The short answer to whether moles lay eggs is no, as they are classified as mammals. Like nearly all mammals, moles reproduce by giving birth to live young after a period of internal development. Their reproductive strategy, known as viviparity, is a defining trait of their biological class.
Are Moles Mammals
Moles belong to the Class Mammalia, placing them alongside animals like dogs, whales, and humans. More specifically, true moles are part of the family Talpidae, within the order Eulipotyphla. Being a mammal means they share distinct biological characteristics, including being warm-blooded, possessing hair or fur, and feeding their young milk produced by mammary glands.
A defining feature of almost all mammals is viviparity, the process of bearing live young that develop inside the mother’s body. The only exceptions are the monotremes, such as the platypus and echidna, which are egg-laying mammals. Moles are not monotremes and therefore develop their offspring internally until they are ready for birth.
How Mole Reproduction Actually Works
Mole reproduction is a solitary and annual event that typically occurs once the cold weather breaks. The breeding season usually begins in late winter or early spring, spanning from February through May. Males enlarge their tunnel systems and travel widely in search of a female, often communicating their presence with high-pitched vocalizations.
After mating, the female mole undergoes a short gestation period, which lasts approximately four to six weeks. She prepares a specialized nesting chamber, often called a “fortress,” which is typically a large, spherical nest lined with dry plant material and located deep within the tunnel system.
A typical mole litter consists of three to five pups, though this range can extend from two to seven depending on the species. The newborn pups are born altricial, meaning they are hairless, blind, and entirely dependent on their mother for warmth and nourishment. They grow rapidly, feeding on the mother’s milk within the protective confines of the nest.
The young pups develop quickly in the safety of the fortress, starting to grow fur and opening their eyes after about three weeks. They are usually weaned from milk and ready to leave the nest to find their own territory around four to five weeks old.