Notes on a Captive Mole

Abstract

On July 5, 1957, a live prairie mole, Scalopus aquaticus, was captured near Hickory Corners, Michigan, while it was attempting to cross a road. When I received the mole it had been without food or water for 24 hours. Its weight, after eating, was 68.5 grams. When the mole was released on August 14,1957, it weighed 75.5 grams. Throughout most of its period of captivity the mole was kept in a cage containing only an inch of soil so that it could be easily observed. The soil was frequently cleaned and kept in a moistened condition. The mole ate earthworms, dead birds, walnuts, crackers, and cheese. It sometimes steadied food with its forepaws but was clumsy at this. Earthworms were munched from end to end like spaghetti. Unlike its relative, the shrew, the mole lapped water from a dish like a dog, keeping its snout in the water throughout....