A mole or animal detector includes apparatus for placement over a portion of a soil surface overlaying a portion of a mole tunnel, including a detector or sensor and circuitry for detecting movement of the portion of the soil surface indicative of passage of a mole through the underlying tunnel portion and generating a signal representative thereof, the signal being directly observable or audible or otherwise sensible, or transmitted to a receiver operable for emitting a signal, for instance, at a remote location.