The short version
Most mole jobs in Memphis cost $150–$400 per visit. Trapping in active tunnels works best. Repellents rarely help.
- Trapping in active runways works best.
- Repellents and sonic stakes rarely help.
- Ask what happens if a new mole moves in.
- Repair the lawn after trapping.
Homeowners in Memphis with tunnels, ridges or mounds in the lawn.
What to look for
Moles don't eat plants. They hunt earthworms and grubs. Their tunnels lift turf, dry out roots and trip people up. Moles around Memphis are busiest in spring and fall. They tunnel near the surface after rain. One mole can dig a lot of tunnel.
- 1Raised ridges across the lawn.
- 2Round, volcano-shaped dirt mounds.
- 3Spongy patches underfoot.
- 4Tunnels along walkways and beds.
- 5Fresh mounds after rain.
- 6Dead turf strips over tunnels.
Why it’s worth acting soon
- Tunnels spread across the lawn.
- Mounds make mowing harder.
- Ridges become trip hazards.
- New moles move into empty tunnels.
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Estimate mole control cost in Memphis
Adjust for your situation to see a ballpark range.
Estimated range
A rough guide only. Big lawns and repeat moles cost more.
Treatment options and typical costs
Runway Identification and Activity Survey
$75–$200
Good mole work is mostly finding the right tunnel. The provider maps the runway network in Memphis, flags the active sections, and picks two or three trap points. That map also becomes the baseline for follow-up visits in Memphis.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; trapping fails without it
Follow-Up Monitoring
$50–$150 per visit; often included in plans
Monitoring visits in Memphis are short but important. The provider rechecks flattened tunnels, looks for new mounds, and resets traps on any Memphis runway that reopened. Many Memphis plans include one or two of these visits by default.
- Time
- 20–30 minutes per visit
- Best for
- Every trapping job; confirms the yard is clear
Mole-Labeled Baits
$100–$300 per application
In larger Memphis properties where trapping every runway is impractical, mole-labeled baits can reach tunnels traps cannot cover. They go into active tunnels and the openings are closed. Pets and children should be kept off treated Memphis runways per the label.
- Time
- 30–45 minutes
- Best for
- Large or hard-to-trap areas; used exactly as labeled
Lawn, Moisture, and Bed Exclusion Work
$150–$450 depending on scope
Yards next to woods, fields or creeks keep getting new moles. Exclusion barriers protect the beds that matter most in Memphis while the open lawn is managed by trapping. This mix gives Memphis homeowners a realistic long-term plan.
- Time
- 1–4 hours
- Best for
- Repeat problems; protecting beds and small areas
Prices are typical published ranges. Ask what’s included before you compare quotes.
Round, volcano-shaped mounds come from deeper mole tunnels. Gopher mounds are crescent-shaped with a plugged hole.What mole control costs in Memphis.
- A typical home in Memphis is worth around $170k, and a healthy lawn is part of that. - Runway Identification and Activity Survey: $75–$200 - Follow-Up Monitoring: $50–$150 per visit; often included in plans - Mole-Labeled Baits: $100–$300 per application - Lawn, Moisture, and Bed Exclusion Work: $150–$450 depending on scope
Which moles live around Memphis.
The eastern mole is the one digging up lawns around Memphis. It's gray, about six inches long, with big spade-like front feet. Moles are insectivores, not rodents. They eat earthworms and grubs, not roots.
Moles have big, spade-like front feet built for digging. They eat earthworms and grubs, not plants.When they tunnel.
Mild winters keep them near the surface. Summer heat and drought also push them down.
Finding an active tunnel.
Look for fresh ridges and mounds after rain. Step down a short stretch of tunnel and mark it. Check it in a day or two. If it's raised again, it's active. Main runways often follow edges: walks, fences and beds. Lawns from Memphis out to Bartlett and Germantown show the same pattern.
A year of moles in Memphis.
- Spring: peak tunneling. Best time to trap. - Summer: highs near 91°F in Memphis push moles deeper. - Fall: a second burst near the surface. - Winter: mild in Memphis. Moles stay active.
Mole, gopher or vole?
- Mole: raised ridges and round, volcano-like mounds. - Gopher: crescent-shaped mounds with a plugged hole. - Vole: surface runways and small holes in the grass. - Damage: moles don’t eat plants; gophers and voles do.
What works, and what doesn’t.
- Works: traps set in active runways. - Sometimes: labeled baits, used deep in tunnels. - Rarely: castor oil, sonic stakes, gum or flooding. - Rarely alone: grub control, since they mostly eat earthworms.
Protecting garden beds.
Bury quarter-inch hardware cloth around beds, about two feet deep. Bend the bottom edge outward. Raised beds can get a mesh floor before you fill them. It's work up front, but it lasts for years.
Lawn care that helps.
Water deeply but less often. Constantly wet lawns draw earthworms, and moles follow. Healthy turf recovers from tunnels faster. Grub control alone rarely moves moles on.
Signs the problem is over.
- No new mounds for two weeks. - Stepped-down runways stay flat. - Traps stay untouched for several checks. - New ridges? Another mole may have moved in.
Choosing a trap.
- Scissor traps: set straddling an active runway. - Harpoon traps: set on top of a pressed-down ridge. - Tunnel traps: sit inside a dug-out runway. - Placement: main runways beat fresh feeding ridges. - Rules: check what your state allows first.
Mole myths.
- Chewing gum in tunnels: no evidence it works. - Castor oil: may move them briefly, not away. - Moles eat bulbs: no, voles using their tunnels do. - Many mounds, many moles: usually it’s one or two. - Flooding tunnels: they just dig new ones.
Moles aren’t all bad.
