mole - Ask Extension
we have some type of mole? in our lawn. we live outside redmond, eats the roots of our grass, you could just feel the bumps in grass and see disturban...
Knowledgebase
mole #909911
Asked July 15, 2025, 10:52 AM EDT
we have some type of mole? in our lawn. we live outside redmond, eats the roots of our grass, you could just feel the bumps in grass and see disturbance in dirt. it has gotten worse, now we have actual larger mounts of dirt and no holes? on the other side of house?? mike
Deschutes County Oregon
Expert Response
Could you please come back to this platform and upload a photo of a really fresh mound?
Species of both gophers and moles make mounds that don't have open holes at the surface. As an animal finishes pushing dirt out to the surface, some of the dirt will slightly cave back into the burrow. The location of that subtle sunken "plug" helps us diagnose whether it's a gopher or mole at work. It's important to determine, because they have different diets and there are different traps and strategies for each species. In a fresh mound, you can more easily tell whether the plug is at the edge of the dirt mound (gopher) or right in the middle (mole). Have a look, and feel free to come back here and we can talk strategies.
Species of both gophers and moles make mounds that don't have open holes at the surface. As an animal finishes pushing dirt out to the surface, some of the dirt will slightly cave back into the burrow. The location of that subtle sunken "plug" helps us diagnose whether it's a gopher or mole at work. It's important to determine, because they have different diets and there are different traps and strategies for each species. In a fresh mound, you can more easily tell whether the plug is at the edge of the dirt mound (gopher) or right in the middle (mole). Have a look, and feel free to come back here and we can talk strategies.
Dr. Dana Sanchez this site will not take my pictures, i just replied to your email, thank you
good morning, Dr. Dana Sanchez
The webb page will not accept my pictures, sorry. These ones with the holes just showed up? they other ones have been going for a few months. thank you mike
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 10:23:51 AM PDT, Ask Extension wrote:
I'll do my best to ID from what you've sent. The multi-hole complex photo is blurry and without a size-scale object it's hard to tell hole diameter, but looks like it could (?) be ground squirrels - There are a couple species that could occur in your area. Do you see squirrels above-ground and dashing back to those holes during the day? The other mound pictures all have been rained on/watered, so it's impossible to tell for sure where the plug is sinking, but given your location in Deschutes County, it's a solid guess to be one of two (or both) species of ground squirrels.
There's a less-likely, but non-zero chance that you'd have moles - just because geographic range of our species and that you're in Deschutes Co.
I can send you resources about trapping these animals if we can narrow down the species, but frankly, the county in which you live is arid, so having an irrigated "lawn" is forever, always - going to attract animals to this amazing oasis of invertebrates (the prey for moles, if you have some at that location) and moist, herbaceous, predictably-available grass (ground squirrels, voles, deer, gophers, etc., etc., etc.). Consider talking with your county Extension specialists and/or the Master Gardeners in your area about some native, no-extra-water ground cover alternatives that would still give you a nice understory among your trees without increasing the investments you'd need to make in constant wildlife-conflict treatments.
There's a less-likely, but non-zero chance that you'd have moles - just because geographic range of our species and that you're in Deschutes Co.
I can send you resources about trapping these animals if we can narrow down the species, but frankly, the county in which you live is arid, so having an irrigated "lawn" is forever, always - going to attract animals to this amazing oasis of invertebrates (the prey for moles, if you have some at that location) and moist, herbaceous, predictably-available grass (ground squirrels, voles, deer, gophers, etc., etc., etc.). Consider talking with your county Extension specialists and/or the Master Gardeners in your area about some native, no-extra-water ground cover alternatives that would still give you a nice understory among your trees without increasing the investments you'd need to make in constant wildlife-conflict treatments.
On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 2:28 PM, Ask Extension wrote:
Hmm, well the size of the entrance holes could fit voles, but that pattern without any burrows connecting them underground, doesn't fit voles at all. Given your description that these are basically miniature, unconnected pits suggests that there are grubs being excavated by skunks, crows, possibly chipmunks or lined ground squirrels, or possibly raccoons (but they usually make a bigger mess and there would be pawprints nearby). You mention this is happening at night, which rules out crows, but skunks would be my best nocturnal guess. Any chance you or a friend has a game/trail camera you could set out in that area?
