Mole
Talpa europaea
Appearance
- 15cm in length. 75–130g in weight.
- Slate–grey ‘velvety’ fur
- Short palm–like front feet used for digging.
Lifecycle
- 1 litter per year with 3–4 young.
Habits
- Feeds on earthworms, insect larvae and slugs.
- Present on most ground below an altitude of 1000m. Disfigures lawns with hills, damages farm machinery, e.g. combine harvesters, by throwing up stones.
- Livestock may injure their legs in mole tunnels.
- Solitary apart from breeding February to June.