. However, they’re really not. The lawn damage caused by moles is majority aesthetic, and can simply be tamped down back into place when the mole’s made his way out of your yard for the day.
However, some people simply aren’t willing to share their space with moles. So if you do want to get rid of them, you’re likely going to have to call a humane animal control specialist. Poisoning animals should be last-ditch anyway, but something that lives purely outside is simply not a good target for poison. So make sure to contact a licensed professional, and do your research to make sure that they capture and relocate, and do not simply destroy the animals. And once they’re gone, something as simple as a wire-mesh fence around your garden will keep them out, as long as it’s inground as well. Also, consider hiring a natural pest control specialist to deal with any potential grub problems in your lawn, as that will attract more moles right back to your home.
