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There are twenty-two species of the common mole belonging to the Talpidae family, five of which are found in the United States.
CHARACTERISTICS
Moles have small, rounded bodies, pointy snouts and soft, fluffy brown or grey fur. The tail of the mole contains no fur, is bright pink in color, and is commonly 1-9 inches in length. Feet are wide and hold long, strong claws, which enable the mole to cover much territory underground. The mole has internal ears, apparent only by tiny holes on the sides of the head, which are most often covered with fur. Moles are also blind. Their small eyes are usually covered with a thick coating of skin. Thanks to an especially sensitive snout and a carefully guided tail, the mole is able to find its way remarkably well, despite its handicap.
Moles vary in size by type and region. The garden mole is 5-8 inches long and found in almost every region of the U.S. The largest North American species is known as the western mole, which measures more than 9-inches in length. The shrew, also common in the U.S., is the smallest in the mole family, at only 5-inches.
LIFESTYLE
Moles are active animals, working both day and night to feed themselves and construct burrows, where they live. The burrow of the mole is an elaborate unit, made of many chambers and entrances that extend more than 10-feet deep. Lower units of this structure serve as a home or resting place for mole families, while trails and tunnels provide various means of escape to this animal. Moles travel through the soil in a method that looks similar to the breast stroke. Its front feet push deep into the earth and then out to the side, clearing a large pathway. Mole burrows often show themselves above ground as ridges, slightly elevated trails, or mounds of fresh dirt.
Moles do not hibernate. Instead, they remain active year round, traveling under snow and ice.
FEEDING HABITS
Moles go in search of food daily, tunneling near the surface of the earth for grubs, earthworms, and insect larvae. Each day, the mole consumes more food than its weight.
REPRODUCTION
Moles reach sexual maturity between 6-12 months. Females give birth to 1-8 young, once or twice per year. Young moles are blind and hairless at birth. Within the first ten days of life, a light brown covering of fur begins to appear.
TODAY
Moles endure a love-hate relationship with people. Often responsible for heavy crop, garden and lawn damage, moles are very often trapped or eradicated. However, the mole population is also responsible for aerating soil and fertilizing many crops. Trapping methods have proved largely unsuccessful in North America, where the mole lives in abundance.
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