Moles

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Last revised: 22 November 2007

A Picture of a Mole

Description

Moles are silver grey to black in colour, around 12-15cm in length and weigh around 70 - 100gms.

Their fur lies in either direction so that they can move forwards and backwards through their tunnels with ease. They have sensory hairs on their heads, forefeet and tail, which allows them to pick up information from vibrations in the ground.

They have spade like front feet which are used for digging and fully formed eyes that can distinguish light and dark. Their ears are small but their hearing is very good and helps them to find food, sense predators and other moles, they are also good swimmers.

Earthworms are the moles main diet but they also eat insect larvae, molluscs and other invertebrates. Moles are solitary by nature and live for the most of the time in their tunnel system.

Distribution

Moles are found in most of Europe except for Ireland and live in grassland, deciduous woodland areas, playing fields, parks, golf courses, and private gardens.

Life cycle

The mole will live for approximately three years and the breeding season is between February and June. The mole only has one litter of young a year and the gestation period is four weeks. The litter of young is between two and seven and the young are born blind and without fur. The mother feeds them for four to five weeks after that they leave the nest to fend for themselves and soon after that they will make a home of their own. Moles do not hibernate and are active all year round.

Significance

Due to the moles tunnelling behaviour they cause damage to land by the unsightly mole hills they cause. On lawns and golf courses the area disfigured by the mole hill prevents the grass from growing and allows weeds to grow. Where they have been digging under crops it can cause some of the crop to die or have its growth stunted.

Control Methods

Various repellent devices are available and have varying degrees of effectiveness in eradicating moles.

Moles can be trapped but specialist traps have to be used. The use of traps is time consuming and other animals and people can spring them by accident.

Poisons are also used to eradicate moles but you will need professional treatment, as there is strict legislation in force and special licences have to be applied for to use these poisons.

The Council does not treat moles and for professional treatment you should approach an independent pest control company, details of which can be found in local telephone directories and Yellow Pages.