Local mole information

Mole control in Wisconsin

Learn what to look for around your property, explore your city, and ask about an inspection or a quote.

Moles in Wisconsin: what to know

Around Wisconsin

Conditions vary across the state. Choose your city below, then describe what’s happening around your home or business.

What to note

Where you see moles, how long it has been going on, and anything you’ve already tried are the most useful details to mention.

A useful next step

Ask about an inspection, what treatment would involve, and whether follow-up visits are included. You don’t need to identify the problem yourself before getting in touch.

Local research

Moles in Wisconsin: what the public record shows

Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which moles actually live in Wisconsin, when they are busiest, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.

Two species: the common (eastern or prairie) mole and the star-nosed mole

Mole species

The common mole is found mainly in the western and southern part of Wisconsin; the star-nosed mole primarily in the northern half.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension

The common mole is the major problem species; the star-nosed mole rarely becomes a nuisance

Which one causes damage

The star-nosed mole prefers moist soils near water and is an excellent swimmer.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension

Moles nest and live in tunnels 6 to 18 inches beneath the surface

Nest depth

Surface tunnels seen in lawns are feeding tunnels.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension

Mole species recorded in Wisconsin

Eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) — Range across most of the eastern U.S. to Wyoming and Colorado; the only mole in Missouri.
Star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) — Northeast and Great Lakes; wet soils; up to 7 young.

When moles are busiest in Wisconsin

Not a problem in winter, when moles dig below the frost line; moles move up and down the soil column as moisture changes.

UW-Madison Extension recommends body-gripping and harpoon mole traps, which it rates about equally effective, set so the trigger rests on a dirt blockage in an active runway.

Rules that apply in Wisconsin

UW-Madison Division of Extension G3997-003

For context, nationally

7 — Mole species in North America. Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management
Up to 150 feet — New tunnel per day. Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech)

Sources: University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension; Moles; Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech). Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources

Explore Wisconsin cities

Appleton

Humid Continental · urban setting

Mole control in Wisconsin

Moles in Wisconsin: what to know

Around Wisconsin

What to note

A useful next step

Moles in Wisconsin: what the public record shows

Mole species recorded in Wisconsin

When moles are busiest in Wisconsin

Rules that apply in Wisconsin

For context, nationally

Explore Wisconsin cities

Appleton

Brookfield

Eau Claire

Fond du Lac

Green Bay

Janesville

Kenosha

La Crosse

Madison

Manitowoc

Milwaukee

Oshkosh

Racine

Sheboygan

Waukesha

Wauwatosa

West Allis

Beloit

Ask about mole control in Wisconsin