The Mole – Pest, Rodent, Friend or Foe?

Going Underground In Yards, Gardens, and Forests

Sep 25, 2009

Mole species are abundant throughout much of the world, though the underground dwellers are seldom seen. Learn more about the secretive mole's habits and life.

There are at least 42 species of moles (order Soricomorpha, family Talpidae) distributed throughout the world. Seven mole species live in North America. They are:

The Townsend's mole, coast mole, shrew mole, and broad-footed mole have home ranges in parts of the western US and Canada.The hairy-tailed and star-nosed moles' ranges are centered around the New England states, with the star-nosed mole having a wider distribution. The eastern mole has the widest range of the seven North American moles, encompassing areas from Texas north to Minnesota, and east to portions of New York and throughout the South to Florida.

Description and Life of the Mole

Moles are small (generally 4-6 inches in length) subterrestrial mammals that create extensive networks of tunnels, both near the surface for foraging and deeper under the earth for nesting and storage chambers. They usually avoid heavy clay soil and generally prefer looser, loamier soil.

Of the seven North American species, all but the shrew mole have large, broad, spade-like forefeet with well-developed claws which help them burrow quickly, pushing dirt to the side of their bodies as if they are swimming through the soil. Most moles have no external ears and very small eyes or eyes covered by skin – both adaptations for life underground.

The star-nosed mole has a nose like no other with 22 fleshy finger-like protuberances surrounding its nostrils. Scientists have recently discovered that these appendages are very sensitive tactile organs that are used in detecting and capturing prey.

All of the North American moles have short, velvety fur that – unlike the fur of a dog or cat – doesn't lie down flat in only one direction, but can lie flat in any direction enabling the mole to travel comfortably forward or backward through its tunnels. Mole skin was once a valuable fashion commodity. In a November 1, 1903 article entitled "Popularity of Moleskin", the New York Times declared it "a fur that promises to be the fad of the season".

Scientists believe that moles lead solitary lives and come together only once a year for mating. Litter size varies, but ranges from 2-7 young depending on the species. Gestation is likewise, species specific, but ranges from 30-45 days.

Are Moles Rodents? What Do Moles Eat?

Unlike another familiar subterranean dwelling mammal, the gopher, moles are not rodents. They are more closely related to shrews and belong to the newer order Soricomorpha. They were previously classified under the now discarded order Insectivora. Moles are predators. They feed on earthworms, insect larva and adult insects as well as other invertebrates. Some moles swim in shallow creeks and riverbeds in search of prey.

The star-nosed mole is a superstar hunter taking only an amazing quarter of a second to locate and consume its prey. National Geographic reports that researchers at Vanderbilt University determined star-nosed moles are "the fastest mammalian foragers on Earth." Their extremely fast metabolism mandates speedy feeding. According to the Ohio State University Extension, it's estimated that a single 5 ounce mole will consume 45 to 50lbs of worms and insects in a year.

Mole Control – Can a Mole Cause Extensive Damage to a Yard or Lawn?

Researchers estimate that usually only one or two moles inhabit an acre of land, but just a single mole can excavate an extensive network of tunnels. Moles do create raised foraging burrows and unsightly molehills, but may actually benefit the gardener by preying on pest insects and loosening and aerating the soil. They do not eat plant roots or bulbs. Sometimes voles and mice will use mole tunnels and they may be the culprits nibbling on valued landscape plants.

For the homeowner who is not content to observe this marvel of nature, getting rid of moles can be difficult. Many products are marketed for mole removal from the home landscape, but some are ineffective at best and dangerous at worst. Mole traps, mole baits, and mole poisons are all sold as mole killers. Most effective of the three are the traps, but scissor traps are illegal in some states because they can also trap the legs of larger animals, including pets.

Some pets, themselves, can actually prove to be quite adept at mole extermination. A good hunting cat or dog can locate, chase and dispatch moles in the yard, though often they don't eat them. Apparently moles are not particularly tasty.

Gardeners and homeowners might take some time to consider the amazing abilities and adaptations of the soil-swimmer mole and decide instead on living with this fascinating backyard creature.

North American Mammals, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, n.d. Web.

The copyright of the article The Mole – Pest, Rodent, Friend or Foe? in Mammals is owned by Mary Robinson Crews. Permission to republish The Mole – Pest, Rodent, Friend or Foe? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.