One mole can dig up to 100 feet of tunnels per day. They’re solitary, almost never seen above ground, and entirely underground — but the damage they leave behind in Runnells lawns is hard to miss. Raised ridges crisscrossing your turf, volcano-shaped mounds of displaced soil, soft spongy ground that collapses underfoot. Moles eat grubs and earthworms, not plants — but that distinction doesn’t make the lawn damage any less real. Miller Pest Solutions uses professional targeted baiting methods to remove moles effectively and stop the destruction.

Signs of a Mole Infestation

  • Raised surface ridges or runways — the most distinctive mole sign. Shallow tunnels push the soil upward, creating a raised, winding ridge just below the grass surface. Active runways feel soft when you step on them.
  • Volcano-shaped mounds — moles push excavated soil to the surface in rounded mounds with no visible entry hole at the top (unlike gopher mounds, which are crescent-shaped). Finding multiple mounds indicates an active mole or multiple individuals.
  • Soft, spongy ground — areas above tunnel networks feel unstable underfoot. The turf may look intact but sink when walked on.
  • Dead or dying grass in tunnel paths — root systems are disrupted as moles tunnel through. Grass over active tunnels may yellow and die as roots lose contact with soil.
  • No visible mole activity above ground — moles almost never surface. If you’re not seeing runways and mounds, you probably don’t have moles. But if you are, they’re definitely there.

Why Moles Are Common in Runnells

Moles go where the food is — and Runnells’s rich Iowa soil is loaded with earthworms and grubs. Central Iowa’s combination of heavy clay-loam soils, consistent moisture, and abundant organic matter creates one of the most productive worm habitats in the country. For a mole, that’s ideal foraging territory.

Lawns with high grub populations (white grubs, Japanese beetle larvae) are particularly attractive. Irrigation and heavy rainfall keep the soil loose and easy to tunnel through, which accelerates damage. The same conditions that make Runnells a great place to have a lawn make it a great place to be a mole.

Our Mole Control Process

We use targeted baiting. Our technicians inspect the lawn, map the tunnel network, and identify active runways before placing bait where mole activity is current. That focused approach avoids treating inactive tunnels and concentrates service where it can make a difference.

For customers on an ongoing service program, we can also apply preventive lawn treatment during regular visits to help make treated areas less attractive to moles and discourage new activity. We monitor for fresh tunnels, review the results with you, and adjust the approach when activity changes.

For properties with continuing pressure from adjacent field edges, we can discuss a seasonal monitoring and management program that catches new activity early before it spreads across the lawn.

Why Choose Miller Pest Solutions

Miller Pest Solutions has been serving Runnells and central Iowa since 2001. Joel Miller has been hands-on in pest control since 2007. QualityPro Certified, NPMA member. Mole control is something a lot of pest companies handle poorly — we take it seriously, use proven methods, and don’t waste your time or money on approaches that don’t work.

Free phone bids. No assessment fee. Tell us what your lawn looks like and we’ll give you a straight answer on what we can do.

Get a Free Phone Bid Today

Moles destroying your Runnells lawn? Call Miller Pest Solutions at (515) 329-8801 or visit millerthekiller.com. We’ll put together a targeted mole removal plan and get your lawn on the path to recovery.