Ground moles are small, burrowing mammals belonging to the family Talpidae, found across North America, Europe, and Asia. They spend almost their entire lives beneath the soil surface and are highly adapted to this dark, underground environment. While their tunneling activity can be a nuisance for homeowners, the mole’s life cycle and adaptations are fascinating.
Physical Description and Classification
The mole’s cylindrical torso and velvety fur are perfect adaptations for its subterranean existence. The fur lacks a grain, allowing the animal to move equally well backward or forward without friction in the tunnels. Moles have very small eyes, often covered by fur, which limits their sight primarily to detecting light and movement.
Their most distinctive feature is a pair of massive, paddle-like forepaws that are wider than they are long. These powerful limbs are rotated outward and equipped with robust claws, functioning as shovels for excavation. Moles are classified as insectivores within the order Eulipotyphla, making them related to shrews and hedgehogs, not rodents.
Subterranean Life and Movement
Moles are solitary animals that maintain and aggressively defend extensive, complex tunnel systems, which can cover up to half an acre. They create two distinct types of tunnels: deep, permanent travel and nesting tunnels (8 to 23 inches below the surface), and shallow surface runs. The deeper tunnels are often used for years and house the main nesting chambers.
The mole’s digging prowess is remarkable; they can excavate new tunnels at a rate of up to 18 feet per hour. An individual can create up to 150 feet of new tunnel in a single day when soil conditions are favorable. Moles also possess specialized blood cells that enable them to tolerate high levels of carbon dioxide in their confined underground environment.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Moles are insectivores, meaning their diet consists almost entirely of soil-dwelling invertebrates. Earthworms are their primary food source, actively hunted along the tunnel network. They also consume grubs, beetle larvae, centipedes, and slugs.
Due to their high metabolic rate, moles must consume a significant amount of food daily, often eating nearly their body weight. The tunnel systems function as passive traps, catching invertebrates for the mole to collect. Moles sometimes create underground larders by paralyzing earthworms to keep the prey alive and immobile for future consumption.
Identifying Mole Activity
The most common sign of a mole is the presence of molehills, which are symmetrical, cone-shaped mounds of excavated dirt pushed up to the surface. These mounds mark the points where the mole has pushed soil from the construction of deeper tunnels. Surface feeding tunnels appear as raised, linear ridges in the lawn, indicating a shallow run just beneath the grass roots.
Mole signs can be distinguished from other burrowing pests by their appearance. Gopher mounds are typically larger, fan-shaped, or crescent-shaped, and usually have a plugged hole visible on one side. Vole activity rarely involves dirt mounds, instead showing small, open holes and narrow surface runways through the grass. While moles do not eat plant roots, their tunneling can disrupt root systems, which is often mistaken for damage caused by voles or gophers.