Moist, well-drained fence rows, terraces, lawns, and knolls rich in organic matter are favored areas for surface burrows because in these localities food is more abundant. Moles cannot see and spend almost all of their time underground. They may be found active at any hour of the day but generally are more active by day than by night in response to the movement of earthworms in and out of the soil. Also, they are active throughout the year. The mole excavates its burrow by backward strokes and lateral thrusts of the front feet.
Loose earth is moved and pushed to the surface by thrusts of the front feet.
In excavating shallow runs the earth is merely pushed up to form a ridge, again by lateral thrusts of the front feet while the mole is turned partly on its side. One burrow along a fence row in Van Zandt County was 360 m long. Such systems may be in continual use for as long as 5 years, either by one mole or by successive occupants. At times, moles travel overland in search of new locations or, perhaps, of mates. This is evidenced by the occasional appearance of dead moles on the highways.