Mole Control

The excelent soil in the Sheffield area keeps our mole control team busy as much of the soil in the area is suitable for tunneling, which attracts moles. The mole is a member of the Insectivore Order and is abundant throughout mainland Britain.

The mole can be found wherever there are suitable soils for tunnelling, but it tends to avoid shallow or stony soil, waterlogged or very acidic soil. It is most abundant in permanent grassland and deciduous woodland but can be found in playing fields, parks, golf courses and private gardens.

Mole Identification

The mole's cylindrical body is 12-16cm long from nose to tip of tail and weighs 70-110gms. There is very little external difference between the sexes. The mole is covered with black velvety hair which can set in any direction. It is well adapted for burrowing with large spade-like forefeet turned permanently outwards for digging. The eyes are very small and hidden among the fur, but well capable of detecting light. There are no external ear flaps. The senses of touch and hearing are well developed but smell and sight are less important.

Mole Breeding

The breeding season lasts from February to June. The gestation period is 4 weeks after which the young are born blind and without fur. The mother feeds them for 4-5 weeks and after this period the young leave the nest and start to catch food for themselves.

Shortly after this they will leave the nest site and search for a new home of their own. During this dispersal period, as they tend to move above ground, they are more vulnerable and fall victim to predatory birds' etc.

Signs of Presence

The most obvious sign of the presence of moles is the appearance of mole hills on the surface of the ground. These consist of heaps of loose soil, usually sufficient in volume to fill a 5-litre bucket. The main way to check whether moles are still present in an area is to level the hills, e.g. by harrowing, and check after 2 to 3 days for formation of new hills. This indicates the area where control action should be concentrated.

There are 2 types of tunnel: deep tunnels 5-20cm below the soil surface, the soil from which is pushed out onto the surface as mole hills; and surface runs where the soil is pushed up to form a ridge on the surface of the ground. Nests for breeding and sleeping are made of dry grass and leaves either in part of a deep tunnel or in the centre of a large mound of soil known as a fortress.

By opening up deep tunnels it is possible to see whether they are in active use. Smooth sides and claw marks indicate that moles are present, whereas rootlets growing into the tunnel and signs of partial collapse indicate that the tunnels are disused.

Sheffield Pest Solutions offer a free site survey and have extensive experience at treating mole problems. 

The use of approved poisons

Only approved poisons may be used when treating mole infestation. A DEFRA permit and the appropriate training is required by persons treating moles by this method.   Sheffield Pest Solutions  officers are fully trained and licensed to use poisons and to trap moles.  Please contact us for further help or advice.  We fully guarantee all of our work and our rates for all pest control work are very competitive.