Townsend's mole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Townsend's mole |
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| Conservation status | |
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Scapanus
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| Species: |
townsendii
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| Townsend's mole range | |
The Townsend's mole (Scapanus townsendii) is a fascinating animal. It's a type of mole that lives mostly underground. This mole is the biggest one found in North America. It belongs to the Talpidae family, which is the group that includes all moles. The mole was named after an American scientist named John Kirk Townsend. This was done to honor his work and discoveries.
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Where Does the Townsend's Mole Live?
This mole lives in North America. You can find it along the Pacific coast. Its home stretches from southwestern British Columbia in Canada down to northwestern California in the United States.
Preferred Habitat
Townsend's moles like open areas and forests. They prefer places with moist soil. This makes it easier for them to dig their tunnels. In Canada, their total living area is quite small, about 20 square kilometers (about 7.7 square miles).
Is the Townsend's Mole in Danger?
The Townsend's mole is listed as "Least Concern" by a group called the IUCN. This means they are not currently at high risk globally. However, in Canada, this mole is considered an endangered species. This means there are very few of them left in Canada.
What Does a Townsend's Mole Look Like?
This mole has soft, black fur that feels like velvet. It has a pointy snout and a short, thick tail. Its tail has very little hair.
Size and Features
A Townsend's mole is about 21 centimeters (8.3 inches) long. This includes its tail, which is about 4 centimeters (1.6 inches) long. They usually weigh around 138 grams (4.9 ounces). Their front paws are very wide and shaped like spades. These paws are perfect for digging through soil. Their back paws are smaller. They have 44 teeth. You can't see their ears, and their eyes are very small. They look a bit like the smaller coast mole.
How Do Townsend's Moles Live?
Townsend's moles spend most of their lives underground. They dig shallow tunnels to find food. They are active all year round, even in winter.
Diet and Behavior
Their main food is earthworms. They also eat other small invertebrates, which are tiny creatures without backbones. Sometimes, they eat plant material too. These moles usually live alone. They only come together to mate.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Mating happens in late winter. After mating, the female mole will have a litter of young. She usually has two to four babies. She raises them in a deep underground burrow.
