Moles have velvety blue-black to gray mohair-like fur, a slender snout, needle like teeth, with flattened feet, claws and inconspicuous ears. They can grow from 6'-12" long depending on species.

Moles may be distinguished from meadow voles, gophers, and shrews by their naked, pointed nose that extends well in front of the mouth. Moles have small eyes and ears that are concealed by fur. Their spade like fore feet are wider than they are long. Discharged mounded soil and heaved runways are indicators of the mole's presence.

Moles are not rodents, but belong to a group of mammals called insectivores. A mole's diet is restricted to ground invertebrates such as grubs, millipedes, ants and the like. However, the mole's primary food source is earthworm, so trying to control white grub and lawn insects is no protection from mole activity. Moles have a very high metabolic rate and, therefore, have to consume large amounts of food. White grubs, earthworms, beetles, and assorted larvae are their principal foods. Moles feed primarily on insects that feed below the ground. Moles do not eat the roots and bulbs of flowers and vegetables, a commonly held belief. Voles and shrews will attack the roots and bulbs. In fact, moles may benefit these plants by feeding on grubs and worms that can damage them.  However, the tunneling activities of moles may disfigure lawns and gardens.

 Moles breed in late winter or spring and have a gestation period of about four to six weeks.  Single annual litters of two to five young are born in March, April or May.  Young moles are born hairless and helpless, but growth and development occur rapidly.  About four weeks after birth, the moles leave the nest and fend for themselves.

Moles are active day and night throughout the year, but they are most visibly active during the spring and fall on damp days or following rain-showers when they push up more tunnel's and mounds. When the ground surface becomes frozen in the winter, or very dry during the summer, moles use only the deeper burrows.

Moles produce two types of runways (tunnels ): sub-surface runways and deep runways. Moles build vast under ground tunnels in search of worms, insects and nesting/living space. Mole tunnels are often shared usually average 6" below surface. Mounds form a row of excavations unlike the random excavations of a gopher.
Certain mole tunnels of both the deeper runways and the sub surface runways are used as major lane of travel (main runways) and may be used by several moles in the areas. Sub-surface mole runways are feeding tunnels just below the soil surface and commonly seen as the raised ridges running through lawn areas. The mole is capable of extending these runways at the rate of 100 feet per day. Sub-surface mole runs may be used daily, may be revisited at irregular intervals, or may be used only once for feeding and then abandoned. Moles connect with the deep runways, which are located between 3-12 inches below the surface. As a rule, few or no mole mounds are produced as a result of the production of sub-surface tunnels. The deep mole tunnels are usually main runways, since they are used daily as the mole travels to and from the main sub-surface runways or the nest. The soil excavated from the deep tunnels is deposited on the surface through short vertical tunnels in volcano-like mounds (Mole mounds should not be confused with pocket gopher mounds which are horse-shoe shaped.) The number of mole mounds or surface ridges present is no indication of how may moles may be present. On the average, one acre of land will support about two or three moles at one time. But areas next to large tracts or forested areas may be subject to continual invasions by moles because such areas may support many moles.

Moles are usually solitary, although females and young may share the same burrow. The tunnels that the mole makes while searching for food may be used only once or may be traveled repeatedly. Moles may be active during any time of the day and seem to prefer cool, moist soil (the same as that preferred by grubs and earthworms).

RECOMMENDED MEASURES OF MOLE CONTROL

There are several methods of mole control on the market: baiting, gassing, repellents and trapping. With all the methods and particularly with mole trapping, patience and persistence are the key words.

Trapping is usually easiest during the spring and fall with mole activity is at a peak. Trapping in the spring can also eliminate the pregnant females, reducing population.
It is completely essential to locate the main mole runways for successful trapping or baiting. To identify main runways look for runways which: Follow more or less a straight course for some distance. Appear to connect two mounds or two runway systems. Follow fence rows, concrete paths or other man-made borders or follow a woody perimeter of a field or yard. Mole nests are commonly found along protected areas like fence rows or hedgerows.

Mole Traps

To use a mole trap, such as the Victor Out Of Sight Mole Traps first flatten the tunnels by stepping on them or by using a lawn roller.
This will allow you to tell which mole tunnels are being used, because new ones will appear the next day.
Put the Victor mole traps on these new tunnels. Set the trap and leave it, taking care not to trample or disturb any other portion of the runway system. Check the mole trap once or twice a day. If a mole trap fails to produce a mole within 4-5 days, move the traps to another portion of the runway system or use another runway. Traps are fine if you don't mind moving them around once in a while. 

Baits for moles

In most cases poisoned baits are not generally well accepted, but the Talpirid Mole Bait Talparid's size, shape and feel let moles consume the bait in the same manner as its primary food source, the earthworm. Talpirid mimics the mole's natural food source and has the same size, shape and feel as earthworms. The Grass Pad has this item and this is my first choice.

Gassers to control moles

Although the poisonous gases such as Giant Destroyer are generally less effective unless you can gas the major mole nests and/or repeated applications are made, some people have gotten good results with this type of product.

It is suggested that spraying or treating the mole's food source (insects and grubs) would eliminate the mole population, which had been true before products such as Ficam Granules and Oftanal had been on the market.
There are currrently no insecticidal granular including Talstar and Delta guard that would penetrate deeply enough to be effective.

Repellants

There is a repellent on the market that offers short term results: such as WHOLE CONTROL. This could be expensive if you had a large area to treat.