# Eastern Mole (*Scalopus aquaticus*) The Eastern Mole is a small, furry animal that lives underground. It has big front paws that help it dig tunnels in the soil to find food like worms and insects. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 5 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Eastern Mole](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/ScalopusAquaticus.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kenneth Catania, Vanderbilt University, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ScalopusAquaticus.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Mole is a small mammal with a sleek, velvety dark grayish-brown fur coat that can appear almost black. It has large, paddle-like front feet with powerful claws for digging, setting it apart from rodents. Its tiny eyes and ears are hidden beneath its fur, making it look eyeless. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Soricomorpha - **Family:** Talpidae - **Genus:** Scalopus ## Interesting facts - Eastern Moles actually have an extra 'thumb' bone on each front paw for better digging power! - Moles can eat incredibly fast, consuming small prey in mere seconds with their sharp teeth! - Their blood has special hemoglobin that helps them breathe in low-oxygen tunnels! - They create intricate underground tunnel systems that can stretch for hundreds of feet! ## Special abilities - **Super Digger:** Eastern Mole can rapidly tunnel through soil because of its strong, shovel-like front paws, helping it find food and shelter. - **Dirt Diver:** Eastern Mole has backward-facing fur that allows it to move smoothly both forwards and backwards in tight tunnels. - **Sense Seeker:** Eastern Mole can expertly locate prey underground using its highly sensitive nose and whiskers, detecting vibrations. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-20 cm - **Weight:** 0.08-0.14 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-6 years - **Speed:** 3 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-5 - **Gestation:** 30-45 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny tunnelers mostly eat creepy crawlies found underground. - **Primary Foods:** earthworms, grubs, insect larvae, beetles, snails, slugs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Opportunistic predator in open areas. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Hunts moles when they surface. - **Eaten by:** Virginia Opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — May prey on moles found above ground. - **Eaten by:** Striped Skunk (*Mephitis mephitis*) — Digs up and consumes moles. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Moles are shy and prefer to stay underground, so it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Mole? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern Mole? 15-20 cm ### How much does Eastern Mole weigh? 0.08-0.14 kg ### How long does Eastern Mole live? 3-6 years ### How fast can Eastern Mole move? 3 km/h ### What does Eastern Mole eat? These tiny tunnelers mostly eat creepy crawlies found underground. ### Where is Eastern Mole usually found? Grasslands ### How does Eastern Mole hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alfred-b-maclay-gardens-state-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Bainbridge Commercial Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bainbridge-commercial-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Rosemark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rosemark) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [Mobile Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mobile-botanical-gardens) — Alabama, US · Botanical Garden - [Pawnee County Courthouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pawnee-county-courthouse) — Nebraska, US · Historic Site - [T.O. Fuller State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/t-o-fuller-state-park) — Tennessee, US · State Park [View all places to see Eastern Mole](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-mole) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Eastern Mole: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-mole)