I’ve spent countless hours dealing with various critters that find their way into homes and yards, and let me tell you, the humble mole is one of the most misunderstood creatures out there. Sure, their faces might look a bit unsettling when they accidentally pop up from their underground burrows, but that’s just nature’s way of giving them the tools they need to thrive in their subterranean world.
Now, I know what you’re thinking — “Will these little guys take a bite out of me or my loved ones?” Well, the truth is, moles are incredibly solitary creatures, and their lives are spent almost entirely underground, far away from any potential encounters with humans or pets. They’re just going about their business, aerating the soil, making molehills, and munching on insects and grubs.
However, if you were to somehow find yourself in a situation where a mole feels threatened or cornered, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that they might try to defend themselves with a little nibble. But hey, that’s just the way nature works sometimes.
Read on for some situations in which this can be possible, and what to do if they happen to you. Also, if you have moles and want them gone, check out our guide on mole traps and mole poisons to help you remove them!
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Do Moles Have Teeth?
While a mole does have a few small teeth, they’re really only used to capture prey in the soils where moles live.
With these animals being such loners, it’s highly unlikely that they’d use their teeth to attack anyone or anything other than the grubs they eat, since they’re insectivores. (see also: What Do Moles Eat?).
Overall, moles are fairly harmless.
Will a Mole Bite My Pet?
It’s highly unlikely that a mole will ever come into contact with your dog or cat. The first thing to understand about a mole is just how antisocial the animal is— moles usually live in their tunnels alone, generally only come to the surface by accident, and only interact with other moles briefly during mating season.
Read Also: What are the best traps to catch moles?
However, it isn’t impossible that a mole could bite your pet. If a curious cat or dog had an interaction with a mole, your pet would probably kill the mole before it would bite back. The teeth of a mole are designed to process insects in the soil, not wound an animal in defense.
What Does a Mole Bite Look Like?
If a mole does deliver a bite, it will be a few small holes in the skin, almost like a stapler would make. Because the mole’s teeth are very sharp incisors, it can pierce the skin and cause a slight bit of bleeding.
Sometimes, however, a mole might bite and not break the skin.
This happens more often than not if a mole has decided to use its teeth for defense; the objective isn’t to hurt a human or animal. The mole simply wants to get away from anything causing provocation, and uses its teeth to do so.
Do Moles Carry Diseases?
While it’s common to assume that these dirt-dwelling creatures might carry around a slew of their own bacteria which can be transferred to humans, this is not the case.
Moles have extremely soft, almost velvety skin that allows them to dig tunnels ergonomically, and because this fur is so fine, they’re very clean animals.
Sometimes, though, moles can have fleas or even — ticks, which can spread to humans and cause health risks. This is especially true with ticks carrying Lyme Disease. However, it’s worth noting that there are no known transferable diseases between moles and humans at this time.
Will Moles Bite Humans?
When an animal feels threatened, it will resort to violence to preserve its own safety.
This is true of moles, however, their bodies are so small that this is by no means an act of violence. If a mole bites a human, the mole was probably provoked to some degree.
How to Prevent Mole Bites
First things first: if a mole is anywhere near you, it’s already not happy about it.
Moles are some of the most antisocial animals, and so by simply being close enough to a human to bite, this animal might feel attacked. The best way to stop a mole attack from happening: leave the mole alone.
Do Moles Carry Rabies?
Rabies is a virus spread by mammals to other mammals when saliva or nervous system/brain tissues are exchanged.
Most commonly, this contact comes in the form of a bite. If a rabid animal bites a human, that human is then at risk of contracting rabies.
Moles, while classified as mammals, are considered low-risk for carrying rabies. It’s not impossible for this to happen, but it is highly unlikely. If you happen to see a mole acting erratically and wildly, this should be a cause for concern. However, it must be stressed again that the risk of a mole carrying the rabies virus is slim to none.
Read Also: What are good poisons to kill moles?
What To Do If Bitten By A Mole
According to the Center for Disease Control, you should seek medical attention if you feel traumatized by the bite, and the doctor will assess the situation from there.
While it’s highly unlikely that a mole will bite a human in the first place, and if it does happen, it’s unlikelier still that diseases or rabies are an issue, the concept of danger isn’t totally out of the question.
