A global community of nature enthusiasts
photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Talpa europaea
This mole lives in an underground tunnel system, which it constantly extends. It uses these tunnels to hunt its prey. Under normal conditions the displaced earth is pushed to the surface, resulting in the characteristic molehills. It feeds mainly on earthworms, but also on insects, centipedes and even mice and shrews. Its saliva contains toxins which paralyze earthworms in particular. It has a cylindrical body and is around 12 cm (5 inches) long. Females are typically smaller than males. The eyes are small and hidden behind fur, while the ears are just small ridges in the skin. The fur is usually dark grey, but the actual range of colors is larger, as due to the subterranean habits there is no disadvantage in having off-coloured fur. European moles with white, light grey, tan, taupe, and black fur have all been reported.
Britain, Central and Eastern Europe
Spotted on Sep 15, 2011
Submitted on Sep 15, 2011
30 Comments (1–25)
Thanks a lot, Maria
awesome spotting!
Thanks a lot, tibiprada
awesome pic , stunning creature ! :-)
Thx Jeannette
Lovely series :)
Thanks a lot Emily and Gerardo
This might be the cutest thing I've seen on PN in a while! Great series!
Grate series!
wonderful spotting
right, I just catched the hills.
oh, thank you, Hans :) i was lucky on this one
Great job, they are not easy to find (at least without intervention of any cat).
And - of course - beautyful pictures.
Thank you - I was lucky catching it
Amazing. Just love everything on this photo. The colors (or absence of it), the mood, the angle,... Thanks for sharing.
thx
Great catch!
Thank you both
beautiful animal! well done!
Good job!
Reminds me still of a Czech cartoon from the eastern Sandman on TV
Yes - underground would be a bit dark ;) And even if I am a slim guy, I won't fit in it's tunnels ;)
Good photos - you spotted him above ground?
thank you
Great find.
Yes, indeed that's how I saw them usually, too - deceased.
Thanks for the comment.