Molehills © CofnodSpecies Focus - European Mole (Talpa europaea)
Mole, an overlooked, under-recorded mammal
Finding and recording mammal species can be difficult in North Wales. Many species are nocturnal and highly skilled at avoiding humans. To find and record some mammal species requires excellent fieldcraft, or an arsenal of expensive, sophisticated, quasimilitary technology (infrared cameras, trail cameras, live-traps or ultrasound detectors).
However, the European Mole (Talpa europaea) is an exception. Those distinctive piles of excavated earth (molehills) are obvious, even from a car window! The chances of seeing an actual mole are slim, but a record based on the presence of a molehill is perfectly acceptable. Moles are common and familiar to all, but poorly recorded.
Large areas of North Wales have no recent records of this species. So, please look out for molehills and send us your records via the Cofnod ORS or the LERC Wales App.
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