Mole is the name for a group of small mammals that live mostly underground. Moles have wedge-shaped heads with narrow, pointed noses. Their rounded bodies possess short fur and powerful forelegs.
Way of life.
A mole spends most of its life in an underground burrow that it digs itself. The animal’s enlarged front paws turn outward and have long, broad claws. As a mole digs, its forelegs work like shovels, scooping out the soil. The mole pushes the soil forward out of the tunnel, creating a distinctive cone-shaped mound of soil above ground. To survive in its dark environment, a mole has well-developed senses of touch, smell, and hearing. The animal’s tiny eyes, shaded by overhanging fur, do not enable it to see well.
Moles eat primarily worms and insect larvae (young). They search for food just beneath the ground surface, creating tunnels with raised roofs that are visible above ground. In most species (kinds) of moles, individuals live alone and fiercely guard their territories. During breeding season, males leave home and travel widely in search of mates. Females raise the young moles alone.
Kinds of moles.
Moles live in North America, Asia, and Europe. Well-known types include the eastern mole, star-nosed mole, and European mole. The Russian desman is in the mole family, and it resembles true moles.
The eastern mole
lives throughout most of eastern North America. It measures 5 to 8 inches (13 to 20 centimeters) long, including its thinly furred tail. Eastern moles range in color from gold or silver to almost black. Females raise two to five young.
The star-nosed mole
also inhabits eastern North America, but it is less widespread than the eastern mole. The animal gets its name from a fringe of fleshy tentacles (feelers) around its nose. These feelers help the mole locate prey. A star-nosed mole possesses coarse, dark-colored fur. It measures 5 to 9 inches (13 to 23 centimeters) long, including the furry tail. A good swimmer, this animal digs its tunnels in swampy areas or along streams and pond banks. Females raise three to seven young.
The European mole
lives throughout Europe and into northwestern Asia. It digs an elaborate underground tunnel system. In this system, a central nesting chamber is connected to several smaller, rounded chambers. Passageways extend from the chambers in all directions. One passage, the bolt run, serves as an exit in case of danger. The other passages lead to feeding grounds. European moles grow about the same size as eastern moles. Females raise three to four young.
The Russian desman
lives in southeastern Europe and western and central Asia. It ranks as the largest member of the mole family, growing about 14 inches (36 centimeters) long. The animal has a lustrous blue-gray, brown, or black coat of fur. Russian desmans spend much of their time in water, using their webbed feet and long, flattened tails for swimming. Desmans have larger hind feet than forefeet. Females raise two to five young.
