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| Moles have short, dense fur, barely visible eyes and ears, and pointed noses. They are easily identified by their large shovel-like feet that look as though they grow directly from the body due to their very short legs. These are used for digging underground tunnels, sometimes as deep as 50 cm below the surface. Moles spend most of their lives underground and only emerge occasionally at night. In Algonquin Highlands’ hardwood forests you are likely to see the Hairy-tailed Mole. Near black, mucky soil close to water you might see the Star-nosed Mole. Their poor eyesight is more than made up for by an acute sense of touch and smell. Sensitive hairs on their arms and head help them to monitor their surroundings. The semi-aquatic Star-nosed Mole gets its name from a ring of 22 small, fleshy tentacles located on the end of its nose. These tentacles are constantly in motion while the mole is searching for food both underground and in water. They eat earthworms, water worms, insects and their water-bound larvae, and even fish. Another odd feature is its tail. The Star-nosed Mole stores fat in its tail to prior to the breeding season. Probably used to provide a reserve of energy, the tail can swell three or four times its normal size. Moles live in colonies. Tiny, blind, hairless young are born four to six weeks after mating. The young develop quickly and leave the nest to hunt for their own food after only three weeks. |
(Family Talpidae)
Hairy-tailed Mole (Parascalops breweri)
Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata)
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