The chambers from which these runs radiate are about the size of a quart jar. Most of a mole's runway system is made up of shallow tunnels ranging over its hunting ground. These tunnels may not be used again or they may be re-traversed at irregular intervals. Eventually, they become filled by the settling soil, especially after heavy rains. In some cases, moles push soil they have excavated from their deep runways into the shallow tunnels.
Moles usually ridge up the surface of the soil, so their tunnels can be readily followed.
Moles make their home burrows in high, dry spots, but they prefer to hunt in soil that is shaded, cool, moist, and populated by worms and grubs. This preference accounts for the mole's attraction to lawns and parks. In neglected orchards and natural woodlands, moles work undisturbed. Moles commonly make denning areas under portions of large trees, buildings, or sidewalks. The maze of passages that thread the soil provides protective cover and traffic for several species of small mammals.