The Eastern Mole is the only member of the family Talpidae to live in Colorado – a family composed of small, insectivorous mammals who live across the Northern Hemisphere and who all like to dig. The Eastern Mole only lives in eastern Colorado, in sandy habitats such as the eastern plains, golf courses, and cemeteries. They are about six inches long, with a body shape described by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as “torpedo-shaped”, broad, furless front feet used for digging, and a similarly furless long snout used for sensing the world in front of its face. As they tunnel through the earth, their snout encounters earthworms and insects and sharp, white teeth take care of the rest.
Moles live in permanent burrows and strike out from them underground to look for food, often leaving long, raised trails of earth that mark their passage. I have never seen these in Colorado, but they were a very common sight where I used to live in the UK – the park near my house was full of them. Their digging activity actually aerates the soil and helps moisture penetrate deeper into its layers. They also feed on invasive, destructive insects like the Japanese beetle.
Moles are riddled with parasites – one study sample found fleas, louses, and mites all living on their bodies. They generally live solitary lives, only meeting to mate. Mothers raise their young for four weeks and otherwise are on their own. They are rarely predated, but coyotes and domesticated dogs and cats are their major predators.
They are very silly looking.