Such a lovely post. That photo of the mole being held is so cute!
I have heard of people taking sacks to fields with lots of molehills to gather the soil from them - apparently it is such a fine texture it is perfect for seed sowing!
For potting on prairie plants, I like to use local native soil from the old field, which is full of relic wildflowers. I feel the soil a mole sends up might be likelier to hold the right bacilli and fungi for the plants. I mean, it's only a hunch, but it feels right to me.
A fascinating read Diane. We once found a mole struggling to climb up a kerb away from a country road. It’s the only time I have been glad to find a discarded coffee cup on the grass verge. The mole obligingly climbed straight into the cup and I carefully placed him on the grass at the field edge. Other than that, I once saw soil being pushed up and out onto the top of a molehill. I wish more people would say ‘they were here first’.
Those are both wonderful life experiences, I long to watch a mole hill in action, but I've never caught it at the right moment. And I'm so glad you rescued that mole.
Hello Diane, Stereo sniffing! This make me smile. I may have to turn up the left side tweeter! :-)
Seriously, I have been giving it some thought, and I totally get what a benefit it would be to knowing whether to dig to the right or the left for my next worm, if I were a mole. It is hard enough to imagine digging through dirt to do this, but just digging without a clear direction indicator would be madness. I like these little guys, so good to know that they are not totally blind (so to speak) in their hunt for din-din. Over here on the west coast, the habits of our moles are a little different. Though they do have both tunnels and hills. you can have dozens of hills on your property each spring. Surprisingly, you may only have 1 or 2 pairs of moles doing all this hill building activity. In more rural areas we also have Mountain Beavers. They are totally nocturnal and rarely seen. They tend to live near the edge of forests. They are a bigger rodent and one of their more endearing habits is that of gathering bouquets of things like sword ferns, salal and Oregon grape that they take down into their undergrown dens. Because the bouquets are big, they often leave them at the entrance and make several trips up and down the tunnel to take 1-2 stems at a time. I am so charmed by their perfect bouquets whenever I come across one.
Kenneth Catania is a scientist who has done research on the stereo smelling of the common mole. There's a link to his research in the Notes section https://substack.com/@justakid/note/c-94331638. I sent him an email asking how he took the picture, and he has not replied. But since he is studying these animals in captivity, I'm guessing he has some kind of a terrarium or something where they are confined. It is still something of a mystery how he knew exactly where that mole would come up and had his camera there at the right moment.
Lovely essay. Found a dead star-nosed mole in my yard and about died of amazement. I'm pretty sure the extensive ridges all over the sideyard are the more common species, though. Question: You say they store "paralyzed earthworms?" Does a mole have a toxic bite? How are they paralyzed?
The mole bites the earthworm in just the right spot to paralyze but not kill it, thereby allowing it to keep fresh food in its pantry for a long time.
Dogs and cats will kill moles, but are said not to eat them, because they taste nasty. And that has to be some kind of nasty, because I have seen my dog eat things that gag me at the sight. Nevertheless, she leaves moles lying dead on the ground without taking so much as a bite.
That's wonderful information. I love hearing about the positive side of their lives. Thanks for explaining about their eyes too. I'm also in Texas, and occasionally have an armadillo come through. I've never lived where I saw moles.
When I was a very little girl, Grandmother called me to her garden one day. "Gloria, come here. I want to show you something." She held a mole in her hand, and said, "feel this!" I put out a tentative finger and then broke into a wide grin - it was the softest thing I had ever, and still have ever felt. What an amazing animal!
And now you've given me so much more information about this amazing creature. Thanks Diane!
Exquisite as always, Diane. I hadn't realized there were moles underfoot in Iowa all those years I lived there. Have you read "How to Catch a Mole" by Marc Hammer? A lyrical and peaceful memoir you might enjoy (if you haven't already).
I never heard of that book but will now check it out. Most of what I read about moles is how to kill them, so I'm very pleased to find something lyrical and peaceful! Thank you!
I should caution that Hamer is a former mole trapper who has had a change of heart. So the book is not without shadow. But it has poems throughout and I recall it as very tender and meaningful.
Our “lawn “is in a “constant state of churn” too, Diane. But our digging team is an armadillo family. They are very industrious, and if we lived in town, our lawn would be a scandal. But we value them for the same reasons you value your moles. Besides, they were here first.😊
I learn SO much from your posts on My Gaia. Thank you over and over again. Your visions of the praise of the past really hit home for me.
Aw thanks Kathy. It's nice of you to comment. I read these and am always pleased when someone responds.
Such a lovely post. That photo of the mole being held is so cute!
I have heard of people taking sacks to fields with lots of molehills to gather the soil from them - apparently it is such a fine texture it is perfect for seed sowing!
That is a cute pic, isn't it? I was grateful to photographer Bill Hubick for granting permission to use it here.
