If you live in Sequim, Port Angeles, or anywhere else in Clallam County and have lawn moles, you already know one thing: it rains… a lot. The Olympic Rain Shadow gives Sequim bragging rights as the “sunniest place in Western Washington,” but even here we still get 16–25 inches of rain most years, and the rest of Clallam County easily doubles or triples that amount.
So it’s no surprise that every time the skies open up, homeowners start noticing fresh molehills popping up like mushrooms after a storm. The big question we hear at Sequim Mole Patrol almost daily is: “Do moles actually like all this rain, or is it just bad timing?” The short answer? Lawn Moles LOVE the rain — and here’s exactly why that’s terrible news for your lawn.
Why Rainy Weather Is Mole Party Season in Clallam County
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Softer Soil = Easier Tunneling
Dry, compacted soil is tough for moles to dig through. When our famous Pacific Northwest rains soak the ground, the soil becomes soft and crumbly. A single mole can tunnel up to 18 feet per hour in perfect conditions — and rainy days create those perfect conditions across Sequim, Port Angeles, Carlsborg, and Clallam County.
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Earthworms Come Closer to the Surface
Lawn Moles eat primarily earthworms (up to 100% of their diet). Heavy rain floods worm burrows and forces them upward, putting them right in the mole’s dinner plate. More food near the surface means more shallow feeding tunnels — exactly the ones that create those ugly ridges and volcano-shaped molehills in your yard.
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Fewer Frozen Ground Days
Mild, wet winters in Clallam County rarely freeze solid. That means moles stay active year-round instead of going dormant like they do in colder states. When the rain keeps coming, they keep digging.
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New Moles Moving In
Spring and fall are peak dispersal times for young moles looking for new territory. Guess what makes cross-country mole travel easiest? You got it — rain-softened soil. A lawn mole can travel hundreds of feet in a single night when the ground is wet.
The Sequim & Port Angeles Lawn Mole Surge You’re Probably Seeing Right Now
If you’ve noticed a sudden explosion of yard and lawn mole activity in Sequim, WA after the latest storm system moved through the Olympic Peninsula, you’re not imagining things. From Blyn to Joyce, Agnew to Diamond Point, Sequim to Port Angeles, our phones at Sequim Mole Patrol start ringing off the hook the day after heavy rain. The combination of the Olympic Mountains dumping moisture and our sandy loam soils creates a mole paradise that few places in Washington can match.
Can You Stop Rain-Loving Lawn Moles in Clallam County? (Yes — Here’s What Actually Works)
Unfortunately, we can’t stop the rain (believe us, we’ve asked Mother Nature politely). But you can make your yard far less attractive to moles even during the wettest months:
- Professional trapping the lawn mole(still the only guaranteed permanent solution)
- Castor oil-based repellents applied before the rainy season starts
- Installing underground barriers around prized gardens
- Reducing irrigation to keep soil slightly firmer
Why DIY Usually Fails in Clallam County’s Wet Climate
Gummy worms, chewing gum, flood-the-tunnel methods, and poison peanuts might work in drier states, but they almost always disappoint here on the PNW. Our frequent rain washes repellents away, refills flooded tunnels in hours, and keeps earthworm populations sky-high — giving lawn moles zero reason to leave.
Call the Local Experts Who Know Clallam County Lawn Moles
At Sequim Mole Patrol, we’ve been humanely removing moles from Sequim, Port Angeles, Port Townsend, and all of Clallam & Jefferson Counties for years. We understand how our unique rainy-but-not-too-rainy climate affects mole behavior better than anyone.
If you’re tired of watching your beautiful lawn turn into a mole obstacle course every time the forecast calls for showers, give us a call at (360) 775-0214 or visit sequimmolepatrol.com for a free quote.
Rain might be great for the lavender fields and Douglas firs, but it’s a lawn mole’s best friend — don’t let them ruin your yard this winter!
Sequim Mole Patrol – Keeping Clallam County lawns mole-free, one tunnel at a time.