Feet are wide and hold long, strong claws, which enable the mole to cover much territory underground. The mole has internal ears, apparent only by tiny holes on the sides of the head, which are most often covered with fur. Moles are also blind. Their small eyes are usually covered with a thick coating of skin. Thanks to an especially sensitive snout and a carefully guided tail, the mole is able to find its way remarkably well, despite its handicap.
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.