Scientific classification: Moles belong to the family Talpidae in the order Insectivora. The eastern mole is classified as Scalopus aquaticus, the western mole as Scapanus townsendii.
What moles are?
Moles are small mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. They have cylindrical bodies, velvety fur, very small, inconspicuous ears, mole holes and eyes, reduced hindlimbs and short, powerful forelimbs with large paws adapted for digging. The term “mole” is especially and most properly used for “true moles” of the Talpidae family in the order Soricomorpha found in most parts of North America, Asia, and Europe although may refer to other completely unrelated mammals of Australia and southern Africa which have also evolved the mole body plan; it is not commonly used for some talpids, such as desmans andshrew-moles, which do not quite fit the common definition of “mole”.
How destructive can moles be?
Moles cause little damage to the environment at large. Plus, they naturally aerate soils and eliminate the larvae of destructive insects. They only become a problem when they invade lawns and gardens, tearing up expanses of green grass and uprooting plants. Because mole tunneling destroys grass roots, the ridges brown quickly. The most effective way to get rid of moles is to kill them with a trap, mole holes. Learn how to get rid of moles in your yard before they do extensive damage.
What do moles feed on?
A mole’s diet primarily consists of earthworms and other small invertebrates found in the soil, and a variety of nuts. The mole runs are in reality ‘worm traps’, the mole sensing when a worm falls into the tunnel and quickly running along to kill and eat it. Because their saliva contains a toxinthat can paralyze earthworms, moles are able to store their still-living prey for later consumption. They construct special underground “larders” and mole holes for just this purpose; researchers have discovered such larders with over a thousand earthworms in them. Before eating earthworms, moles pull them between their squeezed paws to force the collected earth and dirt out of the worm’s gut. The star-nosed mole can detect, catch and eat food faster than the human eye can follow.
What are the Uniqueness of moles
Of the 12 genera of moles, 5 are found in the United States. The typical mole of the eastern United States is the eastern, or garden, mole, which is 12 to 21 cm (5 to 8 in) long, of which 2 to 4 cm (.8 to 1.6 in) is naked tail. The western mole is the largest American species and may attain a length of more than 24 cm (more than 9.4 in). The hairy-tailed mole has crescent-shaped nostrils. The star-nosed mole has on its snout a star-shaped projection composed of 22 rays that are used to sense its environment; there is some evidence that the rays can detect the mole holes low-level electrical fields of earthworms in the mole’s wet habitat.