THE UNSUNG HERO OF THE UNDERWORLD
Moles are very rarely seen as they spend most of their lives underground. With black velvet fur and front paws that look like shovels these guys are truly built for life underground.
Moles are short stocky little Mammals with a body weight ranging between 70-130 grams, and they can live between 3 - 4 years.
Their main diet is earthworms but they will eat any other grubs that they find underground. Although they have tiny little eyes they are virtually blind - eyes are of little use in a life underground!
However, they have an amazing sense of smell and very sensitive whiskers that help them sniff out food and find their way around.
These amazing animals can dig up to 20 metres of tunnels in a day. For many years they have been persecuted because they occasionally excavate the soil up to the top of their tunnel and leave an earth mound in an inconvenient place, such as a manicured lawn or a golf course. In actual fact, they are true unsung heroes - especially now.
Why heroes? Simply because it is now recognised that a mole can play a very vital role. With their constant excavation work going on they aerate the soil which helps plants and crops to grow. Most importantly, it has been realised that mole tunnels actually help with drainage and flooding.
Pesticides are extremely dangerous to moles. To allow these wonderful creatures to flourish and help us, we must learn to keep the ground chemical free and allow them to do what they do best.
Moles are still widespread around most of the British Isles, and enjoy no special protection status - let's make sure we keep it that way!