I love the feel of the soil the moles dig up. Good idea to use a bit for flower pots.
For potting on prairie plants, I like to use local native soil from the old field, which is full of relic wildflowers. I feel the soil a mole sends up might be likelier to hold the right bacilli and fungi for the plants. I mean, it's only a hunch, but it feels right to me.
That makes a lot of sense Diane.
A fascinating read Diane. We once found a mole struggling to climb up a kerb away from a country road. It’s the only time I have been glad to find a discarded coffee cup on the grass verge. The mole obligingly climbed straight into the cup and I carefully placed him on the grass at the field edge. Other than that, I once saw soil being pushed up and out onto the top of a molehill. I wish more people would say ‘they were here first’.
Those are both wonderful life experiences, I long to watch a mole hill in action, but I've never caught it at the right moment. And I'm so glad you rescued that mole.
Hello Diane, Stereo sniffing! This make me smile. I may have to turn up the left side tweeter! :-)
Seriously, I have been giving it some thought, and I totally get what a benefit it would be to knowing whether to dig to the right or the left for my next worm, if I were a mole. It is hard enough to imagine digging through dirt to do this, but just digging without a clear direction indicator would be madness. I like these little guys, so good to know that they are not totally blind (so to speak) in their hunt for din-din. Over here on the west coast, the habits of our moles are a little different. Though they do have both tunnels and hills. you can have dozens of hills on your property each spring. Surprisingly, you may only have 1 or 2 pairs of moles doing all this hill building activity. In more rural areas we also have Mountain Beavers. They are totally nocturnal and rarely seen. They tend to live near the edge of forests. They are a bigger rodent and one of their more endearing habits is that of gathering bouquets of things like sword ferns, salal and Oregon grape that they take down into their undergrown dens. Because the bouquets are big, they often leave them at the entrance and make several trips up and down the tunnel to take 1-2 stems at a time. I am so charmed by their perfect bouquets whenever I come across one.
I absolutely adore your report of the beaver bouquet! This is a new one on me, and utterly charming.
Lovely article about this small creature. I love the opening photo of it--wonder how that person got such a shot. Thanks for posting.
Kenneth Catania is a scientist who has done research on the stereo smelling of the common mole. There's a link to his research in the Notes section https://substack.com/@justakid/note/c-94331638. I sent him an email asking how he took the picture, and he has not replied. But since he is studying these animals in captivity, I'm guessing he has some kind of a terrarium or something where they are confined. It is still something of a mystery how he knew exactly where that mole would come up and had his camera there at the right moment.
Lovely essay. Found a dead star-nosed mole in my yard and about died of amazement. I'm pretty sure the extensive ridges all over the sideyard are the more common species, though. Question: You say they store "paralyzed earthworms?" Does a mole have a toxic bite? How are they paralyzed?
The mole bites the earthworm in just the right spot to paralyze but not kill it, thereby allowing it to keep fresh food in its pantry for a long time.
Dogs and cats will kill moles, but are said not to eat them, because they taste nasty. And that has to be some kind of nasty, because I have seen my dog eat things that gag me at the sight. Nevertheless, she leaves moles lying dead on the ground without taking so much as a bite.
I hope I get to see a star nosed mole someday.
That's wonderful information. I love hearing about the positive side of their lives. Thanks for explaining about their eyes too. I'm also in Texas, and occasionally have an armadillo come through. I've never lived where I saw moles.
It must be amazing to have armadillos in the backyard.
When I was a very little girl, Grandmother called me to her garden one day. "Gloria, come here. I want to show you something." She held a mole in her hand, and said, "feel this!" I put out a tentative finger and then broke into a wide grin - it was the softest thing I had ever, and still have ever felt. What an amazing animal!
And now you've given me so much more information about this amazing creature. Thanks Diane!
Oh, you have a memory of petting a mole. How wonderful. And a great memory of a wonderful grandmother. Blessings on her wherever she may be!
Exquisite as always, Diane. I hadn't realized there were moles underfoot in Iowa all those years I lived there. Have you read "How to Catch a Mole" by Marc Hammer? A lyrical and peaceful memoir you might enjoy (if you haven't already).
I never heard of that book but will now check it out. Most of what I read about moles is how to kill them, so I'm very pleased to find something lyrical and peaceful! Thank you!
I should caution that Hamer is a former mole trapper who has had a change of heart. So the book is not without shadow. But it has poems throughout and I recall it as very tender and meaningful.
Our “lawn “is in a “constant state of churn” too, Diane. But our digging team is an armadillo family. They are very industrious, and if we lived in town, our lawn would be a scandal. But we value them for the same reasons you value your moles. Besides, they were here first.😊
Yep, they were indeed here first. I'm delighted that you value your fossorials!