The most likely side effect of a bite from a mole is that the punctures to the skin will get infected. To prevent this, take a few simple steps:
- Rinse the wound thoroughly, and be sure to remove any debris, hair, fur, or dirt.
- Wash with anti-bacterial soap and rinse with warm water.
- Squeeze the skin to promote bleeding; this acts as your body’s natural cleansing of any harmful germs or bacteria inside the wound.
- Be sure to wrap the wound tightly to allow for clean healing.
Will Moles Eat My Garden?
Moles can damage gardens by digging through your yard in search of food. They might rip up your plant’s roots in the process, leading to ugly piles of dirt, withered plants, and harmful insect larvae.
If you want to get rid of moles, check out this article where I break down the do’s and don’ts of mole removal.
Weakened Root Systems
Moles are primarily responsible for chewing through roots in an underground environment, as well as wiping out species of grass from below.
These burrowing creatures probably won’t venture out to the surface to gnaw on your plants or your crops, but they’ll eat through any roots that get in their way to make tunnel systems in the dirt. This can create weak spots in the ground and may even cause sinkage above ground in your yard.
Insect Control
The things that moles eat are probably insects you don’t really want hanging around: worms, centipedes, millipedes, and larvae. Since they eat almost their entire body weight and can tunnel up to 18 feet per hour each day, moles rid your yard of a substantial amount of bugs.
The teeth that moles have are sharply designed to crunch on the exoskeletons of these ground insects, but not much else. They hardly ever come into contact with other species, so they’re mostly just chomping on bugs throughout their life cycle.
Final Thoughts on Moles and Their Biting!
Look, I’ve dealt with all kinds of critters in my line of work, and let me tell you, moles are some of the least threatening ones out there. Sure, they’ve got a decent set of teeth, but they’re really just designed for munching on all those grubs and insects underground that you don’t want anywhere near your yard.
Now, I’m not saying it’s impossible for a mole to take a little nip at you or your furry friend if you really get in their personal space. These guys are loners by nature, and if they feel cornered or threatened, they might just try to defend themselves with a quick bite. But honestly, these situations are so rare that you really don’t need to lose any sleep over it.
My advice? Just respect the little guys and let them do their thing. They’re providing a valuable pest control service by keeping those bug populations in check underground. So unless you’re intentionally trying to handle one (which I really don’t recommend), the chances of a mole bite are slim to none.
But if you do happen to find yourself on the receiving end of a mole’s teeth, don’t panic. Just clean that sucker up properly, and you’ll be good as new in no time. And if you’re really concerned, you can always give me a call, and I’ll walk you through the next steps.
At the end of the day, moles are just trying to survive like the rest of us. As long as you leave them be, they’ll leave you be. So, let’s cut these little guys some slack and appreciate the fact that they’re taking care of some of the less-desirable critters lurking in your yard.
If you’re looking for professional pest control help, use the tool below to get estimates from local professionals:
Do Moles Bite: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding moles and their biting habits.
What happens if a mole bites you?
In the very rare case a mole does bite people, you’ll likely just have some small puncture wounds and minor bleeding. Properly clean the bite, apply antibiotic ointment, and watch for any signs of infection, though this is highly unlikely from a mole bite.
Are yard moles dangerous?
No, yard moles are not dangerous creatures. They avoid confrontation with humans and pets, and their tiny size and weak jaws make them harmless aside from damaging lawn and plant roots while burrowing.
Can I pick up a mole?
I wouldn’t recommend trying to pick up a mole. They are solitary animals that don’t appreciate being handled. A mole may try to bite in self-defense if you attempt to grab or restrain it. It’s best to leave them alone.
What attracts and repels moles?
Moles are attracted to areas with plenty of their insect prey, like grubs and earthworms. Well-drained, loose soil is also ideal for their tunneling. Repellents often contain castor oil or other scents that deter moles.
What are the signs of a mole infestation?
The primary signs of moles in your yard are the presence of raised tunnel ridges across the lawn and piles of loose dirt where moles have pushed up soil. You may also notice damaged or drying patches of grass and plant roots getting exposed due to their burrowing activities.
