Mole - description, photo, types, how to get rid of it, methods of fight. What a mole looks like - real photos and description What a small mole looks like

Moles (Talpidae) are a family of insectivorous mammals of small and medium size. Many people, especially those who have garden plots, have observed traces of mole activity - heaps of earth (molehills), but perhaps few have seen the animals themselves.

The Mole family (Talpidae) consists of 42 species in 17 genera of three subfamilies. Relatives of moles are muskrats (subfamily Desmaninae), which lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle.

Today in the subfamily Moles (Talpinae) there are 40 species in 15 genera.

Moles are common in Europe, North America and Asia. Not found at all in Africa.

Several species live in Russia: 4 species from the genus of common moles (Talpa) and 2 from the genus Mogera (Mogera).

The Siberian mole (T. altaica) is found from the Irtysh River to Transbaikalia.

Siberian mole

The Caucasian mole (T. caucasica) and small mole (T. levantis) live in the North Caucasus.

Caucasian mole

There are two species of eastern moles living in the Far East - the Ussuri mogera (Mogera robusta) and the Japanese one (M. wogura).

Mogera ussuriensis

But the most famous and widespread is the common (European) mole (Talpa europaea), whose habitat covers the forest and forest-steppe zones of the Russian Federation and partly Western Siberia.

There is a lot in common in the biology of different species of moles - they are all underground inhabitants, arranging extended galleries that serve for moving and collecting food, nesting chambers and storage areas for supplies. Unlike rodents, which use their teeth to dig the ground, all moles dig the ground with their front paws and are more sensitive to the hardness of the soil, which limits their spread and the depth of their galleries. The forelimbs of animals are perfectly suited for digging. The hands are very wide, almost round with five large powerful claws. Turned in a vertical plane with the palm facing outward, they resemble a pair of oars. The least strong paws are those of eastern moles, which live only in loose layers of soil and in litter, and do not make molehills.

The fur of moles is short, uniform in length and does not interfere with the animals’ movement in underground passages in any direction. Only the Chinese shrew species have hard spine fur, so they cannot move backwards in an underground tunnel. The fur color is uniform, usually brownish-black or gray.

Common mole

The most famous representative of the genus of common moles (Talpa) is the common mole itself, also known as the European mole (Talpa europaea).

The body length of the animal is 12–16 cm, weight 70–120 g. The body is roll-shaped, the tail is short. The muzzle is elongated and flattened. The eyes are very small. The hands are wide, edged with bristly hairs and flat claws, approximately equal on all fingers. The forelimb bears additional lateral bones on the side of the bases of the fifth and first fingers. The hands are turned with the palms back.

Common mole (Talpa europaea)

Thick and short velvety fur stands almost vertically, which allows the animal to move in narrow passages in any direction. Due to constant friction against the walls of the burrows, the mole's fur quickly wears out, so there are 3-4 molts during the year.

The common mole inhabits the forest and forest-steppe zones of Europe and the Trans-Urals from the north of the Iberian Peninsula to the south of Western Siberia. He prefers to settle in areas with forest vegetation and tries not to go out into open spaces. The main condition for existence is moderately moist soils rich in humus. Avoids areas with marshy and sandy soils.

Leads a solitary lifestyle. Each animal occupies a certain area and builds its own system of burrows. It is completely intolerant of the presence of individuals of its own species. Usually sedentary, but young moles during the settlement period move 1–4 km from their place of birth.

The mole makes its nest in dense soil, usually under tree roots, stumps or other objects protecting from above. The animal is characterized by polyphasic daily activity - periods of feeding are replaced by short, about 4 hours, periods of sleep. The time spent awake depends on the abundance of food.

The mole has a high metabolic rate and is forced to eat quite often; after 10–12 hours of fasting, it dies.

Active all year round. In winter, it usually feeds in the ground layer of snow, partly by mining the forest floor, partly by digging tunnels in the snow.

The basis of the diet is earthworms. It also eats other invertebrates, mainly insects and their larvae; on occasion, it catches small rodents, lizards, and frogs caught in its passages.

Reproduction begins in March–April. The duration of pregnancy is about 40 days. There is 1 litter of 3–9 cubs per year. Newborns are naked, blind and helpless, but they grow very quickly, and within a month they already reach the size of adults. At the age of 1–1.5 months, the young disperse.

The lifespan of moles is 4-5 years.

Japanese shrew mole

Genus Japanese shrew moles (Urotrichus) are sometimes classified as a separate subfamily; less often approach American shrew moles (genus Neurotrichus). There are 2 species in the genus (sometimes each is classified as a separate genus). In appearance they resemble shrews with a bushy tail, but the forelimbs are digging, and the eyes are hidden under the skin.

