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Soil mounds I’ve never seen before #924852

Asked February 20, 2026, 8:59 PM EST

Why are Six-inch soil mounds popping up on public & private lawn spaces, often in clusters of three?

Oakland County Michigan

Expert Response

Thank you for reaching out. Would you be able to attach a few photos? Photos really help our experts respond with a solid recommendation.
Ask Extension Question Wrangler Pronouns: she/her/hers Find your local Extension office here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/county Find an expert in a specific topic here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/experts/experts-by-topic-area Find home gardening information here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/ Order a soil test kit here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/soil-testing-returns-through-msu-extension Mold questions? We don’t have an expert in mold, but we do have a few resources below or contact the  Michigan health department. Molds in the Home Indoor Air Quality May be Hazardous to Your Health   Mushroom questions? We can’t identify, but we do have these three resources to help you: Identifying  Morel  Poisonous MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Michigan State University occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg, Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. The University resides on the land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw. Replied February 20, 2026, 9:45 PM EST
I have seen them only while driving by. But, yes, I will stop and take some.

On Fri, Feb 20, 2026 at 9:45 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied February 21, 2026, 9:40 PM EST
Thank you for your question.  A photo would be nice, but this time of year the soil mounds you describe are most likely the result of star-nosed mole activity.  They are the ones that leave 'volcanos' of soil on the turf.  Finding several close together usually means they are vent holes made during the recent warm spell.
There are two types of moles active in Michigan: eastern moles and star-nosed moles. The eastern mole is the mole that creates tunnels just below the lawn surface all over the place. The star-nosed mole is the mole that forms the big piles or volcanoes of soil on the surface from soil in deeper tunnels. Moles do not hibernate; they just use deeper tunnels during the winter. This time of year, as the soil begins to warm up they are mating, giving birth and seeking food for their young. They eat mostly earthworms and some grubs, rarely plant roots or bulbs (mice & squirrels). More info in the attached links:  Who's Digging in my Yard-MSU - eastern & star nosed moles
Moles in the Lawn-MSU
https://blogs.cornell.edu/nysipm/2020/10/14/dealing-with-mole-problems-in-turfgrass/
I've Got Moles (video) MSU
Moles In Lawn-Purdue
Dick M. Replied February 23, 2026, 4:16 PM EST
Aha! Thanks.

On Mon, Feb 23, 2026 at 4:16 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied February 23, 2026, 7:30 PM EST

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