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Got Moles? Phylum: Chordata / Class: Mammalia / Order: Insectivora / Family: Talpidae

Moles are not rodents - they belong to the group of mammals known as insectivores (insect-eaters).
In North Carolina, the star-nosed mole is an endangered species albeit on the lowest priority list ~ "Special Consideration" status ~ because (according to the director of the Non-Game Wildlife Department) not enough is known about their population or distribution. Here, moles are not considered as game or fur-bearing mammals and thus are not covered by any game laws. Curiously, it is as illegal to hunt, trap, shoot or poison a mole as it is ... a bluebird.

The most common is the eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) and is the subject of most of the complaints concerning mole damage to lawns and gardens. It is found from east of the Rockies to New England, southern Florida and into northern Mexico. This mole prefers moist, sandy, and loamy soils in fields, meadows, pastures, and open woodlands.
The star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) is not considered a significant pest. This mole is semi-aquatic and will hunt for food underwater. It is usually found in low-lying areas and their tunnels may actually exit into ponds or streams.
The Hairy-Tailed Mole (Parascalopus breweri) is distinguished by its bristly-haired tail. This mole prefers a wooded habitat in mountainous regions.

Other species in the U.S.

There are 7 species of moles in the United States. Townsend's mole (Scapanus townsendi) is the largest mole in the United States and may reach 8 to 9 inches in length. It is found throughout western Washington and Oregon.

The Pacific mole (Scapanus orarius) is native in the California fog belt and sections of Oregon and southeastern Washington. It averages 6 to 7 inches in length.  

Mole is the common name for certain small, burrowing mammals characterized by a pointed snout; rudimentary eyes; soft, thick, velvety fur; short legs; broad feet; and long, powerful claws on the front pair of legs. Moles are indigenous to Europe, Asia, and North America. The voracious animals dig below the surface of the ground for their food, which consists principally of earthworms and insect larvae. They are capable of digging rapidly, using their powerful forefeet and claws to push the earth back behind them. Close to the surface of the ground, moles construct their elaborate burrows with many chambers; their burrowing often produces ridges on the surface.

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 low-level electrical fields of earthworms in the mole's wet habitat. The animal is an excellent swimmer. The shrew mole is the smallest of the American moles. It measures 10 to 13 cm (4 to 5 in) in length, of which 3 to 4 cm (1 to 1.6 in) is tail.

Moles belong to the family Talpidae in the order Insectivora. The eastern mole is classified as Scalopus aquaticus, the western mole as Scapanus townsendii, the hairy-tailed mole as Parascalops breweri, the star-nosed mole as Condylura cristata, and the shrew mole as Neurotrichus gibbsii.

As you may already know, there are many methods of getting rid of moles that do not work.  Believe me we have tried them all.  But now there is a new bait has been developed to mimic what moles are really looking for. (a gel type bait).  The active ingredient is Warfarin (.025%) which will kill a more with just one dose.   

Moles have a hairless, pointed snout and small eyes. The photo above is that of an eastern mole. These animals are insectivores and feed primarily on grubs and earthworms. For the most part, moles live in seclusion and underground burrows and rarely come to the surface. These mammals are solitary and rarely do more than 2 or 3 moles occupy the same burrow system.

Moles have a very high metabolic rate and, therefore, have to consume large amounts of food. The home range of these insectivores is almost 20 times larger than that of a pocket gopher. Our experience in studies of moles on golf courses has shown that an infested area will contain about one mole per acre. Because of the extensive tunneling and length of the tunnels, it may appear that many moles occupy an area.

Moles dig elaborate tunnel systems and have feeding runways barely beneath the grass. That is why a mole on a golf green can stick out like a sore thumb. The ridge is elevated and easily visible. The tunnel system will have many yards of traveling tunnels within several inches of the ground surface. As the weather cools, moles will retreat into their deeper tunnels, up to 5 feet beneath the surface.

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Revised: 02/23/10. Home