Eastern mole
A solitary, burrowing mole of eastern North America.
The eastern mole, also called the common mole (Scalopus aquaticus), is a medium-sized mole native to North America and the sole member of its genus, Scalopus. Its range includes northern Mexico, the eastern United States, and a small area in southwestern Ontario, Canada, where it inhabits forests and open spaces with moist, sandy soil.
This mole has grey-brown fur with a silver-grey underside, a pointed snout, and a short tail. It measures roughly 16 cm (6.3 in) in total length, including a 3 cm (1.2 in) tail, and weighs about 75 g (2.6 oz). Its front feet are broad and shovel-like, adapted for digging, and it has 36 teeth. Its eyes are hidden beneath fur, and its ears are not externally visible. The eastern mole spends nearly all its time underground, foraging in shallow tunnels for earthworms, grubs, beetles, insect larvae, and plant material. It is mostly solitary, except during early spring mating. Females give birth to litters of two to five young in deep burrows.
In Canada, the eastern mole is confined to roughly 2,600 acres in southern Ontario, mainly in Essex and Kent Counties. It prefers soft, sandy, or muddy soils and avoids clay or gravel, which limits suitable habitat.
Most eastern moles across the range belong to the subspecies *S. a. aquaticus*; other subspecies exist only in small, isolated pockets.
When eastern moles occasionally emerge from their burrows, they may be preyed upon by red foxes, gray foxes, coyotes, domestic dogs, domestic cats, raccoons, red-tailed hawks, red-shouldered hawks, broad-winged hawks, eastern screech-owls, barred owls, and barn owls.
The Rockport virus was first discovered in eastern moles.
- scientific_name
- Scalopus aquaticus
- genus
- Scalopus (only species)
- length
- about 16 cm (6.3 in) including a 3 cm (1.2 in) tail
- weight
- about 75 g (2.6 oz)
- teeth
- 36
- litter_size
- two to five young
- diet
- earthworms, grubs, beetles, insect larvae, and plant matter
Lore & Background
The eastern mole spends most of its time underground, foraging in shallow burrows. It feeds on earthworms, grubs, beetles, insect larvae, and plant matter. The mole is mainly solitary except during mating in early spring. The female has a litter of two to five young in a deep burrow. Its front paws are broad and spade-shaped, specialized for digging. Its eyes are covered by fur and its ears are not visible. It has grey-brown fur with silver-grey underparts, a pointed nose and a short tail.
Reader's Guide
The eastern mole is significant as the only species in the genus Scalopus, occupying a broad range across northern Mexico, the eastern United States, and a small area in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Its specialized digging adaptations and subterranean lifestyle make it a key soil aerator and insect predator in moist sandy soils. In Canada, its habitat is limited to about 2,600 acres in southern Ontario, primarily in Essex and Kent Counties, where it prefers soft, sandy, or muddy soils and avoids clay or gravel. The species is also notable as the host of the Rockport virus, first discovered in eastern moles. Predators include red foxes, gray foxes, coyotes, domestic dogs, domestic cats, raccoons, and several hawk and owl species, though predation is rare due to its mostly underground existence.
Did You Know?
- The eastern mole is the only species in the genus Scalopus.
- It has 36 teeth and its eyes are covered by fur.
- In Canada, it is limited to about 2,600 acres in southern Ontario.
- The Rockport virus was first discovered in eastern moles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Eastern mole?
The Eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) is a medium-sized, solitary, burrowing mammal native to eastern North America. It is the sole surviving species in the genus Scalopus and belongs to the broader group of carnivores and insectivores.
Where does the Eastern mole live in the wild?
It occupies forested and open habitats with moist sandy soils throughout the eastern United States, northern Mexico, and the southwestern tip of Ontario, Canada.
How big is an Eastern mole?
An adult measures roughly 16 cm (about 6.3 inches) in total body length, including a 3 cm tail, and weighs around 75 grams. It also carries 36 teeth, a notably high count for a small mammal.
What sets the Eastern mole apart from other North American moles?
It is the only living member of the genus Scalopus, making it taxonomically unique among the continent's mole species. Its preference for sandy, well-drained soils and its solitary underground lifestyle also distinguish its ecological niche.
How does the Eastern mole reproduce?
A single litter typically contains two to five young. The species leads a largely solitary existence, spending most of its life within its own burrow network.
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