What damage can moles do to your house?

While moles may seem like harmless creatures that burrow through your yard in search of insects, their presence can pose a significant threat to the structural integrity of your home. These subterranean mammals may be small, but the damage they can inflict is not to be underestimated. Their tunnels loosen soil, change drainage, and can contribute to settling near slabs and footings.

At Best Pest & Wildlife Control, we offer human nuisance wildlife control along with a range of other pest control services. Read on as we explore the various ways in which moles can impact your house and why it’s essential to address the issue promptly with the help of a professional.

Tunneling Beneath Foundations

One of the most substantial risks posed by moles is their habit of tunneling underground. As they burrow beneath your yard, moles can inadvertently compromise the stability of your home’s foundation by creating tunnels that disturb the soil.

It can lead to voids and uneven support for your house and contribute to foundation settling, causing structural damage that may escalate into costly repairs. Watch for hairline slab cracks, uneven walks, or small sink spots along the footing edge where tunnels intersect drainage.

Water Damage

Moles, with an affinity for areas with high soil moisture, are drawn to regions around your home, and their tunneling activities can significantly exacerbate water-related concerns. As these creatures burrow, they create intricate channels in the soil. These tunnels can carry roof runoff toward the foundation instead of away.

It contributes to soil erosion and amplifies the risk of water seeping into basements and crawl spaces. The repercussions of such water infiltration extend beyond mere dampness, as it can foster the growth of mold and give rise to a cascade of other water-related damages. Recurring wet spots near interior walls or musty crawlspaces often trace back to surface runways that move storm water.

Landscape Destruction

Beyond the potential harm to your home’s foundation, moles can wreak havoc on your carefully manicured lawn and garden with their relentless tunnelling. They displace your soil, creating unsightly mounds and ridges across your yard and a series of disruptive disturbances that extend beyond mere aesthetics. The raised runways collapse underfoot and expose roots to air and heat.

The exposed tunnels also become pathways for weeds, further complicating your landscaping efforts and necessitating additional time and resources for effective weed control measures. Mower scalping over ridges and blade strikes on molehills can also damage equipment.

Risk of Infestations

Moles are not the only creatures attracted to the burrows they create. The open tunnels can serve as entry points for other pests, including rodents and insects, seeking refuge or nesting spaces. Voles often take over surface runs and begin gnawing roots and bark. This can lead to secondary infestations that extend beyond the initial mole problem, requiring additional pest control measures to safeguard your home.

As these secondary infestations take root, they may introduce a range of challenges, from potential damage to stored items to health concerns associated with the presence of disease-carrying pests. Ants and water-seeking insects also use subsurface galleries to reach slabs and crawlspaces.

Impact on Property Value

The structural and aesthetic damage caused by moles can significantly reduce the resale value of your property. Potential buyers may be deterred by the prospect of dealing with foundation issues or extensive landscaping repairs. Visible ridges and patchy turf are common red flags during home inspections.

Addressing mole-related damage promptly preserves the value of your home and ensures a smoother selling process should you decide to put your property on the market. A short record of active run mapping, control dates, and soil restoration helps calm buyer concerns.

Protect Your Foundation with Professional Mole Removal Services

Mole damage can escalate quickly. Get ahead of it with a team that specializes in ethical wildlife eviction, exclusion, and long-term prevention to keep your property secure. At Best Pest & Wildlife Control, we provide general pest control, humane wildlife removal, entry-point sealing, sanitization, and attic or crawlspace restoration throughout the Western U.S., all delivered by fully insured professionals at transparent pricing.

Schedule a consultation today and let local experts restore safety, cleanliness, and peace of mind.