Characteristics
The hairy-tailed mole is five to seven inches in length. It has gray-black to black fur on top and a slightly lighter shade on its undersides. It has a long, red-tipped snout; a short, bristly-haired tail; tiny, hair-covered eyes and long, sharp front claws that help it burrow.
Range
 The hairy-tailed mole can be found from southeastern Canada and New England southwest through the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina.
|
|
Habitat
The hairy-tailed mole prefers areas with dry, sandy or loamy soil. It can be found in forests, open fields, old pastures, cultivated fields, lawns and golf courses.
Diet
The hairy-tailed mole spends the day tunneling under the ground and searching for food. It sometimes comes out at night to search for food. It eats earthworms, grubs, beetles, ants and other invertebrates.
Life Cycle
In the spring male hairy-tailed moles will find females in their burrows and mate with them. The female gives birth to four to five young. They are weaned when they are about a month old.
The hairy-tailed mole has a lifespan of four to five years.
Behavior
The hairy-tailed mole constructs elaborate tunnel systems under the earth. It may share its system with other moles. When a hairy-tailed mole dies, its system may be taken over by another mole.
It is active during the winter when it goes deeper into its tunnels to stay warm.
|
