Townsend's Mole (Scapanus townsendii) lives in moist forest soils across Pacific Northwest North America. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Townsend's Mole
- Townsend's mole is a fossorial mammal belonging to the family Talpidae and holds the distinction of being the largest mole in North America. It was named to honour the American naturalist John Kirk Townsend, a tribute requested by Thomas Nuttall. The species inhabits open lowland and wooded areas with moist soils, stretching along the Pacific coast from southwestern British Columbia to northwestern California, where it lives underground year-round.
- Measuring about 21 cm in total length, including a 4 cm tail, Townsend's mole weighs roughly 138 g, making it a compact yet robust burrower. Its front paws are broad and spade-shaped, while the smaller rear paws aid in manoeuvring underground, and the animal possesses 44 teeth.
- Globally, Townsend's mole is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting a stable worldwide population. In contrast, the species is listed as endangered within Canada, where its habitat is far more restricted. The Canadian range is estimated at just 20 km², a tiny fraction of its overall distribution along the Pacific coast. This limited area heightens conservation concerns for the mole in that region despite its broader security elsewhere.
- Townsend's mole lives in open lowland and wooded habitats where the soil stays moist, favouring its digging lifestyle. Its distribution hugs the Pacific coastline, extending from southwestern British Columbia down to northwestern California. Within Canada the species occupies a very small area, with its total range estimated at just 20 km². This narrow Canadian range contrasts with its broader presence along the coast.
- The mole spends the majority of its life beneath the surface, moving through shallow tunnels as it searches for food. In these burrows it hunts earthworms, other small invertebrates and even plant material, remaining active throughout the year. It generally lives alone, coming together only for mating in late winter, after which a female raises a litter of two to four young in a deep underground nest.
Sources
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At a glance
RangePacific Northwest North America
HabitatMoist forest soils
DietInsects and worms
About the Townsend's Mole
In the damp, dark recesses of the Pacific Northwest, the Townsend's mole moves unseen, a subterranean sculptor shaping the earth with its powerful, spade-like front legs. With each thrust, it excavates a complex network of tunnels, a hidden world of narrow passages and caverns that crisscross the forest floor, a testament to its remarkable engineering prowess. As it navigates this underground realm, the mole's sensitive snout twitches, detecting the faint vibrations of invertebrate prey, its very existence a masterclass in adaptability and resilience.
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