Moles are common subterranean creatures often recognized by the tell-tale mounds of soil they leave behind in lawns and gardens. These industrious animals spend nearly their entire lives underground, leading many to wonder about their activities during the colder months. A frequent question arises regarding whether moles enter a deep sleep to survive the winter. Understanding their behavior helps clarify how these mammals persist through challenging seasonal changes.
Do Moles Hibernate?
Moles do not hibernate in the traditional sense. True hibernation involves a deep, prolonged state of inactivity where an animal’s body temperature drops significantly, often close to freezing, and its metabolic rate, heart rate, and breathing slow dramatically. Animals like woodchucks, ground squirrels, and certain bats are examples of true hibernators.
Moles, however, do not undergo such extreme physiological changes. While their activity levels may decrease, they remain active underground throughout the winter. Their winter state is sometimes described as “semi-hibernation” or torpor, as they reduce their metabolic rate and activity to conserve energy. This adaptation allows them to remain responsive and capable of foraging.
Mole Winter Survival Strategies
Moles employ several strategies to survive the winter without entering true hibernation. They adapt their extensive tunnel systems to changing environmental conditions. As surface soil freezes, moles typically dig deeper into the earth, below the frost line, to find more stable temperatures. These deeper tunnels provide insulation and a consistent environment.
Their primary food sources, earthworms, grubs, and other invertebrates, are still available in the unfrozen soil layers. Moles prepare for winter by increasing their foraging efforts in autumn to build fat reserves. They also store food by paralyzing earthworms with a bite to the head and caching them in special underground chambers, ensuring a fresh supply throughout the season. This provides sustenance when prey is scarcer.
Although moles reduce their overall activity during colder periods, they continue to forage within their subterranean networks. This continuous search for food within the warmer, deeper soil layers allows them to maintain their energy needs. Their dense, velvety fur provides natural insulation, helping them retain body heat in their cool, damp environment. The fur also allows them to move freely in any direction within their narrow tunnels without resistance.