Why you should love the mole

The mole is one of those animals that people love to hate. I'm convinced that's because it is greatly misunderstood. Once its not-so-dirty secrets are revealed, you're bound to love the mole. Or, at least appreciate its role in ecology.

Moles live in the dark, all alone, all their lives. Not a very appealing lifestyle to us, but it suits them fine. Because they spend their entire lives underground, chances are you've never seen one. You've surely seen evidence of them, though.

Telltale signs are volcano-shaped mounds of soil in lawns and grassy areas near woods. From each mound, a sinuous line of pushed-up soil leads to another mound, and then another. Lawn-lovers tend to be mole-haters, but hang on. Moles are not the bad guys you think they are.

Moles are voracious little creatures. They may eat anywhere from 25 to 100 percent of their weight per day. Contrary to popular belief, they are not eating your plants. They are primarily chowing down on earthworms and grubs.

Eating earthworms is a good thing, because the majority of earthworms in our area are invasive species that can wreak havoc on our woodlands. (Yes, that may come as a shock, but we'll get to the whole earthworm story in another column.)

Eating grubs is a good thing, too, because many of these are larvae of insects that harm vegetation (such as Japanese beetles). Moles are not necessarily pests; rather, they are pest control.

Tunneling seems to be the mole's raison-d'être. Technically, reproducing is its mission in life, and eating fuels the mission. Tunneling is a means to accomplish both of those ends. And, they're darn good at it. As long as the soil is friable, they can move through soil with ease. One source clocked a mole moving 6 miles per hour in soil.

Moles, collectively, move tons of soil each year. This is a big plus - aerating the soil is great for plant life. Moles help to fertilize the soil as they tunnel as well.

Every aspect of a mole's body is designed to move through the soil. Their heads are small and pointed, with snouts that are incredible sensory organs. The ears are internal, to reduce any obstructions as they burrow through the ground.

Their big shoulder muscles power large front feet. These feet are webbed and look almost like flippers. They're equipped with an extra bone, which creates a larger palm area. The foot becomes a flipper, of sorts.

In fact, the mole fairly swims through the soil - hence, "aquaticus" is part of the its scientific name (Scalopus aquaticus). The hind feet are a lot smaller than the front, but they are also webbed. It's the hind feet that push soil backward as the mole propels itself forward through the soil.

Swimming through the soil involves twisting and turning. Not only is the mole comfortable in its own skin, it's very flexible in it. When it needs to swivel, the loose hide allows ample movement. Additionally, the fur can bend smoothly in any direction. (Compare this to petting a dog or cat, which has a definite right way and a wrong way.) These features allow it to easily switch directions if the mole hits an obstruction, or if a predator, such as a snake or a weasel, is approaching.

One thing a mole is not so good at is seeing. Moles do have eyes, but the eyes are small, hidden, and serve only to distinguish between dark and light. After all, a subterranean life doesn't require "eagle-eye" vision.

With diminished sight, other senses come to the fore. We know that a cat's whiskers tell the cat a lot about its surroundings. Moles have something even better than whiskers. They have "Eimer's organs" on the end of their small snouts.

These are packed with nerve endings, the better to feel things with. By continually touching the nose to the surfaces of the tunnel, the mole has a complete picture of its surroundings.

While we're on the topic of noses, moles have another adaptation in their toolbox: stereo smelling. Hearing in stereo is fairly common in mammals, but moles can smell in stereo as well. With this talent, a mole can pinpoint the source of a smell based on the molecules arriving differentially in each nostril.

Lots of people mistake mole tunnels as signs as gopher activity, but there are some significant differences between moles and gophers. Gophers make fan-shaped piles of dirt, whereas moles create volcano-shaped mounds.

Gophers spend their entire lives underground, just like moles, but they are more likely to surface once in a while. (If you see a mole above ground, it's mostly likely dead.) Plains pocket gophers, the species indigenous to Illinois, are found in the central portion of Illinois. They are generally absent from Kane County. The eastern mole is found here in Kane County, and throughout Illinois.

The most important difference between moles and gophers is diet. Moles eat invertebrate animals. They're classified as insectivores, although any small creature without a backbone will do (e.g., worms). Gophers, on the other hand, are herbivores. The gopher is a rodent, and its diet includes bulbs, roots, and rhizomes.

Moles, lowly as they are, have made it into literature, mythology and folklore. "Mole" is the first character in the 1908 classic "Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame. Grahame used considerable poetic license in the character of Mole, who bears few ecological features of true moles.

In some Native American cultures, Mole is a clan animal. Zuni mythology, Mole guards the inner earth. Flathead and Nez Percé stories place Mole as Coyote's wife.

When you see mole tunnels in your yard, don't despair. They're a sign of healthy soil. Give 'em a break, and thank them for the free pest control service they provide, year in, year out.

• Valerie Blaine is the nature programs manager for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. You may reach her at blainevalerie@kaneforest.com.