Moles

  • Moles are small mammals found all over the world, except in Antarctica and South America
  • They are subterranean mammals, spending most of their time underground
  • They build intricate tunnel systems, with molehills being the waste of their tunnelling exploits
  • Gardeners, landowners, ground staff and farmers consider them a pest
  • They live in mixed woodlands, gardens, grasslands, urban areas – anywhere where they can dig through the soil
  • Their tunnels are underground highways
  • The tunnels also act as bedrooms and birthing chambers
  • Some moles have been known to live in the same tunnels for generations
  • They have a kitchen chamber too
  • They store worms in the kitchen chamber by biting their heads off
  • Moles are loners
  • Over one acre, there will only be 3 to 5 moles – and this is considered a lot!
  • Moles spend the majority of their time digging tunnels and looking for food
  • The moles favourite meal is the earthworm
  • They will eat nearly their own body weight in earthworms daily
  • The male mole attracts the female by enlarging his bed chamber
  • The female mole will give birth to 3 or 4 hairless babies at a time
  • Babies start to grow hair when they are a fortnight old
  • At 6 weeks old, the pups will leave their mother completely
  • Moles live for three years
  • They have movement and scent sensors on the end of their snout to detect prey

DIAGNOSIS

Nuisance scale: 8/10 HIGH

If you are a landowner, farmer, equestrian premises, sports club, bowling green or anywhere that relies on the land

Hazard: 2/10 MILD

Do not spread disease but can cause unstable ground in a heavily mole populated area

VITAL STATISTICS

Length: Between 11 and 15cms. They have a short tail that adds 2 to 4cm to their overall length

Weight: Typical weight is between 70 and 120g

Description: They are rotund with a hairless snout, small eyes and no visible ears

INTERESTING FACTS

  • They build permanent and temporary tunnels
  • Temporary tunnels are usually just under the surface of the soil
  • Permanent tunnels are 20 to 30cm below the surface
  • The tunnels are usually 5cm in diameter
  • They are not blind but do have poor eyesight