Moles are a sign of beauty, right? That’s why they are called beauty marks. But unfortunately, not all moles are created equal. We are talking here about the kind of moles that invade your landscape. These moles cause everything BUT beauty to happen to your property. In fact, if left unchecked, moles can cause your lawn and gardens to look downright ugly.

What does mole damage look like?

These tiny creatures may only weigh 4 ounces but they can do a significant amount of damage. These little animals with their velvety fur, tiny eyes, and hairless snouts have long, sharp claws that will dig tunnels and chambers in grasslands, urban areas, gardens, sand dunes, woodlands, and any other place where there is enough dirt to dig through. When they do this, you will start to notice:

• Lawn and landscape damage: Moles will leave round, symmetrical mounds that resemble little volcanoes, as well as golf ball sized holes in your lawn. And a mole’s surface tunneling will cause raised lines that look like zigzags, veins, lightning or other patterns. You may also notice these raised areas running along concrete walkways or other man-made borders.

• Tree and ornamental damage: When moles chew on trees, the trees may become an eyesore, and may be in danger of dying, if the chewing is extensive enough. Moles can also disrupt bulbs, hostas, and the roots of trees, bushes and more.

• Increase in parasites on your property: This one is a little harder to see, but moles carry parasites such as fleas, mites and ticks. If you have pets running around your property, you run the risk of having your animals pick up these parasites and bring them inside with them. You may also be at a greater risk for picking up a tick which can be a vector for many diseases. It is worth mentioning that moles are also capable of carrying the rabies virus.

What to do if you have a mole problem:

While there are a few things you can do to try to get rid of moles on your own, these strategies often end in frustration. However, Schendel Pest Services has gotten mole removal down to a science. Here at Schendel, we offer a mole, gopher and vole program that is designed and guaranteed, to eliminate pests in a designated area for up to one year.

Starting with a thorough inspection, one of our trained pest professionals will evaluate your property and build a customized plan to eliminate any current mole, gopher or vole that has taken up residence. And, with our PestZero Guarantee, if there is any activity from these animals during the 365 days on the protected area, simply make a call and Schendel will return to take care of the problem at no additional charge.

It’s okay to keep the moles that make you more beautiful, but you don’t have to keep the ones that only cause ugly things to happen to your property. Reach out to us today for prompt assistance.