Moles and their burrows

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By Hello, hello,

MOLE
MOLE

A common mole never or rarely leaves its burrow. Since its burrows and tunnels are all underground the food supply is plenty. The mole's main food are earthworms, slugs and insect larvae. They all come through the mole's walls, ceiling and floor. The moment a mole will surface, mainly at night, it will be picked up by an owl.

Nature gave the mole very small eyes, tapering snout, sensitive whiskers and nose which helps to find its way underground. Heavily clawed front feet which are necessary to dig all these tunnels and burrows. The silky black fur was not to its advantage but to the fur hunters.

The mole is active all year round and lives solitary life. Except in the spring when it is their mating season. The female gives birth to three or four young ones between Aril and June. Few moles get as old as three years.

The mole's nesting chamber is in a shape of a football. It lines it with grass, and dry leaves. The chamber is slightly dug deeper to the rest of the many tunnels. The tunnels led from the chamber in all direction which are made while searching for food. The burrow system can be up to 200 yd (180 m) long. You will find the longest tunnel in poor soil.

A mole is only 6 in (15 cm ) long and because of that constant digging, it has to eat all the time. It can happened, especially if the tunnel is near the surface, that some collapse. These tunnels are not very well constructed. The tunnels are also necessary for ventilation for the chamber to bring a steady supply of fresh air. The mole also breaks through the surface to create more fresh air supply. It rarely cuts across other tunnels and therefore the fresh air comes in through one tunnels and exists the other. Therefore, there is a perfectly constructed fresh air supply.

When mole's break through the surface it creates the infamous molehills. Each pile of soil weighs 2 lb (1 kg ). Gardeners and farmers thoroughly hate moles because of that and also the tunnels interfere with plant's roots. On the other hand they eat a lot of insect larvae and slags which could be destructive to plants and also they loosing up the soil.

Hoarding food

A larder of a mole can contain up to a 1000 paralysed worms for the winter to prevent food shortage.  To stop the food going bad, the mole bites the earthworms' head off and this, unbelievable doesn't kill it.  Then with a venomous saliva it paralysis it and stockpiles it.  After that the mole seals up the chamber in its underground burrow system.


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habee profile image

habee  says:
4 weeks ago

We had a bad mole problem when we lived in the country. Good hub!

Hello, hello, profile image

Hello, hello,  says:
4 weeks ago

Thank you for your comment. I gathered you are no friend of them.

Veronica Allen profile image

Veronica Allen  says:
4 weeks ago

So from what I read here, moles are supposed to be good for the soil and plants by keeping the soil aerated and getting rid of all those pesky bugs that can destroy plants.

Hello, hello, profile image

Hello, hello,  says:
4 weeks ago

Yes, but the gardeners and farmers hate them because they spred and soon you get nothing but molehills. Thank you for adding your opinion.

Dame Scribe profile image

Dame Scribe  says:
4 weeks ago

I could never stand the cat leaving them or mice at the door, lol. Great Hub! :)

Hello, hello, profile image

Hello, hello,  says:
4 weeks ago

Hello, Dame Scribe, thank you for your comment. I know, it is not very pleasant.

flread45 profile image

flread45  says:
4 weeks ago

They might be good for soil,but raise hell with plants.

Hello, hello, profile image

Hello, hello,  says:
4 weeks ago

I agree with you, firead45, and that is why gardeners and farmers are no friends of theirs. Thank you coming and posting your comment.

fastfreta profile image

fastfreta  says:
3 weeks ago

Being a city girl, I can't relate to these little fellows. But your hub was great. Thank you for your research into these mysterious little creatures. Great hub.

Hello, hello, profile image

Hello, hello,  says:
3 weeks ago

I thank you for writing such appreciating message. Glad you enjoyed it.

creativeone59 profile image

creativeone59  says:
3 weeks ago

Thank you Hello hello for a very interesting and unique hub, thank you for sharing it. creativeone59

Hello, hello, profile image

Hello, hello,  says:
3 weeks ago

Thank you creativeone59 for stopping and a lovely comment.

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