The mole pushes this soil to the surface, especially when digging deep runs. These deep runs lead to a nest or provide tunnels for use in the winter or during the hot times of the summer. In building these mounds, the mole pushes the soil up through the center, much as a volcano is formed. Moles push dirt through vertical tunnels onto the surface of the ground. Mole mounds are good places to use fumigants, since they are believed to mark deep runs or nest areas.
People often confuse pocket gopher mounds with mole mounds.
Pocket gophers are rodents and have different feeding habits than moles. Traps designed to catch moles usually will not catch pocket gophers, or vice versa. Therefore, it is important to correctly identify which animal you have in the damage situation. In some areas, both animals exist in the same place. The pocket gopher does not construct raised ridges or surface tunnels.