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Visit the
MoleMan
for more information!
Green Up follows
DCR Nutrient
Management Standards
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Moles are
remarkable animals that are well adapted for their life of
digging below ground. Moles are seldom seen by humans, but
often come into conflict with homeowners when they burrow in
yards. The mole is the only animal which will create a surface
tunnel.
Description
Moles lack
external ears and have tiny eyes concealed beneath their fur.
Their front feet are wider than they are long, webbed toes
s upport
strong claws and their palms turn outward, creating paddle-like
forelimbs
that move laterally, enabling moles to ‘swim” through the soil.
Moles have short
velvet-like fur that varies
in color from gray to brown. A fully grown mole is 4 to 6 inches
long, not including its short tail. Adults weigh 3 to 5 ounces.
In our area the species most commonly encountered is the
eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus).
Biology
Moles have
voracious appetites and are nearly insatiable. Moles feed almost
exclusively on insects and earthworms. No more than 3 to 5
moles live on an acre and 2 to 3 is a more common number. Moles
live for 3 to 4
years in the wild. Predators
like fox, skunk, owl and even dogs and cats, kill and eat
moles. One method of mole control might be to get a dog or cat.
Control
No matter
what you have heard, controlling grub populations will not
eliminate moles. Grubs make up only a small portion of a moles
diet – earthworms are a moles primary food source. Trapping is
the most effective and practical means for controlling moles.
There are several traps on the market. For more information on
moles and trapping please see the following web sites:
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