After a second brood emerged in two years, some people wonder if cicadas lead to more moles, but a local wildlife expert said that it is not necessarily true.
UT Extension Wildlife and Forestry Specialist Chris Graves said moles do like to eat cicada nymphs. However, Graves said there is not much research on if mole populations increase during cicada season. Graves said he does not believe it is true, as the cicada nymphs are available year-round, and moles also eat other types of invertebrates.
“They absolutely love earthworms, but they eat mole crickets, and beetle larvae in which we call grubs, and of course, they will eat cicada nymphs,” Graves said. “But I wouldn’t say that there would be an explosion in the population like you would expect.”
Graves said people can find mole tunnels or mole hills in their yard, as moles spend most of their time underground. Graves said many may not know, but moles are a keystone species to our ecosystem.
“They aerate the soil, their tunneling really creates a healthy soil environment,” Graves said. “So through that aeration, also nutrient cycling, so we end up with a healthier plant community, and if we have a healthier plant community, then generally you have a healthier wildlife population as a result.”
Graves also said moles can help control some of the problematic species that can cause damage to your lawn. Though moles provide great benefits to our ecosystem, Graves said, unfortunately, moles have a bad reputation.
“Well, I think we want a perfect yard or lawn,” Grave said. “So you know that’s just the American way. It’s unfortunate from a conservation standpoint. We really mow too much, and I don’t want to get into left field on that, but I will say most people don’t like moles because of the so-called damage that they can cause to our lawns and golf courses. Even some garden plants and in landscaping.”
Graves said another myth that people tend to believe about moles is that they are blind. Graves said that, though you cannot see their eyes, they still have them. Graves also said moles are very athletic creatures.
