Fun Hairy-tailed Mole Facts For Kids

The hairy-tailed mole (Parascalops breweri) is not actually a rodent but rather a mammal that lives in tunnels and spends most of its time underground. Tunnels are usually dug by this animal to find food, lay eggs, or during the breeding season. They have large ears with sensitive hairs on the backside so they can hear prey walking above them such as small mammals like mice. The hairy-tailed mole, scientific name Parascalops breweri, lives in the ground, but it still needs an air supply. This is because they are so small that their lungs cannot handle enough oxygen to survive underground for long periods of time without a little help from special breathing adaptations. When these mammals do come aboveground, you can spot them by their hairy skin, external ears, and tails. They also have two eye holes that look like tiny black dots that help them to navigate through dark tunnels when hunting or exploring new environments at night.

This mole also uses its front paws like hands and fingers to feel around in search of insects or other prey for diet. If it doesn't find any on its first pass then it will make another circuit before settling down for lunch. The fur is typically a light brown color with black speckles but varies based on location within their habitats for protection from the sun. These moles can be found living near rivers or lakes where they are able to find food easily by digging through piles of earth. The hairy-tailed mole (Parascalops breweri) is a small mammal that is typically nocturnal in habit and spends the day underground or under some object.  

For more relatable content, check out these Siberian husky facts and Alaskan husky facts for kids.

What type of animal is a hairy-tailed mole?

Hairy-tail moles are a type of mole that is covered by fur throughout its body length and on the front feet. Another type of mole is marsupial mole.

What class of animal does a hairy-tailed mole belong to?

These moles belong to the class of Mammalia. They have distinct external ears and their front feet are often used as hands by these mammals to look for critters.

How many hairy-tailed moles are there in the world?

The number of hairy-tailed moles is unknown, but it is safe to say they are not endangered.

Where does a hairy-tailed mole live?

This small creature lives in large underground burrows that can be up to 30 ft (9 m) deep. They have been known to also live on dry land, but they only do so when the soil is soft enough for them. Hairy-tailed moles are most often found under grassy areas beneath the soil and near other vegetation in the habitat away from predators as this provides plenty of diet sources such as grubs, earthworms, and ground beetles.

What is a hairy-tailed mole's habitat?

The active hairy-tailed mole is a small mammal found in the north and eastern United States and North America's Great Lakes region. This mole has webbed feet for easy digging through soft soil with its eyes on top of its head to help it watch out for predators while it is burrowing beneath ground level.

Who do hairy-tailed moles live with?

This mole is typically a solitary creature that lives far from other animals due to its fearlessness or lack of caution when it comes to predators lurking around.

How long does a hairy-tailed mole live?

Wild and active hairy-tailed moles live for about five years, but in captivity, they can survive up to 10 years. These small creatures are very shy and usually prefer not to be seen by humans because ones who do get spotted often end up as prey for their range of natural enemies. Predators include hawks, owls, foxes, or cats.

How do they reproduce?

The active mole's breeding season is long and arduous. After a male mates with a female, he will stay by her side until she has three to four litters of offspring which can sometimes last for years. In order to keep himself alive during these lean times, his body covered by fur becomes less dense, especially near the front feet, so that it does not take up vital nutrients from their food supply.

What is their conservation status?

The hairy-tailed mole (Parascalops breweri) has the IUCN conservation status of Least Concern.

What do hairy-tailed moles look like?

This young mole species is identified by its small, dark body with a long tail length. The mole has claws for digging and three toes on the front feet that are used as shovels to dig through the earth. They have prominent ears with large eyes set low near where you might expect its mouth to be, if not hidden by hair from sight like an espionage agent's disguise! The body surface is covered in brown fur. A female is slightly larger than the male species!

* Please note the main image is of a common mole, not a hairy-tail mole. If you have an image of a hairy-tail mole, please let us know at [email protected].

How cute are they?

These moles have fluffy fur, adorable faces, and huge eyes especially the females that make them look like they are constantly surprised.

How do they communicate?

These moles are capable of communicating with each other, not just by the use of their eyes and ears like most mammals but also by subterranean vibration.

How big is a hairy-tailed mole?

These moles can measure anywhere between 6 in (15 cm) in length.

How fast can a hairy-tailed mole run?

This mole can run at an average speed of 1.4 mph (2.5 kph), but they have been recorded running as fast as 3 mph (5 kph) or more.

How much does a hairy-tailed mole weigh?

The young mole is a small creature, weighing only 0.12 lb (55 g) in the wild and lives on earthworms living underground.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Both males and females of this species are popularly referred to as hairy moles.

What would you call a baby hairy-tailed mole?

The young mole generally is known as baby mole as it does not have any scientific term.

What do they eat?

This mole species is known for its diet that consists of earthworms and other small insects close to the hairy-tailed mole habitat underground.

Are they dangerous?

These young moles are not dangerous but can be sometimes mistaken for household pests. Their long and furry tail make them the perfect species to quickly burrow in your garden, finding a nice spot under some bushes or digging tunnels right beneath that flower bed you spent hours creating. Apart from this, they have a peaceful behavior.

Would they make a good pet?

These moles are really cute, but they require a lot of care. They need to be fed live worms and grubs which can be difficult for some people to find in their area or even buy online.

Did you know...

These moles have a very passive behavior and do not bother humans whatsoever.

The snouts of these moles help these mammals detect anything around them, even underground.

Do moles have bushy tails?

It is well-known that moles are furry and sometimes can have a bushy tail.

Do moles have eyes?

Moles see just as well as humans but in a much different way. Moles have tiny eyes under their fur that are never exposed to sunlight or water. They use them mostly for sensing light changes underground when looking out of their tunnels.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our chug dog facts and newfoundland dog facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable hairy-tailed mole coloring pages.

* Please note the main image is of a common mole, not a hairy-tail mole. If you have an image of a hairy-tail mole, please let us know at [email protected].