Moles are insectivores whose diet consists almost entirely of invertebrates found within the soil. Their primary food source is not roots or plants, but the living creatures they encounter while tunneling. Their entire lifestyle is centered on the constant, high-energy pursuit of this underground prey, such as worms, grubs, and insects.
The Primary Carnivorous Diet
Earthworms serve as the staple of the mole’s diet, often comprising between 80% and 90% of its total food intake. They provide a rich source of protein and moisture, which is necessary for survival in the dry, underground environment. Moles also readily consume other soil-dwelling invertebrates, including beetle larvae (white grubs), slugs, snails, spiders, and centipedes.
This high-protein diet fuels the mole’s high metabolic rate. Due to the constant energy expenditure from digging and maintaining body temperature, a mole must consume an enormous amount of food daily. They typically eat between 50% and 100% of their own body weight every 24 hours. If a mole goes without food for more than 12 to 24 hours, it risks starvation because it has little capacity to store body fat.
Sensory Hunting and Tunnel Networks
A mole’s hunting strategy relies less on sight, as they are functionally blind, and more on a highly specialized sense of touch and vibration. Their complex network of tunnels acts as a passive trap, constantly intercepting passing earthworms and insects. The mole patrols these tunnels, which function as an underground fishing net for prey.
The most specialized sensory tool is the Eimer’s organ, which covers the mole’s sensitive snout in thousands of tiny, dome-shaped papillae. These organs are mechanoreceptors that allow the mole to detect minute changes in pressure, texture, and vibration in the soil. This enables the mole to pinpoint the exact location of a worm or grub, even in complete darkness. The mole can rapidly distinguish between a piece of gravel and a potential meal, making it an efficient predator in its dark habitat.
Food Storage and Debunking Misconceptions
The mole’s need for a constant food supply led to a unique method of food preservation for times of scarcity, such as winter or dry periods. When a mole catches an earthworm, it bites the worm’s head segment, which contains nerve centers, effectively paralyzing the prey. This action immobilizes the worm without killing it outright.
The paralyzed, but still living, earthworms are then stored in underground chambers, or caches, to keep them fresh for later consumption. These food larders can sometimes contain hundreds of worms, providing a reliable food source until the mole’s next successful hunt.
It is a common misconception that moles consume plant roots or flower bulbs, which often cause gardener frustration. Any damage to plant roots or bulbs is incidental, caused by their tunneling activity disturbing the soil and severing the root system. The actual culprits for eating plant matter are typically rodents like voles, which often use the mole’s tunnels for travel.