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Photo: G. Bradley
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UK
Safari Tip:
Get the low-down on moles with this fully illustrated, fact filled book - click
here
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Latin name: Talpa europaea
Size: Moles grow to a length of around 15cm. and weigh approximately 100 to 150 grams.
Distribution: Found in most of lowland Britain, but not in Northern Ireland.
Months seen: All year round
Habitat: The mole is rarely seen, since it spends most of its time underground in soil.
Food: Their favourite food is earthworms. A mole will only eat enough worms to satisfy its appetite. Any leftover worms are prevented from escaping by biting off their heads. They are then stored in a special part of the tunnel, known as the 'moles larder'.
Special features: Despite spending so much time in soil, the mole remains fairly clean. This is because its fur is waterproof. In addition its short fur can lay in any direction, so the mole can move forwards or backwards in a tunnel, without jamming its hair in the tunnel walls.
In the late 1800's moleskin clothing was the height of fashion in Britain, and there were professional mole catchers, known as
"Wanters", whose sole job was to kill and skin huge numbers of moles. By 1905 over a million skins a year were being sold in London, and twelve million a year were being sent to the United States!
Moles are very active animals, working both day and night, and only stopping for short periods of rest.
 You can see where the mole is tunneling, because every few metres they rise to the surface with a heap of freshly excavated soil. This can make them unpopular with gardeners.
A mole can move around 6 kilos of soil every 20 minutes. That's equivalent to a human weighing around 70 kilos moving approximately 4 tons of soil in 20 minutes!
A Mole has 44 teeth, more than any other mammal in Britain. Being fiercely territorial, the mole uses its canine teeth to fight with other moles which invade its space. Because they spend most of their life underground in total darkness, it is believed they have poor eyesight. They have a lifespan of up to 3 years.
Did You Know?
A mole can do a complete u-turn anywhere in its network of underground tunnels. If you can imagine yourself in total darkness, in a long tunnel, the same diameter as the width of your shoulders, having to turn around and go back the way you came. This will give you some idea of the physical skill involved.
Moles - A Pain in the Grass!
UK Safari Mammal Section
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