Why Would a Mole Be Inside a Home?

Why Would a Mole Be Inside a Home?

Mice, chipmunks, voles and moles all rank as pests capable of entering homes, where they may sometimes do damage and spread disease. Moles are famous for tearing up lawns, yet finding one indoors is rare. Moles are not rodents; they are small mammals. Even though coming inside is unusual for them, they can slip in through openings both small and large.

How Might a Mole Get Inside?

Moles are odd-looking little mammals with weak eyesight and highly developed, sensitive snouts. They rely on a strong sense of touch and on long claws for digging tunnels. The star-nosed mole carries 22 tentacle-like protrusions on its snout, which makes it six times more touch-sensitive than human hands. Moles typically measure no more than 10 inches long, and their dense fur—often standing straight up—can be black, gray, orange, white or cream-colored, or marked with patches of color.

Moles are not blind, but they are colorblind and have poor vision. Most inhabit grasslands, wetlands, woodlands, meadows and riverbanks, though some live in desert regions. They are generally highly efficient tunnelers, capable of burrowing 160 feet in a single night at roughly 15 feet per hour. Although it does not happen often, they can enter through foundation cracks near soil lines, damaged basement windows and other openings. Landscapers dislike moles, and landscaping work can sometimes push the animals toward buildings.

I Think There's a Mole in My House

Moles are generally harmless creatures, but they can damage lawns. Their tunnels can encourage more weeds, make grass grow too fast and erode root systems. These small pests also leave molehills—small piles of dirt scattered across the ground that stand out more than anthills.

A mole coming inside a house is highly unusual, so if you suspect one is indoors, the animal may actually be a rodent or another small creature. Moles have nearly nonexistent eyes and ears, prominent snouts, small hind feet and large clawed forefeet. Should you spot one in your home, there is no need to panic. Simply open the door, and it will most likely leave on its own. If you believe moles are in your walls, keep in mind that they cannot climb. Sounds of that kind more likely point to mice or rats.

Deterring Moles

Do moles enter houses? They come inside only on infrequent occasions, and there are ways to repel them both indoors and out. They dislike red pepper, coffee grounds, cayenne pepper and cat litter, so you can sprinkle these on the ground where you notice mole activity. Moles also hate the smell and taste of castor oil, so you can combine three parts of this with three parts of water and one part dish soap. Pour this into a spray bottle and spritz it near molehills and tunnels.

These pests also stay away from certain flowers, like daffodils and marigolds. Granular repellents that contain castor oil and cinnamon are also effective at repelling moles. There are also nonlethal sprays on the market, and the active ingredient in these is castor oil. You can also find humane mole traps that don't kill these animals and are safe to use around children. Many homeowners succeed with ultrasonic spikes, and these don't use toxic ingredients or traps.