What Do Moles Eat?

Star-nosed mole feeds on earthworms, other worms, leeches, and aquatic insects.

• This mole species is considered as one of the globe’s weirdest looking creatures thanks to the presence of 22 ringed rays on its nostrils.
• The star-nosed mole is the world’s fastest eater!
• This mammal inhabits a wide array of regions especially those spotting moist soils. These areas can be marshes, swamps, bogs, areas bordering lakes, ponds, streams, taiga, forests, and riparian lands.

European mole mainly consumes earthworms and other small invertebrates found in the soil.

• This mole species is also referred to as the common mole or the northern mole.
• As the name suggests, the European mole is found in temperate Europe.
• This mammal mostly inhabits areas with deep soils.
• They favor such deep soils because they are suitable for tunneling.

Hairy-tailed moles’ food mainly constitutes of earthworms and insects.

• The hairy-tailed moles can be differentiated from the other moles by particular physical features including their hairy tails.
• They are commonly found in habitats with light and well-drained soils. Such habitats can be forests, mountains, suburban areas, and agricultural lands.

The Caucasian mole mainly consumes earthworms. It also feeds on caterpillars and millipedes.

• The Caucasian mole is an extant species native to Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and Russia.
• This mammal mainly inhabits humid substrates, especially wet meadows, and deciduous forests.

Blind mole primarily feeds on soil invertebrates, especially the earthworms as well.

• The blind moles are genuinely blind due to their tiny eyes are covered with a layer of skin. The blind mole is otherwise known as the Mediterranean mole.
• The blind mole is endemic to the European region.
• It is commonly found in habitats with deep soils with the examples of pastures located in mountainous areas, meadows, and deciduous woodlands.

Eastern ‘moles diet includes earthworms, centipedes, ants, and larvae (beetles).

• The Eastern mole inhabits meadows, fields, open woodland areas, and pastures.
• It can be found frequenting sand and loam soils that are moist.

Hunting, for moles, often requires digging and excavating the ground. These actions are necessary for them to ambush and capture their ground-dwelling prey.

• In the case of moles that feed on aquatic organisms like the star-nosed mole, this animal’s specialized nose allows it to hunt underwater.
• The star-nosed mole’s extraordinary nose, which is also ultra-sensitive, enables it to sniff out its prey located underwater by breathing out a bubble of air in the water and breathing it back in.

Moles tend to be active during quiet times, especially when there is tranquility next to their burrows.

• Further, wildlife researchers have discovered that moles are more active very early in the morning or just before dusk.
• As such, these small organisms will tend to eat during these periods.

Moles can eat about 100% of their weight per day.

• Their high appetite and the need to eat as often can be explained by the fact that they require enough energy to dig tunnels to hunt for their food.

Moles are predated upon by a vast range of organisms that includes but not limited to skunks, weasels, foxes, snakes, hawks, owls, and domesticated cats and dogs.

Moles are essential to the animal food chain because they act as both predators and prey.

• They feed on worms, insect larvae, as well as other small invertebrates, impacting the communities of these organisms. In so doing, they prevent the overpopulation of these animals.
• In their role as prey, it is worth to note they are a desirable source of protein to organisms like foxes, weasels, and snakes.