Star Nosed Mole

It won’t win any beauty contests, but in terms of talent, the weird-looking star-nosed mole is the one to beat. The little mole, scientifically known as Condylura cristata, commonly lives in the wetlands and marshes of the eastern United States.  As its name implies, it has a star for a nose — specifically, a snout made up of 22 fleshy tentacles, that form a fleshy, circular star.

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 Wildlife Management Services to remove star-nosed moles if you’re experiencing damage to your property.

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