The Japanese shrew mole (Urotrichus talpoides) lives on the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku, Dogo and Tsushima. Found in forests and meadows with tall grass.

Japanese shrew mole (Urotrichus talpoides)

Body length is 5–10 cm. The front part of the muzzle is greatly elongated, the long movable proboscis is covered with vibrissae. The ears are small. The hands of the forelimbs are only slightly widened. The tail is quite long and pubescent. Sometimes fat reserves are deposited in the tail.

Very common in suitable biotopes. It makes passages in the litter and upper layers of soil, actively moves in search of food also on the surface of the ground, sometimes climbing low trees and bushes. In winter, these animals are sometimes found frozen in birdhouses hanging at a height of 2–4 meters. Unlike ordinary moles, they are quite tolerant of representatives of their own species.

Reproduction occurs in April–May. The female brings one litter per year, usually consisting of three cubs.

Star-nosed mole

Star-nosed moles, or star-nosed moles (genus Condylura), living in North America, are very similar in structure to an ordinary mole, but have a long tail, and prefer to search for their prey by actively swimming and diving in the water.

This species boasts a unique nose, divided into many small tentacles that resemble coral in appearance. The tentacles are covered with thousands of receptors and help the mole in searching for food.

In the photo, the star-nosed mole shows off its amazing nose.

Star-nosed mole

If most species prefer a solitary lifestyle, then the starfish is an exception to this rule. In this species, the male and female can live together during the winter.

Lifestyle of moles

The mole spends most of its time underground. Most individuals are active both during the day and at night. During the day they have several periods of activity lasting 3-4 hours, and during breaks the animals rest in the nest.

Typically, moles lead a sedentary lifestyle, but in hot and dry weather, some individuals leave their usual areas and move 1-1.5 km away from them, going to rivers to drink.

Die-hard loners

Most species lead a solitary lifestyle. Each animal has its own individual area. Moles zealously defend their entire territory, or at least a significant part of it. This applies not only to males, but also to females, who are especially aggressive towards members of their own sex during the breeding season. Females and males meet only for a short time to procreate. After mating has occurred, the male disappears from the life of the female, taking no part either in arranging the nest for the offspring or in their upbringing.

Population densities vary by species and habitat. In spring, males significantly increase the size of their territories. In a mole population, there are usually from 5 to 30 individuals per 1 hectare.

Although neighboring animals each live in their own tunnel system, their territories still overlap to some extent. However, they try to avoid encounters with each other and feed in non-adjacent parts of their areas.

When a mole dies, the neighbors quickly notice its absence, and the most efficient one seizes the vacated territory. Sometimes a plot may be divided between neighbors.

Moles communicate their presence and ownership of a specific area using scent marks. Both males and females have preputial glands that produce a strong-smelling secretion. It accumulates in the fur on the animal’s belly, and when moving, it spreads along the bottom of the tunnels. In the absence of such a smell, the territory is quickly captured.

What do moles eat?

Most of the mole's diet consists of invertebrates. About 90% of food is obtained from tunnels (feeding passages). The animals eat everything that is available in a certain place, but if there is a choice, they prefer earthworms, beetle larvae and slugs.

In October and November, the common mole stores supplies of worms immobilized by a bite next to the nest. They found reserves of worms and insect larvae in his possession exceeding 2 kg!

Molehills

Moles spend most of their time underground, but when developing a new area they often come to the surface. The passages of one animal occupy a huge area and are of two types. Residential passages run at a depth of 6–90 cm, have a diameter of about 5 cm and are used to move the animal from the nest to feeding areas, watering places, etc. Moves of the second type are used to search for food. They are laid close to the surface of the earth in a layer where earthworms and soil insects are most common and the soil is minimally dense. The network of passages covers large areas. Traces of hunting can be seen on the surface of the earth in the form of long soil ridges formed by swollen arches of passages. Such traces remain when a mole digs too close to the surface of the soil and the arch of the passage does not withstand the pressure of the animal.

When digging new tunnels, the mole rests with its hind limbs and digs with its front limbs, which alternately cut into the soil and move to the side and back. Then the animal compacts the soil with its powerful head, pressing it into the walls of the passage. When constructing holes at a depth of more than 10 cm, the mole can no longer lift the arch with its head and is forced to throw the excavated soil to the surface. Thanks to this, the presence of a residential passage can be detected by characteristic heaps of discarded soil - molehills. They can be 15-25 cm high and reach one meter in diameter. Usually molehills are located in small groups.

Molehills are the most obvious sign of the presence of these animals, and often the only thing people see.

The appearance of offspring

The mating season for moles is short. Breeding time varies depending on the geographical latitude of the habitat.

Moles usually produce only one litter per year. Pregnancy, depending on the species, lasts from 30 days (in the common mole) to 42 days (in the Eastern American mole).

