What are the benefits of moles?

November 13, 2025 •

3 min read

According to ecologists, moles are often misunderstood, with their tunneling providing significant benefits to an ecosystem that far outweigh the cosmetic disruption. While many gardeners see them as pests, the positive impact on soil health and natural pest management answers the question, "what are the benefits of moles?".

Quick Summary

Investigate the lesser-known advantages moles provide for your garden and soil, including aeration, improved drainage, and natural grub control. Learn to reframe your perspective on these industrious subterranean helpers and their ecological role.

Key Points

Soil Aeration: Moles create extensive tunnels that loosen compacted soil, allowing for better air, water, and nutrient penetration.
Improved Drainage: Their tunnel networks enhance soil drainage, which helps prevent waterlogged areas in heavy clay soils.
Natural Pest Control: Moles are voracious predators of harmful insects, effectively controlling populations of grubs and larvae that damage plant roots.
Nutrient Cycling: By mixing soil layers and incorporating organic matter, moles help enrich the ground and distribute beneficial microbes.
Recyclable Soil: The fine, crumbly soil from molehills can be reused in your garden for potting mixes, lawn repair, or leveling.
Ecosystem Indicator: Mole activity is often a sign of a healthy soil ecosystem with a plentiful supply of earthworms and other organisms.

Moles: Misunderstood Ecosystem Engineers

Moles are often seen as nuisances due to the disruption they cause to lawns and gardens with their tunneling activity. However, these insectivores play a vital role in the ecosystem, contributing to soil health and natural pest control. Their tunneling is primarily for hunting, not for eating plants. Understanding their ecological function can lead to a more harmonious coexistence. This section explores the various advantages moles offer.

Natural Soil Aeration and Drainage

Moles are natural soil aerators. Their extensive tunnel systems break up compacted soil, allowing better penetration of air, water, and nutrients to plant roots. This process, called bioturbation, improves soil structure, especially in heavy clay soils prone to waterlogging, enhancing drainage.

How Tunnels Improve Soil Structure

Prevents Compaction: Their activity keeps soil loose.
Increases Water Flow: Tunnels act as channels for water distribution.
Improves Nutrient Uptake: Better structure allows roots easier access to resources.
Supports Microbial Life: Enhanced oxygen circulation benefits soil microbes.

Integrated Pest Management

Moles are beneficial predators for gardeners. They consume large quantities of insects daily, including grubs, beetle larvae, and wireworms that damage plant roots. Their hunting provides natural, chemical-free pest control.

The Mole's Role in a Healthy Food Web

Grub Control: They target root-damaging grubs.
Insect Predator: Tunnels help them hunt subterranean insects.
Food for Other Wildlife: Moles are prey for various predators, contributing to biodiversity.

The Unsung Benefit of Molehills

While often disliked, the soil from molehills is a valuable resource. This fine, nutrient-rich earth, brought to the surface from deeper layers, can be reused in the garden.

Ways to Utilize Molehill Soil

Potting Mix: It's a good component for homemade potting soil.
Lawn Repair: Use it to fill bare spots.
Raised Beds: Add it to improve soil composition.
Leveling: It's useful for leveling uneven areas.

Comparing the Effects of Moles and Voles

It's important to distinguish between moles and voles, as voles are often responsible for plant damage mistakenly attributed to moles.


Feature	Moles	Voles
Diet	Carnivorous (insects, grubs).	Herbivorous (roots, bulbs, stems).
Appearance	Large front paws, small eyes.	Mouse-like appearance, smaller feet.
Tunneling	Circular mounds, deep tunnels.	Small, open tunnels near surface, root damage.
Primary Impact	Aerates soil, controls pests.	Damages plants by eating roots.

Sustainable Coexistence with Moles

Instead of harmful methods, managing mole activity through coexistence is more sustainable. Understanding their benefits helps shift perspective. Reducing grub populations can encourage moles to seek food elsewhere. Natural repellents like castor oil can also encourage relocation without harm. Embracing their role supports a healthier garden ecosystem.

Conclusion: Appreciating the Underground Allies

Despite the annoyance of molehills, the ecological benefits provided by moles are significant. They improve soil health through aeration and drainage and act as natural pest controllers. Recognizing their vital role allows gardeners to adopt more harmonious management practices. A molehill can be seen as a sign of a thriving underground ecosystem. For further information on coexisting with wildlife, the National Wildlife Federation is a valuable resource.

Additional Resources

For more information on wildlife conservation and ecological gardening, you can visit the National Wildlife Federation's website at https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Moles.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, moles are carnivores and do not eat plant roots. They feed on insects, grubs, and earthworms. Root and plant damage is usually caused by voles, which often use old mole tunnels.

Yes, the soil from molehills is typically rich in nutrients and has a fine, crumbly texture. It can be collected and used for potting mix, leveling your lawn, or enriching garden beds.

You can use natural repellents like castor oil solutions, strong-smelling plants, or noise-making devices to make the area less appealing to moles. Reducing the food source (grubs) can also encourage them to relocate.

Moles are insectivores with large spade-like paws, while voles are rodents that resemble mice and eat plant roots. Moles create mounds, whereas voles create smaller, open tunnels near the surface.

Yes, moles are considered natural soil engineers. Their constant burrowing and tunneling are highly effective at loosening and aerating the soil, often more so than manual or mechanical tilling.

Bioturbation is the process of an animal, like a mole, mixing and reworking soil layers through its activities. This process improves soil structure, aeration, and drainage.

Look at the damage. If you see circular soil mounds and raised ridges, you have a mole. If you see smaller, open burrows and plants with damaged or missing roots, you likely have a vole.