Are little piles of dirt beside the driveway cause for concern?

DEAR JOAN >> What animal is making neat piles of dirt along our driveway?

The first one appeared about a month ago, and then gradually other new ones have been added. We notice the new ones in the mornings. Once a little pile appears, it remains undisturbed.

We have no pets but do have some raccoons and occasional coyotes, and of course loads of deer.

None of these dirt piles are near the house, yet. Should we be concerned? — J. Nolan, Lafayette DEAR J. >> How concerned you should be depends on how you feel about a mole in your yard, because that’s what it appears to be.

Moles burrow in the soil, creating tunnels that not only provide easier movement for them, but also become worm traps. These feeding tubes can crisscross lawns and open space.

The mole mounds are made from the soil the mole excavates. It has to go somewhere, so the mole tunnels to the surface and pushes the soil out. Unlike gopher mounds, which contain excavated earth but also can serve as doors and ventilation, mole mounds will never be used for anything. The earth is pushed out and the hole is sealed behind the mole.

Figuring out if you have a mole or a gopher can be a little difficult. The gopher mound will generally have a crescent or horseshoe shape with a plug of dirt in the center that closes the entrance. Moles make almost perfectly round mounds, and there is no discernible entrance or exit hole. Mole mounds are common alongside sidewalks, driveways and houses.

Moles are fairly harmless. They’re after the grubs, worms and other ground-dwelling insects. They won’t eat your plants, but they might cause some accidental damage by exposing plant roots.

You can sweep away the dirt mounds, or transfer the soil to your garden.

DEAR JOAN >> In response to Joan Visser’s letter to you about her cat, Lovey, who is affectionate with her but not with her guests, that is just the way Lovey is.

I have four cats that were strays that I captured at various ages. When someone comes to my house, they think I only have one cat. The others are hiding. When the person leaves, the kitties reemerge from their hiding spots.

Make Lovey a nice little bed in the closet, where she can hide in comfort, safely away from people. That will be her comfort zone, and she will appreciate having her own special place to hide. Actually, Joan, some people are that way too.

So don’t worry about Lovey! She’s just being herself. It’s even possible that once she knows it’s OK to hide and nobody is trying to get her to be social, she might even let people have a peek at her, although she’s never going to want them to get too close. If that happens, don’t make a big deal of it. Just look, but don’t touch. — Arlene Southern, Oakland DEAR ARLENE >> Always good to hear the voice of experience. I completely agree with you. If a cat — or a human — doesn’t want to socialize, they shouldn’t be forced to.