The short version
Moles are usually one to three animals. Find an active tunnel, then trap it. Repellents and sonic stakes rarely work.
- Usually one to three moles.
- Find an active runway first.
- Traps work best; repellents rarely do.
- Moles eat earthworms, not plants.
- Fix the lawn after trapping.
Anyone in Des Plaines watching their lawn get dug up.
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 Des Plaines 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.
Treatment options and typical costs
Runway Identification and Activity Survey
$75–$200
Not every ridge is active. Moles abandon many feeding tunnels after one pass. The survey finds the main runways connecting nests to feeding areas. Those straight, long-used tunnels are where control in Des Plaines works best.
- Time
- 45–90 minutes
- Best for
- Every job; trapping fails without it
Active-Runway Trapping
$150–$400 per visit; multi-visit plans $300–$900
Because a single mole can cover a large area, one yard in Des Plaines often holds only one or two animals. Trapping removes them one by one and confirms success. Most Des Plaines providers plan on several rechecks before calling a job finished.
- Time
- 30–60 minutes per visit, over several visits
- Best for
- Most yards; the most reliable method
Mole-Labeled Baits
$100–$300 per application
Ask any Des Plaines provider what product they use and to confirm it is labeled for moles. Label directions are legally binding, and off-label use is not acceptable. Used correctly, baits give Des Plaines yards a second tool alongside traps.
- 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
Moles follow food and soft soil, so overwatered lawns in Des Plaines attract them. Less water, better drainage, and firmer soil discourage them. It will not remove a mole already in a Des Plaines lawn, but it lowers repeat visits.
- 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.
Main runways often follow edges like beds, walks and fences. That's where traps work best.Which moles live around Des Plaines.
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. The eastern mole is the one digging up lawns around Des Plaines.
When they tunnel.
Frozen ground in winter sends them deeper. Summer heat and drought also push them down.
Raised ridges are feeding tunnels just under the turf. Many are used once and abandoned.Finding an active tunnel.
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 Des Plaines out to Arlington Heights and Skokie show the same pattern. Look for fresh ridges and mounds after rain.
A year of moles in Des Plaines.
- Spring: peak tunneling. Best time to trap. - Winter: lows near 17°F in Des Plaines. Ground freezes; moles go deep. - Fall: a second burst near the surface. - Summer: highs near 83°F in Des Plaines push moles deeper.
Mole, gopher or vole?
- Mole: raised ridges and round, volcano-like mounds. - Damage: moles don’t eat plants; gophers and voles do. - Vole: surface runways and small holes in the grass. - Gopher: crescent-shaped mounds with a plugged hole.
What works, and what doesn’t.
- Works: traps set in active runways. - Rarely alone: grub control, since they mostly eat earthworms. - Rarely: castor oil, sonic stakes, gum or flooding. - Sometimes: labeled baits, used deep in tunnels.
Protecting garden beds.
Raised beds can get a mesh floor before you fill them. Bend the bottom edge outward. Bury quarter-inch hardware cloth around beds, about two feet deep. It's work up front, but it lasts for years.
Lawn care that helps.
Healthy turf recovers from tunnels faster. Constantly wet lawns draw earthworms, and moles follow. Water deeply but less often. Grub control alone rarely moves moles on.
Signs the problem is over.
- No new mounds for two weeks. - New ridges? Another mole may have moved in. - Traps stay untouched for several checks. - Stepped-down runways stay flat.
Choosing a trap.
- Scissor traps: set straddling an active runway. - Rules: check what your state allows first. - Placement: main runways beat fresh feeding ridges. - Tunnel traps: sit inside a dug-out runway. - Harpoon traps: set on top of a pressed-down ridge.
Mole myths.
- Chewing gum in tunnels: no evidence it works. - Flooding tunnels: they just dig new ones. - Many mounds, many moles: usually it’s one or two. - Moles eat bulbs: no, voles using their tunnels do. - Castor oil: may move them briefly, not away.
Moles aren’t all bad.
A mole in a field may be fine to leave. They eat grubs and other insect larvae. Moles loosen and aerate soil. In a front lawn or garden, most people want them gone.
Fixing the lawn afterward.
