Frank Thomas Jr., age 10, of Burlington, Vt., for his question:
DOES THE MOLE EAT PLANTS?
A mole is a small mammal that lives underground. He has an ability to quickly dig tunnels just below the surface of the ground. Moles, often found in the family garden, seldom eat plants, Instead, they'll dine on insects and worms.
You'll recognize a mole's home by the mound of earth above it. He will often spoil gardens and fields by building vast networks of tunnels.
If there are a lot of moles in the area, a farmer will consider the mole a pest. He will then set traps in the tunnels in an effort to catch the little creatures.
Generally speaking, however, the mole is not a pest. As he digs, he will search for earthworms and other types of food. He especially eats large numbers of Japanese beetle grubs and other pesky insects.
Moles need large amounts of food. They will often eat twice their own body weight in a single day. If deprived of food for as much as 10 to 12 hours, they die of starvation.
The common mole of North America lives primarily in the Eastern, Midwestern and Southwestern parts of the United States. He is between 5 and 8 inches long, including a tail that is about 1 inch long. He weighs between 2 and 5 ounces.
Most common moles live in tunneled nests that are about 1 foot below the surface of the ground. They spend almost all of their lives underground.
Although he does not have external ears, the mole still hears well. He is almost blind, however, and has only tiny eyes that are shaded by overhanging fur or skin. But since he doesn't go above ground too often, he doesn't really need good eyesight.
A mole has front paws that turn out ward and that are shaped somewhat like shovels. He has short fingers that are tipped with strong nails. The palms face outward.
The forelegs scoop out the earth while short, powerful hind legs push the mole along.
A mole's fur, called moleskin, is lightweight, warm, soft and thick. It has been used for making coats and jackets but has lost its popularity through the years since it doesn't wear well.
The largest species of all moles is the Russian desman, which is about 14 inches long. It lives in southeastern Europe and central western Asia. The smallest moles are the shrew moles and the longtailed moles of Asia and the Pacific Coast states of North America. These animals are a bit under 5 inches long, including their tails.
The star nosed mole has a fringe of fleshy feelers around his nose. He lives in southeastern Canada and in the eastern United States as far south as Georgia. He's an expert swimmer and usually builds his home in muddy soil along the shore of a pond or stream. In spring, the female usually gives birth to three or four babies.