May 2010 - Star Nosed Mole
Trivia Question:
Star Nosed Mole - the fastest eating mammal?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Maybe
Correct Trivia Answer: A
A study published in the journal Nature reveals that this mysterious mole has moves that put the best magician to shame: The energetic burrower can detect small prey animals and gulp them down with a speed that is literally too fast for the human eye to follow. The Guinness Book of Records identifies this amazing mole as the world’s fastest forager, and also with the ability to “sniff out” food under water.
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Star-nosed moles are found in a variety of habitats with moist soil. Unlike other North American moles, the Star Nose Mole prefers areas of poor drainage, including both coniferous and deciduous forests, clearings, wet meadows, marshes and peatlands. They’re also inhabit the banks of streams, lakes and ponds, into which it ventures for food. Females produce one litter of offspring per year of between 2 and 7 young, though 5 is a typical litter size. If a female's first reproductive effort was unsuccessful, she may mate again, producing a litter as late as July. At birth, the young are hairless, the eyes and ears are closed and the tentacles of the star are folded back along the rostrum. Eyes, ears and star become functional after about 2 weeks. Young are independent at 30 days and reach maturity at 10 months. The Star Nosed Mole feeds primarily on invertebrates. Like other fossorial moles, it patrols burrows searching for earthworms that enter through the walls. When it has access to a body of water it prefers to hunt aquatic prey. About half of its diet consists of worms and 80% of these are aquatic species such as leeches. Aquatic insects are included in its diet, including the larvae of caddisflies, midges, dragonflies and damselflies, crane flies, horse flies, predacious diving beetles and stoneflies. When the outer appendages or tentacles of its nose come into contact with potential food, the mole moves its nose so that the two lower tendrils which are the most sensitive can identify the prey. The mole can touch 13 separate areas of the ground every second, and can locate and consume 8 separate prey items in under 2 seconds. Once its dinner of “fast food” has been identified, it is captured with its tweezer-like teeth. The Star Nosed Mole may occasionally extend its tunnels into residential lawns adjacent to wetlands, damaging the sod. Contact the professionals at Critter Control to remove star-nosed moles if you’re experiencing damage to your property. Need Help Critter-Proofing Your Home? Call the professionals at Critter Control today for a FREE Estimate. Toll-Free:
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Star Nosed Mole
