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Mole Facts & Worksheets

the common name for any of the small insectivorous mammals well adapted to a subterranean lifestyle

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A common name for any of the small insectivorous mammals well adapted to a subterranean lifestyle, known for having a cylindrical body, velvety fur, tiny inconspicuous eyes and ears, reduced hindlimbs, and short forelimbs with large paws.

See the fact file below for more information on the mole or alternatively, you can download our 27-page Mole worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Description

  • True moles possess thickset, cylindrical bodies, with a short neck, and are covered with light brown to dark gray or light black fur. The majority are small, reaching only 15 cm in length. The North American mole, the American shrew-mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii), is the smallest of all the species, only 10 cm in length, including a 3-cm-long tail weighing only 10 g. The Russian desman (Desmana moschata) is the largest, having a body that is 18 to 21 cm long and weighing about 400 to 520 g.
  • Most mole species seem to be solitary, but the Russian desman tends to live in small, usually non-kin related, parties of two to five individuals and appears to have a complicated communication and social system. The star-nosed mole is also assumed to be colonial.
  • Moles have small rudimentary eyes coated with fur or skin. Despite having the ability to detect light, their eyes have little visual sensitivity. They are generally functionally blind and get much of their sensory input from the touch-sensitive Eimer’s organs at the tip of their long, bi-lobed snout. Their ears are not noticeable, but they have a great sense of hearing.
  • Their forelimbs are short, broad, and robust, aiding them in digging and giving them a body structure like that of a spade with digging claws.
  • Moles tunnel underground, digging about 15 to 20 m daily. Most species are excellent swimmers and some are semi-aquatic. The star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata), for example, lives in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, preferring wet lowland areas as they find food along the bottoms of streams and ponds. Similar to other moles, these species dig shallow surface tunnels for foraging; sometimes, these tunnels lead to an exit underwater.
  • The Russian desman (Desmana moschata) is a small semi-aquatic mole found in Volga, Don River, and Ural River basins in Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. It digs burrows into the banks of ponds and slow moving streams, but chooses small, overgrown ponds with a sufficient number of insects and amphibians. It has webbed hind feet and has a laterally flattened tail, a feature adapted for its aquatic habitat.  
  • Moles inhabit North America, Europe, and Asia.
  • Male moles are called boars, females are sows. A group of moles is a labour. In the United Kingdom, moles are also known as “moldywarp” or “moldywarpes”.

Diet

  • Moles are carnivores with a diet that also consists of small creatures, such as insects. Most species consume earthworms and other small invertebrates. There are also instances when they will catch small mice at the entrance of their burrows. 
  • Once their prey is caught, moles will either keep it for later or feed it to their young. The star-nosed mole preys on small invertebrates, aquatic insects, worms, and mollusks. The Russian desman may also eat small amphibians.
  • The star-nosed mole can distinguish, catch, and swallow food faster than the human eye can follow.

Pest Status

  • Moles are viewed as agricultural pests in some countries, while others, such as Germany, have laws that make moles protected species but may be killed if given permission. 
  • Problems caused by moles include: (1) contamination of silage with soil particles which makes it unpleasant to other animals, (2) covering of pasture with fresh soil, reduces its size and yield, (3) destruction to agricultural machinery by the exposure of stones, (4) damage to young plants through disturbance of the soil, (5) weed invasion of pasture through the exposure of newly-tilted soil, and (6) damage to drainage systems and watercourses.
  • Other animals, such as weasels and voles, may use their tunnels to reach enclosed areas or plant roots.
  • Moles that burrow in lawns can disturb the soil, forming molehills and causing aesthetic problems, and killing most parts of the lawn.
  • On the contrary, moles enrich the soil by aerating and tilling it, adding to its fertility. They also do not feed on plant roots.
  • Moles are threatened with traps and poisons such as calcium carbide and strychnine. In ancient times, moles were also trapped and treasured for their fur. The term moleskin initially specified the short, silky fur of a mole. Currently, moleskin has been used for heavy cotton fabric, woven, and then sheared to design a short soft pile on one side. The word is also adopted for clothing made from this fabric. 
  • The castor plant is labelled as a “mole plant”, because of its image as a mole-repelling companion plant. It is rich in a number of substances that are either toxic or just unpleasant and may secrete some of these into the soil through its roots. Among its most famous toxins is ricin, an extract used by terrorists as poison. Castor oil is also endorsed as a mole repellent.
  • Other common repellents include cat litter and blood meal to get rid of the mole, or flooding or smoking its burrow. There are also mechanisms sold to trap the mole in its burrow. When one spots a “mole hill” moving, they know where the pest is, and can then stab it. Other “humane” traps are used to catch a mole and transfer it somewhere.

Golden Moles And Marsupial Moles

  • Golden moles under the family Chrysochloridae and marsupial moles of the family Notoryctidae are not related to true moles.
  • Golden moles are small, insectivorous, burrowing mammals endemic to southern Africa. They have short legs and powerful digging claws that help them dig burrows underground. They also have toughened skin on the head and non-functional eyes covered with skin and fur. Similar to marsupial moles, they possess leather-like pads that guard their nostrils.
  • Marsupial moles are rare burrowing mammals of the deserts of western Australia, spending most of their time underground, resurfacing occasionally, most likely after rains. They are also blind, and their eyes have reduced to vestigial lenses under the skin. They lack external ears; instead, they just have a pair of tiny holes hidden under their thick fur.

Mole Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the mole across 27 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Mole worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the mole which is of the family Talpidae under the order Soricomorpha, is the common name for any of the small insectivorous mammals well adapted to a subterranean lifestyle, known for having a cylindrical body, velvety fur, tiny inconspicuous eyes and ears, reduced hindlimbs, and short forelimbs with large paws.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Mole Facts
  • Tell Me About It
  • Whack a Mole
  • Label a Mole
  • Mole Wiki
  • Life Stages
  • Mole Puzzle
  • Moles and Shrews
  • Molecatcher
  • Belowground Living
  • Moles and Humans

Frequently Asked Questions

What are moles good for?

Moles are often viewed as a nuisance, but they actually provide many benefits to the landscape. From their underground tunneling and mound building that helps mix soil nutrients, improve drainage, and increase aeration – to consuming lawn pests such as cranefly larvae and slugs – moles make an important contribution to maintaining healthy landscapes.

What does a mole eat?

They consume up to a whopping 100% of their body weight in bugs, grubs, and earthworms on a daily basis. Let that sink in for a moment – this translates into an average 5-ounce mole consuming approximately 50 pounds of prey annually!

How many babies does a mole have?

Every spring, moles venture underground to give birth to a single litter of two-to-eight babies.

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Link will appear as Mole Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 29, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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