Moles loosen and aerate soil. They eat grubs and other insect larvae. A mole in a field may be fine to leave. In a front lawn or garden, most people want them gone.
Fixing the lawn afterward.
Wait until the mole is caught. Rake mounds flat and step ridges down. Water to settle the soil. Overseed bare spots in spring or fall.
Moles, kids and pets.
Moles don't bite unless handled. Keep kids and pets away from traps. Baits must go deep in tunnels, exactly as the label says. Digging dogs can wreck a lawn faster than moles.
What a mole visit looks like.
The tech walks the lawn and maps the tunnels. They test which runways are active. Traps go into the main runways. They check traps every day or two.
Moles, voles or gophers?
- Moles: raised ridges and round, volcano-shaped mounds. - Voles: narrow surface runways through the grass. - Gophers: crescent-shaped mounds with a plugged hole. - Chipmunks: small clean holes with no soil around them.
Watering and moles.
Moles follow moist soil, where worms rise near the surface. Water deeply and less often instead of a little every day. Fix leaky sprinklers that leave soggy corners.
Flower beds and borders.
Moles tunnel under beds looking for worms, not to eat plants. Plants wilt when their roots are left hanging in air pockets. Press tunnels down firmly and water to settle the soil.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Is it a mole, gopher or vole? - Which method will you use? - How often will you check traps? - What if another mole moves in? - Is lawn repair included?
Ways to keep the cost down.
- Call early, before tunnels spread. - Skip repellents that rarely work. - Ask about per-mole pricing. - Repair the lawn yourself afterward.
Moles by the numbers.
In Memphis, moles do not eat plants; they tunnel for earthworms, grubs, and soil insects, and the ridges they leave behind are what most people notice. In Memphis, tunnels often run just under the surface, with deeper nesting chambers below, and a single mole can maintain an extensive system across a yard. In Memphis, because moles are solitary, several fresh ridges usually mean more than one animal. In Memphis, before you hire, walk the yard and flatten a few ridges with your foot, then check back the next day — the ones that are raised again are the active runs a plan should target.
What affects the price
- Access around fences, slopes, and dense plantings.
- Provider type: wildlife operator versus lawn company.
- Number of follow-up rechecks included.
- Seasonal monitoring plans versus one-time service.
- Travel distance to rural properties.
- Mole-labeled bait applications added to trapping.
- Per-mole pricing versus per-visit pricing.
- State rules that affect trap or bait choices.
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What bothers you most about moles?
When to call for help
A pro can usually catch the mole within a few visits. if you can't find an active runway. Call if new mounds keep appearing for more than a week.
What you can do yourself
Set the trap exactly as the instructions say. Skip sonic stakes, gum and flooding. Trapping yourself can work. Find an active runway first.
Moles in Memphis
With about 54 inches of rain a year, Memphis keeps soil soft and full of earthworms, which moles love. Winters around Memphis are mild enough that moles can stay active near the surface. In Memphis, parks, ballfields and watered yards see the most tunneling.
Local research
Moles in Memphis, TN: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which moles actually live in Tennessee, when they are busiest around Memphis, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Mole species
Eastern mole statewide; star-nosed mole only in the eastern part of the state; hairy-tailed mole in the mountains of eastern and middle Tennessee.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources AgencyMole species recorded in Tennessee
- 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.
- Hairy-tailed mole (Parascalops breweri) — Northeastern uplands.
When moles are busiest around Memphis
Mating in late winter or early spring; single litter per year born in spring.
Because the star-nosed and hairy-tailed moles are In Need of Management in Tennessee, identify the animal before any lethal control.
Rules that apply in Tennessee
Sources: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency; Moles; Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech). Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources
Simple ways to keep moles away
- Edge beds with buried hardware cloth.
- Check for fresh mounds after rain.
- Act early in spring.
- Fix tunnels only after trapping.
- Skip sonic stakes and castor oil.
Ask what the quote covers if another mole moves in after the first one is caught.Did you know?
Star-nosed moles can smell underwater using air bubbles
Moles are related to shrews, not mice
Questions people ask
Is per-mole or per-visit pricing better?
Per-mole pricing rewards results. Per-visit can cost less for a single mole.
Why do multi-visit plans cost more?
Trapping takes daily or near-daily checks until the mole is caught.
What should a mole control quote include?
In Memphis, the method, number of visits, what happens if more moles show up, and any lawn repair.
How much does mole control cost?
Most jobs around Memphis cost about $150–$400 per visit. Multi-visit plans run more.
Can I just flood the tunnels or fill them in?
It rarely works. Moles dig new tunnels or move a few feet away.
When is the best time to trap moles?
Spring and fall, when they're tunneling near the surface. Right after rain is ideal.
Why do repellents and sonic stakes not work on moles?
Moles get used to them or tunnel around them. Studies show little lasting effect.
Does chewing gum get rid of moles?
No. In Memphis, there is no evidence that chewing gum kills or repels moles, and this folk remedy keeps showing up despite having no basis in how moles actually eat. Moles feed on earthworms and grubs, not gum. In Memphis, time spent on folk remedies is better spent setting traps in the active runs.
Will a dog get rid of moles in the yard?
In Memphis, usually not, and there is no evidence that dogs are a reliable control. In Memphis, a dog may dig up a few tunnels and chase one mole off, but it will not clear a tunnel system, and the digging can do more lawn damage than the mole. Trapping in active runs remains the reliable method.
When are moles most active in Memphis?
Spring and fall, especially after rain. Mild winters keep some activity going year-round.
Are moles common in Memphis?
Yes.
Nearby cities
Related guides
Sources (5)
The facts in this article come from the public sources listed above. Every home is different, so ask the company you talk to about pricing and what’s included. Published by Mole Exterminator · Updated September 11, 2026 · How we write these guides