This weekend I was barbecuing in my backyard when I noticed an unusual sound. I looked around expecting a rabbit to run out from the nearby bushes, but I saw nothing. The noise persisted, so I decided to carefully scan the yard.

All of the sudden, my eye caught some movement. The tall weeds bordering our house were moving so I stood quietly and waited to see what would happen next.

Just then a small creature poked its head through the old daylily patch and looked directly at me. After a long stare down, the animal went back to digging its hole and looking for food.

The small creature that I observed was a mole. There are two common mole species in upstate New York. They are the star-nosed mole and the hairy-tailed mole. In my case, I encountered the hairy-tailed mole. Both species have short, thick, dark, velvety fur. However, the hairy-tailed mole can grow up to 5 1/2 inches long and has a short hairy tail, hence the name. The star-nosed mole can grow to be 5 inches in length and has a very distinguishing nose which is surrounded by 22 tentacle-like projections.

Moles play an important role in the management of soil. They spend most of their lives in underground tunnels where they unknowingly increase soil aeration by shifting soil particles around also known as “tunneling.”

Tunneling also moves subsurface soil closer to the surface, which provides plants with nutrient rich soil. Moles are also beneficial because they feed on grubs, insect larvae, earthworms and other invertebrates that are usually unwanted by home owners and gardeners.

In fact, moles rarely consume plants or plant parts. Voles, white footed mice and house mice are the usual culprits of this type of destruction.

However, moles may damage lawns, gardens and golf greens when they uproot plants while tunneling through the soil. For example, the star-nosed mole digs deep tunnels and can leave mole hills or volcano-shaped hills of soil as large as 6 by 12 inches wide on a lawn. The hairy-tailed mole constructs shallow tunnels that create ridges along the soils surface. These ridges may make it hard to mow but are otherwise harmless.

Moles are not the only animals that dig in a yard, and it is important to identify the animal that is causing damage. As I mentioned before; voles, white-footed mice and house mice damage is often blamed on moles.

Shrews, chipmunks and even skunks contribute to dirt piles as well. But if you are sure that a mole is present in your yard, do not be alarmed.

Moles are solitary animals so there is probably only one present. Removing its food source (grubs and insect larvae) from your lawn will discourage the mole from staying.

For more information on moles, voles and other animals contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County at 255-1183.

Renee Jensen is a Community Educator of Environmental Issues at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County.