This secretive creature is found throughout the state, wherever the soil is friable enough to be pushed upward. The ideal, soft, moist soil, with considerable humus, is usually found in mature and second growth woods, pasture lands, gardens, cemeteries, and lawns. When soil is in good condition, as after a rain, moles can tunnel at a rate of 18 feet per hour. The mole, with its heavy shoulders, short neck, and stout head, is built for digging underground. Its shovel-like front feet are broader than they are long, equipped with large, heavy claws, and held with their backs toward each other, the palms facing outward.
Moles tunnel through the ground using a swimming motion.
The forefeet are held close to their pick-shaped snouts and are used to push the dirt aside. The next place for the forefeet to repeat the process is decided upon by the probing snout. Soil is pushed upward with forefeet, not the head. A mole simply overwhelms its prey with little risk of injury or death to itself. It uses powerful forefeet to crush a grub or worm against the tunnel wall.