As in other moles, the fur of the Hairy-tailed Mole is short, very dense, soft, and silky, a good coat for traveling in underground tunnels. Its eyes are very small, and it does not have external ears. The claws on its front feet are admirably adapted for digging, being broad, flat, and heavy. Hairy-tailed Moles prefer loose soils, such as sandy loam, in areas with sufficient moisture and ground cover, which probably limits their distribution. They occur in a variety of habitats, including temperate forests, open fields, cultivated fields, and along roadsides. The sense of touch is important to this animal. It probably uses the whiskers on its snout, stiff hairs on top of its head, and a dense fringe of whisker-like hairs that edge the palms of its forefeet, as aids to navigating and finding earthworms and insects to eat.

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This species ranges primarily in the northeastern United States and southern Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Its range extends south to the Great Smoky Mountains region.

Hairy-tailed moles are found from southern Quebec and Ontario to central Ohio, and south as far as western North Carolina in the Appalachian Mountains (Walker, 1964). In 1995 a hairy-tailed mole was observed near the north end of Agawa Bay in Lake Superior Provincial Park. This is approximately 45km north of the previous peripheral record of Pancake Bay, Ontario (Hecnar, 1996).

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Primarily in northeastern U.S. and southern Ontario. Range extends south to Great Smoky Mountains region.

Hairy-tailed moles can be distinguished from other moles that are in Ontario by their short snout, hairy tail, and lack of protuberances on the snout (Hecnar, 1996). The length of the head and body is 116 to 140 mm, and the length of the tail is 23 to 36 mm. Adults weigh from 40 to 85 grams. The fur is thick, and soft, but it is slightly coarser than in the eastern American mole (Scalopus). The color is blackish . White spots are often present on the breast or abdomen; the snout, tail, and feet may become almost pure white with age. The snout is shorter than in Scalopus or Scapanus and has a median longitudinal groove on the anterior half. The nostrils are lateral and directed upward. There are no external ears, and the eyes are nearly hidden by the fur. The palms of the hands are as broad as they are long, and the digits are not webbed. The tail is thick and fleshy, with a constriction at the base. The tail is also annulated with scales, and covered with long hairs. Females have four pairs of mammae (Walker, 1964). Sexual dimorphism is evident with males being slighly larger than females (Hallett, 1978).

Range mass: 40 to 85 g.

Range length: 116 to 140 mm.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Length: 17 cm

Weight: 64 grams

Sexual Dimorphism: Males are larger than females.

Length:
Average: 163 mm
Range: 151-173 mm

Weight:
Range: 41.0-62.8 g

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Terrestrial

Hairy-tailed moles are found mainly in secondary growth hardwood forests, edge habitats, and meadows, with soils that are light and well drained (Hecnar, 1996). The elevation range is from sea level to about 900 meters (Walker, 1964).

Range elevation: sea level to 900 m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; mountains

Other Habitat Features: suburban ; agricultural

Comments: Deciduous woodlands with thick humus. Adapted to second growth stands, old fields, hedgerows. Prefers well-drained, light, moist soil with well-mixed organic matter and minerals. Avoids soils that are hard, dry, or with a large clay content. Two tunnel systems are constructed. Deeper system (10-18" deep) gives resting, breeding space, and winter shelter. Males leave tunnel systems in search of females in breeding season.

Non-Migrant: Yes. At least some populations of this species do not make significant seasonal migrations. Juvenile dispersal is not considered a migration.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Hairy-tailed moles are insectivores. Their diet consists mainly of earthworms, ants, beetle larvae, centipedes, and small rootlets. Ants may be an important food item when other foods are scarce. These moles starve when only vegetable matter is offered (Hallett, 1978).

Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; terrestrial worms

Plant Foods: roots and tubers

Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore , Vermivore)

Comments: Primarily soil invertebrates; earthworms, insect larvae, and pupae comprise approximately two-thirds of diet.

Because these are tunneling mammals, hairy-tailed moles assist in aeration of soil. They also likely play a role in regulating populations of invertebrates upon which they feed.

Ecosystem Impact: soil aeration

Hairy-tailed moles travel on the surface of the ground at night and are sometimes captured by owls or other animals (Walker, 1964). Other known predators include red fox, opossum, cats, dogs, gray owl, barn owl, copperhead snake, and an adult mole was taken from the stomach of a bullfrog (Hallett,1978). There are no reports in the literature on any anti-predator adaptations in this species.

Known Predators:

• red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)
• Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana)
• domestic cats (Felis silvestris)
• domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)
• great gray owls (Strix nebulosa)
• barn owls (Tyto alba)
• copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix)
• bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Parascalops breweri is prey of:
Rana catesbeiana
Agkistrodon contortrix
Tyto alba
Strix nebulosa
Didelphis virginiana
Felis silvestris
Vulpes vulpes
Canis lupus familiaris

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Parascalops breweri preys on:
Annelida
Arthropoda
Insecta

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Home range is about 0.2 acres, expands in summer. Densities vary from 1.2 to ll per acre (Eadie 1939).

Hairy-tailed moles live an average of 3 years in the wild. They live 3-4 years in captivity. (The Wildlife Fact File, 1991)

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 3 years.

Typical lifespan

Status: captivity: 3 to 4 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 4.0 years.

Average lifespan

Status: wild: 5.0 years.

Observations: It has been estimated that these animals live up to 5 years in the wild (Bernhard Grzimek 1990). Without more detailed studies, however, their maximum longevity must be classified as unknown.

The mating system and behavior of this species has not been characterized.

These moles mate in March or April. Testes reach their maximum size in March then decrease sharply in mid-May. The testes reach their resting size in October. Females produce one litter per year and become reproductive at 10 months. The usual litter size is four or five. Estimated gestation time is four to six weeks (Hallett ,1978).

Breeding season: March or April

Average number of offspring: 4 or 5.

Range gestation period: 4 to 6 weeks.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 10 (low) months.

Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 10 (low) months.

Key Reproductive Features: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); viviparous

Average birth mass: 10.1 g.

Average number of offspring: 4.

Although parental care in this species has not been characterized, females are known to care for and nurse their young. Nestling moles are whitish, wrinkled, and naked except for short whiskers on the snout and facial hairs near the eyes and on the lips. The postnatal pelage is slightly grayer and much shorter than that of adults in summer (Hallett ,1978).

Parental Investment: altricial ; female parental care

Breeding: March-April. Gestation lasts 4 weeks. Litter size: 4-5. Young are born in April-May. Usually 1 litter annually. Sexual maturity is attained 11 months after birth.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 5
Species With Barcodes: 1

The amount of records from the area may indicate either genuine absence or rarity, or it may reflect the lack of thorough surveys (Hecnar, 1996). This seems likly because of the fossorial nature of the mole.

US Migratory Bird Act: no special status

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Population

Population Trend

Major Threats

Conservation Actions

Hairy-tailed moles are probably economically neutral due to the species' local distribution, doing some damage to lawns, gardens, and golf courses (Hallett ,1978).

Negative Impacts: crop pest

Hairy-tailed moles consume large numbers of harmful insects (Hallett,1978).

Positive Impacts: controls pest population