Star Nosed Mole Facts

The star-nosed mole is a strange-looking animal native to North America. It is a member of the new world mole subfamily known as scalopinae and is related to the common eastern mole. It is a small mammal that lives a subterranean lifestyle and as such has poor eyesight. The species is sometimes viewed as a pest when it builds its burrows underneath gardens. People often trap the mole to remove it from areas where it can cause damage.

  1. Description

    • The mole grows to between 7 and 8 inches in length and weighs up to 2.5 ounces. It has a long, rotund body with dark brown to black fur. Its most distinguishing feature is its red tentacled nose, which is a symmetrical, 22-point, star-shaped fleshy sensory organ. The tentacles can move independently of each other and are used to help the animal find its way. The animal's front limbs are muscular with shovel-like hands that are suited for digging. It also has a relatively long tail, sometimes reaching more than 3 inches in length.

    Habitat and Range

    • The star-nosed mole lives along the east coast of the U.S., as far north as New Foundland and down into areas of Georgia. It has the most northerly range of any other new world mole. It can be found almost anywhere with moist soils that have poor drainage. Forested areas offer suitable habitats as do the banks of rivers and streams. It lives in a network of tunnels that are up to 3 inches wide and extend for almost 900 feet. The tunnels range from 1 inch to 2 feet beneath the surface.The mole's tunneling paws also help it swim, as some tunnels open out into streams.

    Diet and Predators

    • The animal not only uses its nose to find its way but also to feel for food. It finds most of its prey within its burrows including worms that have dug through the walls. A smaller portion of its diet is found in the water where it eats leeches and other aquatic insects as well as crustaceans and small fish. While in its tunnels the mole is generally safe from predators, but it does come above ground more often than most moles and falls prey to owls, hawks, foxes, weasels and skunks. When it is swimming it is also at risk from large-mouth bass and bullfrogs.

    Life Cycle

    • The process by which the moles find a mate is not understood, but it is known that they pair off for the breeding season. The females produce one litter per season, breeding in March to April and giving birth after 45 days. The typical litter ranges from two to seven, but the average is five. At birth, the baby's eyes and ears are closed and its nose star is folded back along its snout. After two weeks eyes and ears open as does the star. The moles reach sexual maturity at around 10 months and only live for three to four years in the wild.