Moles in 2026: What UK Pest Controllers Need to Know
For many professional pest controllers, moles sit in a slightly different category to rodents and insects. Categorised as small insect-eating mammals (insectivores) they form part of the Talpidae family. They are best known for causing significant damage to various outdoor spaces such as, Gardens, Farm land,sports turf, equestrian land, golf courses, airstrips, parks and managed estates, In these areas mole activity can become a high-impact problem quickly. In 2026, the demand for mole jobs is unlikely to slow down, especially where milder winters and wet ground conditions keep soil workable and food sources active.
The UK Mole Picture: Numbers, Behaviour and Why They Show Up Where They Do
Known for their subterranean lifestyle, Moles are territorial, and their tunnel systems can cover several thousand square metres, with tunnels running from near the surface down to around a metre. They use these tunnels as a feeding network that effectively traps soil invertebrates, especially earthworms and larvae, which the resident mole patrols and collects. This is why a site can look quiet one week and then erupt with fresh hills the next. Digging tends to spike when the mole is expanding, repairing or pushing through new runs, not necessarily when it is simply feeding.
Seasonality matters. UK sources consistently note that molehill activity commonly peaks in spring and autumn, with a specific spring push linked to breeding behaviour and territory movement.Breeding occurs from late February through to June, with litters typically born in April or May. For pest controllers, this helps explain why new lines appear rapidly during late winter and spring, and why control can feel like it is chasing a moving target if timing and targeting are off.
UK Impact: The Cost Is Not Just Aesthetic
Moles are often dismissed as a cosmetic problem, but on working land the costs are practical and cumulative. British farm damage linked to moles includes soil contamination of silage, coverage of pasture, weed invasion, and damage to plants, machinery and drainage systems. On amenity and sports sites, risk shifts toward safety and surface quality, where mole activity can contribute to injury risk for people and animals in certain settings.
The financial side is also real. A peer-reviewed study of moles and mole control on British farms estimated total annual costs to farming in Britain ranged from £2.5 million in the late 1980s up to £5 million in 1994, equating to roughly up to £7.8 million in 2015.
There is also evidence showing how quickly molehills can disturb the ground surface. A UK grassland study recorded over 1,000 molehills forming in a measured area and calculated a disturbance rate equivalent to 3.2 percent of the soil surface over two years, with peak production in spring and autumn.
Timing in 2026: When Control Works Hardest for You
Guidance from UK wildlife sources highlights that control efforts often peak in spring, but that population reduction can be better targeted outside peak breeding movement, and notes October to April as a strong window because moles are actively digging and it is before the breeding season fully takes hold.
In practice, this means two things for 2026. First, preventative or early intervention programmes on high-risk pasture and turf sites will often deliver cleaner results than reactive call-outs after the hills have multiplied. Second, when spring arrives and breeding-related movement increases, you may need tighter follow-up intervals and clearer client expectations about re-invasion and ongoing pressure, especially on sites with ideal soil and food conditions.
Professional Trapping Approach: Make Placement and Checking Non-Negotiable
Trapping remains the mainstay of mole control in the UK, and it is widely referenced as a common method following the removal of strychnine for mole control. For professional pest controllers, the difference between average and excellent results usually comes down to consistency in three areas.
You need correct identification of active runs, not just fresh hills. You need accurate trap placement that sits naturally within the tunnel line. You need a disciplined checking routine that meets welfare expectations and client standards. Even when the job is sold as “molehill removal”, your service is really “territory interruption and control”, and that only happens when traps are working in the right places, for the right length of time, and are being checked properly.
Lodi UK Mole Traps: Matching the Trap to the Job
Lodi UK’s mole trapping range gives you options to suit different ground types, tunnel conditions and user preferences.
The Claw Trap is a strong, traditional choice for active runs where you can confidently locate the line and create a clean, stable trap bed. It is well suited to pasture and turf environments where speed and proven mechanics matter, and where you need a trap that performs reliably when set correctly.
The Tunnel Trap is often favoured when you want a more contained set within the tunnel line, particularly where tunnel definition is strong and you want the trap to sit neatly in the run with minimal disturbance above ground. This can be useful on managed turf where surface disruption needs to be kept tight and professional.
The Scissor Trap gives another robust option, particularly for technicians who prefer its setting style and want a confident, positive action when positioned accurately within the active run. On repeat-service sites, having multiple trap styles available can help you adapt quickly to soil type changes across a single estate.
In all cases, your results will be driven by locating the active line, stabilising the set so it fires correctly, and returning to check and reset with discipline. Your kit matters, but your process matters more.
