Condylura cristata-Star-nosed Mole

© naturegirl99 – (INaturalist)

## **Range**

Star-nosed moles are endemic to eastern North America [6]. They range from eastern Manitoba east to Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada, south through the Great Lakes region and New England to the southern Appalachians and northern Florida [6].

## **Range in South**

In the southern USA, star-nosed moles are found from West Virginia to Delaware south through the Appalachians to extreme northeastern Georgia [6]. They have also been reported along the Atlantic coastal plain south to northern Florida, but sightings in this region have become exceedingly rare [3][6].

## **Habitat**

Star-nosed moles prefer moist, saturated soils, and its tunnels usually border streams, swamps, and marshes [3]. Some of their burrows may even lead directly into the water [3].

## **Behavior**

Star-nosed moles are semi-aquatic, and are excellent swimmers [3]. Due to this the often forage for their food in aquatic environments, but also forage above ground in leaf litter [3].

## **Reproduction**

These moles only give birth to one litter annually [3]. This litter is born in spring to early summer and is comprised of 3-7 young, though litters average 5 young [3]. Female’s gestation period lasts around 45 days, and the young are born naked and blind [3]. The young begin to grow hair at around 10 days old, and are able to see after 2 weeks [3]. They are weaned and leave the nest at roughly 4 weeks of age [3]. They do not reach sexual maturity until the spring a year after they are born [3].

## **Diet**

Their diet consists of both aquatic and terrestrial insects, aquatic worms, crayfish, minnows, frogs, salamanders, snails, and other invertebrates [3].

## **Predation and Lifespan**

Predators of this mole include owls, hawks, foxes, cats, dogs, mink, skunks, and fishers [3][5]. They are also occasionally found in the stomachs of aquatic species such as bass, pike, and trout [3]. Star-nosed mole’s lifespan is not well known, but it is speculated they may live 3-4 years [5]. Some have lived 2 years in captivity [5].

## **Status**

The star-nosed mole is listed as least concern by the IUCN, with a stable population trend [2]. Populations in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and North Carolina are listed as apparently secure, with South Carolina and West Virginia populations being imperiled [4]. However, populations are listed as imperiled in the southern states of Georgia and Tennessee (Florida status not ranked) [4]. Populations of this species have become scare along the southeastern coastal plain, and have not been collected there for decades (1997) [3]. Intensive surveys of this area should be performed to see if this population still exists [3].

## **References**

[1]: Reid, F. A. (2006). *A field guide to mammals of North America*. Houghton Mifflin Company.

[2]: IUCN (2016). *Condylura cristata*. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/41458/115187740

[3]: Brown, L. N. (1997). *A guide to the mammals of the southeastern United States.* University of Tennessee Press.

[4]: NatureServe Explorer. (2023). *Condylura cristata*. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT\_GLOBAL.2.102048/Condylura\_cristata

[5]: Zera, S. (2004). *Condylura cristata (Star-nosed mole)*. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Condylura\_cristata

[6]: GBIF. (2023). *Condylura cristata Linnaeus, 1758.* https://www.gbif.org/species/2436248