Right now, these dirt piles are showing up daily in my backyard. Sometimes we can see a pile moving around though we never seem to see the animal that is creating it. But, we know the animals are moles. See the hole in the pile on the left? Moles dig tunnels underground where they feed on earthworms and other small creatures. Many people try very hard to rid their yard of moles. Maybe some succeed for a short while, but it is likely that another mole will soon come visiting to use the tunnels that the first mole had already dug!
This is the type of mole we are probably dealing with. It is a Townsend’s Mole and it is about 8 inches long (a bit longer than most people think moles can get). I found this one laying on a hiking path in the woods behind my house. See his hands? They are shaped like shovels with claws- great for digging. See his eyes? Probably not, since they are hidden. Since moles live underground they don’t need to have good eyesight. Instead they rely on their sense of touch, especially with their snout. See this British Columbian website for some more information on these pesky, but interesting animals.