Water to settle the soil. Rake mounds flat and step ridges down. Wait until the mole is caught. Overseed bare spots in spring or fall.
Moles, kids and pets.
Baits must go deep in tunnels, exactly as the label says. Keep kids and pets away from traps. Moles don't bite unless handled. Digging dogs can wreck a lawn faster than moles.
What a mole visit looks like.
Traps go into the main runways. They test which runways are active. The tech walks the lawn and maps the tunnels. They check traps every day or two.
Moles, voles or gophers?
- Moles: raised ridges and round, volcano-shaped mounds. - Chipmunks: small clean holes with no soil around them. - Gophers: crescent-shaped mounds with a plugged hole. - Voles: narrow surface runways through the grass.
Watering and moles.
Water deeply and less often instead of a little every day. Moles follow moist soil, where worms rise near the surface. Fix leaky sprinklers that leave soggy corners.
Flower beds and borders.
Plants wilt when their roots are left hanging in air pockets. Moles tunnel under beds looking for worms, not to eat plants. Press tunnels down firmly and water to settle the soil.
Questions to ask before you sign.
- Is it a mole, gopher or vole? - Is lawn repair included? - What if another mole moves in? - How often will you check traps? - Which method will you use?
Moles by the numbers.
Across Des Plaines, tunnels often run just under the surface, with deeper nesting chambers below, and a single mole can maintain an extensive system across a yard. Across Des Plaines, because moles are solitary, several fresh ridges usually mean more than one animal. Across Des Plaines, 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. Across Des Plaines, moles do not eat plants; they tunnel for earthworms, grubs, and soil insects, and the ridges they leave behind are what most people notice.
What affects the price
- Mole-labeled bait applications added to trapping.
- Soil type: rocky or clay ground slows trap sets.
- Single visit versus a multi-visit trapping plan.
- Number of moles present on the property.
- Provider type: wildlife operator versus lawn company.
- Seasonal monitoring plans versus one-time service.
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What bothers you most about moles?
When to call for help
if you can't find an active runway. A pro can usually catch the mole within a few visits. 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.
Moles in Des Plaines
In Des Plaines's neighborhoods, irrigated lawns and garden beds are favorite spots. Winter lows near 17°F in Des Plaines freeze the ground, so moles go deeper until spring. Des Plaines gets about 37 inches of rain a year, so moles favor watered lawns and shady beds.
Local research
Moles in Des Plaines, IL: what the public record shows
Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which moles actually live in Illinois, when they are busiest around Des Plaines, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.
Mole species recorded in Illinois
- Eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) — Range across most of the eastern U.S. to Wyoming and Colorado; the only mole in Missouri.
When moles are busiest around Des Plaines
Moles winter deep, then burrow near the surface in spring once soil is warm enough for earthworms.
Rules that apply in Illinois
Sources: University of Illinois Extension; 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?
Mole mounds have no hole; gopher mounds do
One mole can hold a territory over an acre
Questions people ask
What kind of traps do professionals use?
Usually scissor or harpoon traps set in active runways. They're the most reliable method.
Why do repellents and sonic stakes not work on moles?
Moles get used to them or tunnel around them. Studies show little lasting effect.
How long does professional mole control take?
Usually one to three weeks of regular trap checks.
Why are moles in my yard but not my neighbor's?
Moist, loose soil full of earthworms draws them. Watered lawns and shady beds are favorites.
When is the best time to trap moles?
Spring and fall, when they're tunneling near the surface. Right after rain is ideal.
Do mole exterminators charge per mole?
Across Des Plaines, ask which structure the provider uses, since the two can produce very different totals. Across Des Plaines, per-animal pricing means the bill scales with how many are caught, while a flat-rate program covers the whole job regardless. Some do.
What is the most popular way to get rid of moles?
Across Des Plaines, trapping is the method extension offices and professionals recommend most often, because it targets the mole itself rather than the insects it feeds on. Across Des Plaines, set traps in the active runs, check them daily, and keep at it until fresh ridges stop appearing.
When are moles most active in Des Plaines?
Spring and fall, especially after rain. Frozen winter ground sends them deep.
Are moles common in Des Plaines?
Yes.
Nearby cities
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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