The young are born in the nest, and a brood usually contains 2 to 7 young. Babies are born naked, but after 2 weeks they are completely covered with fur, and at the age of 22 days they open their eyes. For about a month, small moles feed on their mother's milk, and at the age of about 35 days they leave their mother's nest and go in search of unoccupied territory. At this time, many young animals die from the teeth of predators or under the wheels of cars.

Enemies in nature

In nature, moles have few enemies: due to the specific smell, predators practically do not eat these animals. Foxes, cats and dogs catch them more out of “sporting” interest. And only badgers can eat them.

However, pets to some extent control the number of moles and rodents near humans. It has been noticed that in private houses and cottages where there are pets - cats and dogs, there are practically no moles in the areas.

Moles: benefits and harm

The common mole is of greatest economic importance. In the past, this animal was considered as an object of fur trade. Mole fur is beautiful and quite durable. It gained particular popularity at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, when the harvesting of skins was carried out on such a massive scale that the species began to need protection. Record figures were achieved in 1928, when 20 million skins were mined worldwide. In the USSR, mole hunting was carried out until the 1980s. Today in Russia they are not mined, which has become one of the reasons for the increase in their numbers. In addition, mild winters and improved conditions for its reproduction and nutrition, which include the spread of well-groomed lawns and flower beds, and an increase in the number of greenhouses for growing plants, favor the growth of common mole populations.

By exterminating plant pests such as chafer larvae, click beetles, mole crickets and others, moles undoubtedly benefit agriculture and forestry. It is impossible not to note their contribution to the processes of soil formation: the animals loosen the soil and, thanks to their tunnels, the process of aeration occurs in the soil, which can save the area from becoming swampy.

However, we also have to deal with the negative consequences of the digging activity of these animals. Thus, numerous molehills reduce the productivity of pastures, lead to changes in plant communities, and damage to agricultural equipment during mechanized harvesting. Moles do not feed directly on plants, but when digging they can cause direct harm to them, pushing seedlings out of the ground or digging up roots, which, depending on weather conditions, leads to the plants getting wet, drying out, or freezing. The construction of burrows by moles sometimes leads to damage to drainage systems.

However, it is necessary to distinguish the harmful activities of moles from the harm caused by mouse-like rodents. First of all, you need to pay attention to the presence or absence of gnawed plants. If gnaws are found on plants, the culprits are mouse-like rodents. In rodents, burrows usually have open exits, while moles create molehills, which, as a rule, do not have an opening. Molehills are often confused with the soil discharges of the water vole, which switches to underground habitat in the fall. Invasion by a vole may be indicated by flattened outbursts, gnawed roots, or plant parts stored in burrows.

The fate of many moles around the world is to die at the hands of farmers. For many centuries they have been caught in traps and poisoned with chemicals.

In contact with

The mole animal is a subclass of beast and belongs to the mammal class. It is also included in the order of insectivores and shrews. Scientists consider the European mole to be one of the funniest and most interesting animals. In educational literature it is also found under the name ordinary.

Description

So, since most of its life, almost 99%, the European mole is underground, it has large and strong front paws, vaguely reminiscent of shovels. The body length of an adult animal is approximately 13-17 centimeters, the tail can reach 5 centimeters and the weight varies from 65 to 123 grams. All moles have small eyes with a narrow slit no more than 0.5 mm. Another feature of the animal is that it lacks an external ear.

The European mole has large, dense claws. The fur coat of such an animal resembles a velvet cape to the touch, it is just as short and soft. The abdominal cavity is always an order of magnitude lighter than the back - this is due to the fact that the animal almost constantly moves underground. Shedding wool (molting) occurs no more than 4 times a year.

At a young age, the color of the animal is much lighter than that of an adult animal. There are several types of colors in nature:

• White, with singed flowers.
• A variety of brown and gray.

The European mole can move backwards through its burrows - this is due to the fact that the mole has tactile hairs on its tail. Since the movement of this animal is quite active, the fur is wiped very often. The nose is quite peculiar, the nostrils are on the sides.

What does it eat?

The European mole menu is varied. It includes:

• a family of invertebrates (most often earthworms);
• slugs;
• woodlice;
• different types of insects (caterpillars, beetles, mole crickets);
• spiders;
• centipedes;
• mice;
• frogs.

The most important thing is that the “food” is not fast moving. The norm of food allowance at a time can reach no more than 25 g of worms, in 24 hours - no more than 60-70 g of various foods. Unlike other mammals, the common mole can live without eating for a maximum of 18 hours, after which it dies. For the winter period, moles are stored all summer, most often these are paralyzed earthworms. Although this animal does not hibernate, it takes in significantly less food during this period than in summer.

What are the differences between a male and a female?

In nature, a female and a male, apart from the usual sexual characteristics, have no differences. Both in appearance and behavior in the environment they are no different.

