Mole Information

This is information about moles I've gotten off the internet and in books. If you wish to have a mole this information should prove useful.

Spends nearly all of its time underground, becoming most active at dawn or dusk. In winter it prefers deeper borrows. Moles can be active at anytime however, and are basically active when and where the surroundings are quietist. They can sit in a tunnel motionless for more than 20 minutes when they've been disturbed or frightened.

Feeds mainly on earthworms, but also eats larve and adults of many kinds of insects and other inverebrates, like grubs, ants, spiders, millipedes, cicadas, pillbugs, and snails.

Mole nests are underground, usually beneath a log, stump or boulder. The nests are used for sleeping and, if female, raising baby moles.

Moles have eyes, but are only to distinguish between light and dark. They also have good hearing and touch.

Moles need cool temperatures to live above ground (55 F)

Moles are 5 to 8 inches long

Most tunneling is done in search of food so many tunnels are seldom reused. The more permanant or "active" tunnels usually run along fences, borders or other protected areas that lead to their feeding areas.

Moles have a tremendous appetite and can consume nearly half its own body weight in food daily.

To locate active tunnels, cave in short sections of several runways by pushing them down with your foot. Be sure to indicate each site with a stick or marker. Moles are very suspicious and will avoid areas that appear odd so don't disturb more than you have to.

Moles don't hibernate, neither do worms. In winter, moles will make a larder of worms by biting off the heads and storing them in a small chamber.

Moles have one litter each year. Litter size can be 2 to 6 depending n the health of the female. Latitude seems to play a part in rutting and gestation. In Cinncinatti, a mole can rut from about the last week in Feb through the 1st week in April. Gestation lasts about 5 to 6 weeks and so can expect litters anywhere from mid Apri to May. Moles, being mammals, nurse their young for several weeks. From late April to mid June, the mole babies begin to disperse to create their own tunnels. The last dispersed can be in the late fall through early winter. Since moles don't hibernate the final dispersal can result in severe lawn damage until the lawn freezes. Newborn females will wait the following spring.

Moles are solitary as adults and avoid other moles except when moles are searching for females.

Moles are probably the least understood major componant of North America.

Moles are creatures of habit and behave in fairly predictable ways depending on what they have and need.

Mole tunnels can be used by more than one mole, like a highway, and even by different mole species.

Mole continually add new tunnels to the old year after year.

Mole entrances look like mini-volcanoes.

Moles are shy and easily frightened.

Moles scent mark most of their home range daily as they travel through their tunnel system to warn other moles that the system is occupied and may also advertise a females scent when she's ready to mate.

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