Southern Broad-footed Mole (Scapanus occultus) lives in moist soil areas across Western North America. It feeds on earthworms and insects. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Southern Broad-footed Mole
- A 2021 study revealed enough anatomical and genetic differences to recognise the southern broad-footed mole as a separate species from its northern counterpart. Previously it had been treated as a subspecies of the broad-footed mole, which combined the two forms under a single name. The same research also clarified that the Mexican mole, once thought to belong to that complex, is now a distinct species in its own right.
- Where its range meets that of the northern broad-footed mole, the southern species is found at lower elevations while the other occupies higher ground. This pattern occurs in a portion of the southern Sierra Nevada and the northern part of Santa Barbara, creating a clear altitudinal segregation in their sympatric zones. In these overlapping areas the southern mole inhabits the lower-lying soils, leaving the higher-altitude habitats to its northern relative.
- It is a solitary, subterranean animal that spends almost its entire life beneath the surface in extensive tunnel networks. The mole rarely emerges, living almost entirely underground.
- The mole does not hibernate and remains active throughout the year, with activity spiking after rain when soils soften. Moist conditions make digging easier, prompting heightened foraging.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeWestern North America
HabitatMoist soil areas
DietEarthworms and insects
About the Southern Broad-footed Mole
In the shadowy realm of the underground, the Southern Broad-footed Mole navigates with ease, its powerful front legs and long, claw-like nails propelling it through the dense earth with a slow, deliberate rhythm. As it moves, the mole's sensitive snout twitches, detecting the faint vibrations of unsuspecting insects and worms, its prey in this subterranean world. With each gentle heave of its muscular body, the mole reshapes its surroundings, crafting a hidden network of tunnels and chambers that remain a secret to all but the most discerning observers.
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