How does it behave in the environment?

Much of the animal's life process involves digging. Thus, he moves in the direction he needs. The process itself looks as if a mole is drilling a tunnel and spreading the earth with its front paws.

It lives exclusively in soft soil, since the animal’s teeth are not strong enough to gnaw on hard rocks. The animal's dug tunnels are also often used by other, smaller animals, which often serve as food for the mole.

In addition to living on land, the mole is capable of swimming, although it must be in a small river or lake. It appears extremely rarely on the surface of the earth, as it is too clumsy and moves almost crawling, leaving behind a corresponding furrow with paw prints.

Throughout its life, it breaks through a mass of labyrinths up to 6 cm in diameter. In appearance, such labyrinths resemble multi-tiered children's playgrounds. The depth of the structures is up to approximately 60 cm. The animal divides its labyrinths-passages into two types:

Residential - which the animal uses as a kind of transition from a watering hole to feeding passages.
Feed traps are so-called traps that catch small mammals—animals that serve as food for the mole. On average, such traps reach up to 5 cm in depth. From the outside they are very easy to notice, the “cap” of such a trick is slightly raised;

The place that serves as a nest is the most protected and is located underground at a depth of up to two meters. The animal tries to hide it under stones, stumps, and roots in places that are very difficult for anyone to reach. The stern and living passages are connected only by inclined special passages.

This is interesting! In one night the animal is able to dig a tunnel up to 40 meters.

The habitat is visually very easy to detect; the mole throws excess soil to the surface. The animal is active all 12 months and does not hibernate, like many other forest inhabitants. Tunnels are dug below the frozen soil. In the event of severe frosts, the ground can freeze a meter or more. Under such conditions, most often the mole dies from lack of food. During hot summers and drought, almost the same process occurs.

Already an adult animal is very attached to its hole and even if it is carried far away, it will still return “home”. A young animal can move about 2-3 kilometers away from its native nest to settle. The European mole does not like its neighbors and shows aggression. Sometimes it can even kill. Such an animal lives for about 5-6 years.

How does it reproduce?

Reproduction in the European mole, like in many animals, begins in the spring, from about mid-March to early May. The duration of pregnancy in a female is up to 42 days. The common mole is born bald and blind, weighing no more than three grams. In one litter, a female can produce from two to ten small moles. In 12 months, the female brings one litter, in very rare cases two. After one month, the animal reaches the size of an almost adult animal.

As the animal grows, it becomes unfriendly and aggressive towards its fellows. At about one and a half to two months, the animal leaves its parental nests and independently digs its own, in which there will be no “neighbors and cohabitants.”

Natural opponents

European moles both feed on animals smaller than themselves and are food for large predators. But because of the specific smell they remain alive, many predators refuse to hunt the common mole. The most common opponents in natural selection are:

• foxes;
• martens;
• caresses;
• owl;
• buzzard.

Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages of having a mole:

1. Moles cause enormous damage to gardeners and gardeners. Since vegetable gardens have very soft soil and a large number of insects and other animals that are food for moles, they settle in such places. Their explosions destroy the root system of the plant, after which it begins to dry out and dies in a short period of time.
2. If a mole constantly lives on the site, sooner or later the land loses all its fertile properties, and every year the harvest becomes smaller and poorer.
3. The European mole feeds on the earthworm, which in turn brings great benefits to fields and vegetable gardens.

Pros of having a mole
Despite the large amount of damage that the animal brings, there are also positive aspects. The animal feeds on harmful larvae and field mice.

Curious facts

1. The European mole has a very large population and is therefore not protected as a species by law. Previously prized for its velvet-like fur. The leather is very strong and pleasant to the touch; it was previously mined in large quantities. Today, people have practically abandoned production from such material.
2. The common mole is very useful in natural selection; thanks to its diet, the soil is deprived of harmful insects, larvae, worms and at the same time enriched with organic matter.
3. Constant loosening has a beneficial effect on the condition of the soil. The supply of moisture and oxygen to underground areas improves.

In developed countries, animal control occurs in a humane manner. For example, many people use drugs with a pungent odor (popularly they resort to chopped onions, garlic or kerosene). Loud sounds and ultrasounds are also used. Today, a large number of ultrasonic repellent devices have been produced.

