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Key Information

Moles

Species 42 species
Diet Insectivore
Length 2 to 9 inches
Weight 0.25 to 7.76 ounces
Lifespan 2 to 6 years
Classification Mammalia > Eulipotyphla > Talpoidea
Conservation Status Varies
Habitat Temperate areas, mostly in meadows, floodplains, prairies, forests and fields

Learning Point

  • Moles are a family of burrowing mammals, famous for poor sight, and more famous for leaving mole hills wherever they dig their tunnels. While considered pests by many, they cause less problems than many think. They help keep insects in balance in our countryside and gardens.

Project

  • Draw a mole burrowing through the ground.
  • Overview
  • X-Ray
European Mole
Muséum de Toulouse, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Skeleton of a Mole
Muséum de Toulouse, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Location

Places North America, Asia and Europe

Fun Facts

  • Moles are not blind, but do have poor vision. They have improved abilities in their other senses to help them move around and find food.
  • Moles might damage plants, but they don’t eat them.
  • There are a variety of animals that are mole-like, though not all are considered “true moles” by scientists.
  • The star-nosed mole uses its unusual nose to help it detect its food.

Past Lessons

106 November 29, 2023 (North America)
No Past Lessons

Upcoming Lessons

No Upcoming Lessons