Moles vary in size by type and region. The largest North American species is known as the western mole, which measures more than 9-inches in length. The shrew, also common in the U.S., is the smallest in the mole family, at only 5-inches. The burrow of the mole is an elaborate unit, made of many chambers and entrances that extend more than 10-feet deep. Lower units of this structure serve as a home or resting place for mole families, while trails and tunnels provide various means of escape to this animal.
Moles travel through the soil in a method that looks similar to the breast stroke.
Its front feet push deep into the earth and then out to the side, clearing a large pathway. Mole burrows often show themselves above ground as ridges, slightly elevated trails, or mounds of fresh dirt. Moles do not hibernate. Instead, they remain active year round, traveling under snow and ice. Each day, the mole consumes more food than its weight.