Video: European mole (Talpa europaea)

Life activity of moles.
Moles are active around the clock and all year round; winter passages either lie very deep - below the freezing level of the soil, or simply under the snow. In the spring, these snow passages melt from under the snow. In severe winters with little snow, when the ground freezes noticeably deeper than half a meter, moles die in large numbers. In the warm season, moles are most active. At the beginning of summer they are busy building feeding passages to feed the growing brood, and at the end - preparing the nest for winter. Unlike rodents, they cannot gnaw the ground with their incisors, so they live only in places with soft, loose soil.
What do moles eat?
In one night, the mole makes up to 50 meters of passage, and the total area of ​​the passage system can reach 800 sq.m., the main part of which is near-surface feeding passages. The mole's skin releases a pheromone, the smell of which attracts earthworms, which themselves gather in the tunnels, so that the mole can only “harvest.” If there is an excess of food, the mole immobilizes the worms with a bite to the head and stores them in reserve. For the winter it makes food reserves, usually consisting of paralyzed earthworms, which the mole bites through their heads. Up to several hundred immobilized worms were found in mole holes. The composition of a mole's winter food does not differ from that of summer, but in winter its need for food decreases. Moles do not hibernate.
How moles reproduce.
Moles, like many other rodents, divide territories and actively defend them. They do not live in large “families”, driving out strangers. Females give birth to 2-5 blind, hairless cubs in late spring. Mole fur quickly wears off on the ground, so they have up to 4 molts a year, turning into one another. Closer to autumn, the “parents” drive the grown brood out of their territory into “adulthood”, where they themselves seize their own plot of land.
How to detect traces of a mole.
Moles lead an underground lifestyle, but their passages can also be seen from the outside, since when digging, the mole raises the ceiling of the passage in the form of an earthen roller. There are no earth emissions. In open areas, where the soil often and deeply dries out, the passages take place at a depth of 10-50 cm. The mole cannot lift a layer of such thickness, so excess soil is thrown to the surface through temporary vertical channels from the burrow, forming characteristic molehills. The molehill above the system of nesting passages can be especially large, up to 70-80 cm. The track of a mole that has emerged to the surface is a deep furrow in the snow or sand with prints of its hind paws at the bottom of the furrow and its front paws on the sides.
Damage caused by moles on the site.
Moles can be blamed for damaging lawns. Heaps of earth thrown onto the surface of the lawn contribute to the formation of hummocks, and this complicates the use of mowers. We have to use tussock cutters to correct the meadows. Loose, fertile soil in gardens and orchards is always replete with earthworms, and moles love to hunt here. In search of food, they can damage the roots of fruit, berry and vegetable plants. Mouse-like rodents and water voles often penetrate here through mole passages, eating roots, root crops, and potatoes. It is advisable not to allow moles into gardens and vegetable gardens, therefore the fight against moles and the destruction of moles is a necessary measure.

A huge number of species of various organisms inhabit the water element; most of the planet’s fauna has settled on land. But the world, rich in life, also represents an underground kingdom. And its members are not only small primitive forms: worms, arachnids, insects, their larvae, bacteria and others.

Creatures that spend their days underground also include mammals. Among these creatures are mole. Animal this has not been studied nearly as thoroughly as we would like. And the reason is in the characteristics of such creatures that inhabit inaccessible areas hidden from human eyes.

These representatives of the fauna are classified as members of the mole family. The physiological details of their appearance prove how well they are adapted to the unusual way of life that is inherent to them, that is, underground. Here, first of all, it would be nice to mention their paws, without which it would be impossible for such creatures to survive in their usual environment.

Moles are not rodents; they dig the ground not with their teeth, but actively using their forelimbs. Therefore, their rounded hands, reminiscent of oars, are quite wide, with palms turned outward. And their widely spaced fingers are equipped with powerful, large claws.

The hind legs are not endowed with enormous strength and dexterity, but mainly serve to rake out soil previously loosened by the forelimbs.

Other features of appearance (they, like those already mentioned, are clearly visible in the photo there is a mole) include: an elongated muzzle, an elongated nose, a short, thin tail. The body of such animals is covered with short fur, so that its length does not interfere with the movement of these creatures along underground paths.

In addition, their fur grows in an unusual way - upward. It is endowed with the property of bending in any direction, which again facilitates unhindered underground movement. The hair tone is usually gray or black-brown.

But there are also exceptions, depending on the variety and some structural features. Albinos are also found among such animals, although very rarely.

Describing the senses of these creatures, it should be noted that these animals are almost blind. Actually, they don’t need good vision. And the small beady eyes of moles are only capable of distinguishing darkness from light.

Their structure is very primitive and unlike the organs of vision of most mammals, and some constituent parts, for example, retinas and lenses, are completely absent. But the eyes of these underground creatures, almost indistinguishable to prying eyes in the thick fur of the animals, are perfectly protected, covered from the ingress of soil particles into them by mobile, often completely retractable eyelids. But the sense of smell and hearing in moles is well developed. And small ears are also protected by skin folds.

In general, the underground world of mammals is very diverse, because enough is known animals, look like moles because they prefer to hide from the dangers of life and the vicissitudes of the climate underground. These include, for example, the shrew - a creature with an elongated muzzle, covered with velvety short fur.

