Mole

Quick Facts

• Average total length of 7 inches
• Hairless, pointed snout extending nearly 1/2 inch in front of the mouth opening
• Small eyes
• No external ears
• Prefer to feed on earthworms and other invertebrates
• Capable of digging up to 18ft per hour
• 2 species found in MN (Eastern & Star-nosed)

Biology & Habits

Moles have a very high metabolic rate and, therefore, have to consume large amounts of food.

Moles produce two types of tunnels: sub-surface runways and deep runways.

Moles are active day and night throughout the year, but they are most visibly active during the spring and fall on damp days or following rain-showers when they push up more tunnel's and mounds.

Once the ground surface becomes frozen in the winter, or very dry during the summer, moles use only the deeper burrows.

Damage

Surface tunnels or ridges are indicative of mole activity. Typically they also leave volcano-shaped hills that are often made up of clods of soil. The mole hills are pushed up from the deep tunnels and may be 2 to 24 inches tall. The number of mole hills is not a measure of the number of moles in a given area.

 

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