Moles

This is an Eastern Mole, a member of the Talpidae family, of which it and other moles belong to. (This image is in the public domain.)

Moles are subterranean macro-fauna that belong to the family Talpidae. They are often considered pests due to their burrowing habits, which can disturb soil and damage plants, but this can be beneficial as well. Due to these habits, moles can be considered ecosystem engineers. There are seven identified species of mole in North America: the Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus), The Hairy-Tailed Mole (Parascalops breweri), the Star-Nosed Mole (Condylura cristata), the Broad-Footed Mole (Scapanus latimanus), Townsend’s Mole (Scapanus townsendii), the Coast Mole (Scapanus orarius) and the Shrew Mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii). [1] (This Page is currently under construction by Jason Kaczmarczyk)

Taxonomy

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Insectivora

Family: Talpidae

This simplified list omits sub-categories. Moles may be confused as rodents (Order Rodentia) but this is incorrect. For instance, as insectivores, moles feed on insects in the soil, while rodents do not, perhaps instead feeding on plant roots, of which the resulting damage may be incorrectly attributed to moles. [1]

Relationship with Humans

Moles have traditionally been considered pests, causing destruction to lawns, gardens, and farms, but moles can be beneficial for an area's soil. [2]

References

[1] F. Robert Henderson. "Moles". Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. 2005. Retrieved 2018-04-16. http://icwdm.org/handbook/mammals/Moles.asp

[2] "Moles 'Can Benefit Gardeners'. Hartley Botanic. July 17, 2012. Retrieved 2018-04-16. https://hartley-botanic.com/magazine/801409421-moles-can-benefit-gardeners/