And not all of the mentioned representatives of the animal kingdom necessarily live exclusively and only underground. Yes, they are not there all the time of their existence, but rather they look for shelter by digging holes or finding shelters made by someone else.

Among these are muskrats, which are considered close relatives of moles and are classified in the same family. They are also drawn underground, although they spend half of their existence in water. Living in burrows are, in addition, the well-known foxes and badgers, as well as chipmunks, wild rabbits, a huge number of rodents and many others.

Types of moles

In total, there are about four dozen varieties of moles on Earth. The most common and widely known of them is the common mole, which is also called the European mole. These animals, as you might guess, are found in Europe and are distributed all the way to Western Siberia. They usually weigh no more than 100 g and have a body length of up to 16 cm.

Among other members of the family, some deserve special mention.

1. Japanese shrew mole- a small animal only about 7 cm long. In some cases, it can be seen among the tall grass in the meadows and forests of the islands of Tsushima, Dogo, Shikoku and Honshu. The long proboscis of such creatures, located on the elongated muzzle, is equipped with sensitive tactile hairs.

The tail is of considerable size, fluffy, and quite often accumulates quite large reserves of fat. Sometimes it happens that such animals crawl to the surface of the earth in search of food and even climb low bushes and trees.

2. American shrew mole. Such animals are common in some states of Canada and the USA. Their fur is soft, thick, and can be black with a bluish tint or have a dark gray hue. Representatives of this species are similar in many ways to members of the species just described, so much so that some zoologists are inclined to consider them the closest relatives.

Such creatures are approximately the same in size. In addition, the length of the body of American individuals is greatly complemented by a rather large tail. Such animals can also climb bushes and swim well.

3. Siberian mole, also called Altai. In many ways it is similar to European moles, however, its female and male representatives, unlike the latter, are significantly different in appearance. And above all in size.

These are quite large moles. Males from the Siberian variety can have a length of almost 20 cm and reach a weight of 145 g, females are much smaller. The fur of the animals has dark shades: brown, brown, black, gray-lead.

The body of such creatures is round, massive, and the legs are short. An oblong proboscis stands out on the narrowed muzzle. Such animals do not have ear shells at all.

4. Caucasian mole. It is also similar to individuals of the European variety, but individual elements of structure and appearance are very unique. Their eyes are even more underdeveloped than those of other moles. They are practically invisible and hidden under a thin layer of skin.

Juveniles of this species boast rich, shiny black fur. However, with age, its shades fade.

5. Mogera ussuriensis- a very interesting variety, the representatives of which are famous for their size, being, according to these indicators, record holders among all members of the mole family. The body weight of male specimens can reach 300 g or more, and the body size is about 210 mm.

Such animals are common in Korea and China. In Russian open spaces they are found in the Far East and in the regions adjacent to this region. The eyes and ears of such creatures are underdeveloped. Painted in brown tones with the addition of brown and gray tints, in some cases with a metallic tint. This species of living beings has been declared rare, and active measures are being taken to protect it.

6. Star-nosed mole- North American resident, also called starfish. The nose of such animals has a very unique, truly peculiar structure and consists of a large number of small tentacles equipped with many receptors.

All these devices are designed for successful search for food. Otherwise, such animals are similar to European moles in all details except for the unusually long tail. These creatures love water very much, swim beautifully and dive expertly.

Lifestyle and habitat

To better understand what animal is a mole, the life of these interesting creatures should be described in detail. As is already clear, their existence takes place underground. But not all types of soil are suitable for them. Therefore, these representatives of the fauna prefer to inhabit damp areas with fairly loose soil.

On the other hand, they simply could not cope, because they spend their lives endlessly digging numerous underground networks of passages and labyrinths. People rarely see such animals, since moles are extremely rare on the surface.

However, sometimes you can see characteristic earthen mounds in fields and meadows. This is the result of the life activity of such creatures. After all, moles prefer to throw excess soil onto the surface.

Due to the unique nature of their existence, moles are included in the list of very dangerous and daring agricultural pests. Underground, they disturb crops and break plant roots. But we should not forget that at the same time the animals loosen the soil, from which the oxygen exchange in it is greatly activated, which promotes the vital activity of the same plants and beneficial microorganisms.

For moles there is not much difference: day on earth or night, which is not surprising, given their blindness and lifestyle. These animals have completely different biorhythms.

They stay awake for up to four hours, then rest, then again indulge in activity for a similar period of time. It should be noted that such animals are not able to sleep for more than three hours.

You can’t travel much underground, and therefore these animals don’t make large movements. The only exception is the unusually hot summer periods. At this time, moles tend to move closer to rivers and other fresh water bodies so that their bodies do not lack moisture.

Mole not a social lover. And this applies to all living beings, and to relatives in particular. Such animals are inveterate loners, in addition, they are great owners. Each of them strives to take possession of an individual plot of land, the rights to which they certainly want to protect, and very zealously.

Moles are not known for their flexible nature. And sometimes they are extremely aggressive, and this applies not only to males, but also to the female half. To imagine the population density of moles, we note that on an area of ​​1 hectare, from several specimens of such animals to three dozen can settle.

If moles happen to be neighbors, they try not to intersect with each other. Each of the animals has its own underground passages, where they tend to stay, without maintaining relationships with their relatives. If these creatures accidentally collide, they try to disperse as quickly as possible without creating problems for themselves.

Although each of them in their hearts would gladly occupy the territory of the other. Therefore, if a neighbor dies, those living in the territories adjacent to him will find out about it quite quickly. And those of their moles that turn out to be quicker seize the vacant living space, but in some cases divide it between the applicants.

How do these animals distinguish occupied areas from free ones? These creatures leave marks on their properties, and the substance they secrete contains a very odorous secretion.

During winter periods, moles do not hibernate. They prepare for cold weather in a different way: they dig deep holes and accumulate fat and food reserves. Only underground are these animals safe. When they go outside, they become completely defenseless. Therefore, they can be successfully attacked by martens, eagle owls, foxes and other predators.

Nutrition

These creatures belong to the order of insectivores, therefore, their diet corresponds to this. Soil animal mole It mainly obtains food for itself in feeding passages, that is, underground tunnels dug by it, with the help of its nose, which perfectly distinguishes odors.

It eats slugs, beetle larvae, and earthworms. But these underground inhabitants also hunt when they come to the surface. There they catch beetles, ants, frogs, and small rodents. These animals, contrary to some unreliable rumors, do not consume plant food at all. The nutritional metabolism of moles is quite intense, and they require approximately 150 g of animal food per day.

By the end of autumn, in preparation for the cold, such animals begin to make winter supplies for themselves, immobilizing their prey through a bite. Such pantries, usually located in close proximity to the nest, contain more than 2 kg of food.

Reproduction and lifespan

Unsociable moles make exceptions for short mating periods, since they are forced to meet individuals of the opposite sex in order to procreate. But for males such communication turns out to be very short-lived.

After intercourse, which again takes place underground, they return to their usual lonely life and are not at all interested in their offspring. Mating occurs once a year, and its timing depends largely on the area where the animals live.

The females bear the offspring for approximately 40 days, then several (up to five) poorly formed, not covered with hair cubs are born. Mole – mammal, therefore, it is clear that newborns begin to feed on mother’s milk, which has sufficient fat content.

But they develop quickly, and therefore after a couple of weeks they gradually move on to other types of food, consuming earthworms in large quantities. At the age of one month, young animals are already able to independently dig underground passages, obtain food and exist without maternal care.

Therefore, a new generation of moles finds their own free territory to settle in.

These animals can live up to the age of seven. But in natural conditions they often die much earlier from the teeth of predators and a variety of diseases.

In addition, moles can swim. They are able to swim across small rivers. This is evidenced by the underground passages, which, having been interrupted before the reservoir, continued after. The animals are not adapted to exist on the surface, so they can be seen there extremely rarely. And even when the mole appears, he behaves clumsily, since he is completely blind and is not used to perceiving any environment different from his moves. Therefore, he moves by crawling. His vision is adapted only to distinguish light from darkness. And it is precisely thanks to these seemingly negative properties of its physical structure that the mole is ideally adapted to life underground.

Moles can be easily recognized by the following external signs:

glossy skin with short black fur;

an elongated proboscis, at the bottom of which there are nostrils;

large and widely spaced front shovel-shaped paws with palms facing upward;

small, poorly developed hind legs;

small eyes with underdeveloped vision;

body length is approximately 110–170 millimeters, and weight ranges from 60–150 grams;

short tail.

The life cycle of the mole family can be represented as follows:

in the period from the beginning of February to the end of May, the female brings up to four cubs in one brood;

up to nine weeks are spent on the formation of young animals into adults;

after six months (maximum), the parents leave their fully formed brood in the familiar network of underground passages and begin creating a new one.

Due to their incompatibility with other individuals, insectivores spend most of their lives underground alone, with the exception of the time when their offspring are formed. They rarely change their habitat, and basically their entire life is concentrated inside one tunnel system. Moles have two musk glands, with the help of which they produce a specific smell of musk, which can attract both other relatives and earthworms that serve as food.

To survive, a mole of average weight (eighty grams) needs to consume at least forty grams of earthworms per day. The main feature of the network of tunnels dug by a mole is that various insects and worms penetrate them, becoming simple prey. For a long time, moles are able to retain their prey with bites to the head. The network of underground passages grows when the diggers begin to feel the need for food.

For full life, a mole of average body weight (80 grams) needs to consume about 40 grams of earthworms daily. The tunnels are designed so that there is enough easy prey in them in the form of various insects and worms. If the available “food” comes to an end, then the network of tunnels immediately begins to expand.

The length of underground passages can reach hundreds of meters. They can be divided into two types:

1. The passages are located almost at the very surface of the earth. Their purpose is to search for food. These are kind of traps for worms and insects. It is known that a mole can survive without food for only 10-15 hours.
2. The passages of the second type go deep and serve as the dwelling of animals. Since these animals do not hibernate in winter, deep passages provide them with an excellent place to survive the cold.

In addition, the animals naturally need water, so individual passages break through directly to nearby bodies of water.

Favorite habitats of moles and their types

The favorite habitat of the mole family is deciduous and broad-leaved forests. In addition, moles can safely be called the sworn enemies of gardeners, because their search for prey often leads them to gardens and fields - the main habitat of earthworms and other insects. Their networks of underground tunnels cause a huge variety of problems: from spoiling the appearance of the landscape and the formation of earthen slides on it to the destruction of many cultivated plants. Moles love fertile soil and cannot be found in peaty or, for example, sandy soil.

But, oddly enough, the presence of moles in vegetable gardens and garden plots also brings benefits: by loosening the soil becomes softer and more moist, and harmful insects gradually begin to disappear from the garden, causing irreparable harm to plants. Although moles destroy the root system, plants and root crops are not included in their diet.

Thus, the main habitats of colonies are:

1. Meadows.
2. Forests (mainly young birch trees and deciduous coppices).
3. Clearings.
4. Areas near roadways.
5. Garden plots.
6. City parks.

Preference is given to places that are well heated by the sun's rays and contain a large amount of humus and food (worms, larvae, insects). The humidity of the area also plays an important role: it should be moderate.

Moles will definitely avoid dense large forests, pine forests, swamps and areas of soil on which crops with a strong root system grow.

The area chosen for residence should provide food all year round. The fact is that during dry periods and during frosts, worms move deeper into the ground and become inaccessible to blind hunters.

The choice of place to live depends, among other things, on temperature and frequency of precipitation. If the selected area is accompanied by unstable climate conditions, the animals will tend to move closer to the forest, where the ground freezes less during the winter and moisture is better retained in the summer months.

Moles are very sensitive, so they themselves regulate their descent into lowlands or migration to higher points until the conditions become comfortable.

What do moles eat and what do they eat?

Scientists have long been interested in the diet of moles. Numerous studies have established that what moles eat is exclusively of animal origin. Plant fibers enter the animals' bodies either accidentally or in the stomachs of eaten worms. And even once the vegetation enters the mole’s body, it cannot be digested and simply leaves the body.

The search for food is carried out by digging more and more new passages, when there is no one to hunt in the old ones. If there is a shortage of their usual food - worms, insects and larvae - moles eat small vertebrates and even frogs and rats.

In the process of constant work underground, moles spend a huge amount of energy, the restoration of which requires impressive amounts of nutrition. The animals have a very good metabolism, which also affects their appetite. During the day, the individual absorbs an amount of food exceeding its own weight (70-140 grams). If the mole is very hungry, then the caught victim in the form of, for example, a worm is eaten entirely on the surface of the earth. If the hunger is not brutal, the prey is carried away and eaten inside the passage.

The mole's metabolism is so good that the animal can digest 50 grams of food in just 30 minutes. And this is provided that the animal’s stomach holds only 20 grams. After 4-6 hours he is ready for the next meal. On average, several hours pass between such feedings, which are accompanied by a sleepy state.

In the cold season, animals are less voracious, since they dig less and, accordingly, spend less energy.

Diggers are very creative in securing supplies for the winter. They catch worms and then simply bite their heads. This immobilizes the worms, but keeps them alive. In this form, the worms are laid in rows along the walls of the passages.

In terms of water, moles are also very greedy. Therefore, they invariably live near some body of water to which access is provided.

Reproduction

Fertilization of females begins around the end of April - beginning of May. The gestation period is 5-6 weeks. An average of 5-6 moles are born in one litter. One female is most often limited to one litter during the year. But in some areas there are also two litters (for example, in Belarus).

The cubs are fed for 4 weeks. As the young grow older, they become aggressive towards each other. At the age of 2 months, their independent lifestyle begins.

Mass dispersal of individuals occurs from the beginning of July and ends at the end of August. This process proceeds quite quickly, since the average speed of movement of the animals is 5 meters per minute. In 20 hours, young individuals are able to cover a distance of 650 meters. Adults develop a dispersal speed of up to 50 meters in 20 minutes.

The following four species of the mole family are common in Russia: