Mammals nocturnal

Hairy-tailed Mole

Parascalops breweri

Meet the subterranean architect of the forest floor. With its velvet fur and specialized digging paws, the Hairy-tailed Mole is a fascinating, if rarely seen, backyard neighbor.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 13.5–17 cm (5.3–6.7 in); Weight: 40–65 g (1.4–2.3 oz)

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Colors

Slate-grey to charcoal-black fur with a metallic sheen; tail and feet are flesh-colored but covered in stiff, dark hairs

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Key Features

Short, thick tail densely covered in hair
Broad, shovel-like front paws with out-turned palms
Pointed snout without fleshy appendages
Small eyes and ears completely hidden by velvety fur

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern nocturnal

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Peak hours 10 PM - 3 AM (for surface activity)

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Season March-October

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Diet Primarily insectivorous, consuming earthworms, beetle larvae (grubs), ants, and centipedes. They have an incredibly high metabolism and must eat nearly their body weight in food every day.

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Habitat Deciduous forests, forest edges, and suburban backyards with well-drained, sandy-loam soil.

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Behavior

The Hairy-tailed Mole is a master of the subterranean world, spending nearly its entire life in an intricate system of tunnels. Unlike some of its relatives, it prefers slightly drier, well-drained soils in deciduous forests or suburban gardens. While they are often considered pests by lawn-conscious homeowners, these moles are actually beneficial; they aerate the soil and consume a massive amount of invasive insect larvae that would otherwise damage plants.

These moles are solitary and highly territorial, rarely tolerating the presence of another mole except during the brief spring mating season. While they are primarily active underground, they do occasionally emerge at night or during heavy rains, scuttling across the surface to find new territory or avoid flooded tunnels. They are active year-round, moving to deeper tunnels below the frost line during the harsh winter months to stay warm and continue foraging.

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Camera Tips

Capturing a Hairy-tailed Mole on camera is a badge of honor for backyard wildlife enthusiasts because they spend the vast majority of their lives underground. Your best strategy is to look for 'surface runs'—those raised ridges of soil that snake across your lawn or garden. Place your camera on a low tripod or directly on the ground, angled downward toward a fresh tunnel. If you see a spot where the tunnel has been recently repaired or pushed up, that is your primary target area.

Since these moles are extremely sensitive to vibrations, use a camera with a silent shutter and no-glow infrared (Black LED) flash. Set your camera to its most sensitive motion trigger setting or use a time-lapse mode set to take a photo every 30 to 60 seconds. Because they are small and move surprisingly fast when they do emerge, a fast trigger speed is essential to avoid getting just a 'ghost' of a tail in the frame.

If you want to increase your chances of seeing them above ground, wait for a night following a heavy rainstorm. Saturated soil often pushes moles to the surface or makes their shallow tunnels collapse, forcing them to navigate above ground. Focus your camera on the edges of large rocks, logs, or garden borders, which moles often use as natural guides for navigation when they are forced to leave their tunnels.

Avoid using traditional food baits, as moles are motivated by live prey. Instead, look for a 'push-up'—a small mound of dirt distinct from a larger, volcano-shaped molehill. Carefully clear a small patch of grass near the mound to give the camera a clear line of sight. Positioning the camera just 6-10 inches off the ground will provide the best perspective, turning this tiny subterranean powerhouse into the star of your backyard footage.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Hairy-tailed Mole.

Eastern Mole

The Eastern Mole is larger and has a naked, hairless tail compared to the bushy tail of the Hairy-tailed Mole.

Star-nosed Mole

Easily identified by the unique ring of 22 fleshy tentacles around its nose and its preference for very wet, swampy soil.

Frequently Asked Questions

While they are active in short four-hour cycles throughout the day underground, Hairy-tailed Moles are most active on the surface during the middle of the night, typically between 10 PM and 3 AM, to avoid predators.

The best way to attract them is to maintain healthy, pesticide-free soil. They are drawn to areas with a high density of earthworms and beetle larvae. Avoid using chemical grub-killers if you want to see these moles in action.

Their diet consists almost entirely of soil-dwelling invertebrates. Earthworms are their favorite meal, but they also eat large quantities of grubs, ants, and beetle larvae, helping to keep garden pests in check.

Yes, they are very common in suburban backyards across the Northeastern United States and Canada, though they are rarely seen because they prefer to stay hidden within their tunnel systems.

The Hairy-tailed Mole has a standard pointed snout and a short, hairy tail. In contrast, the Star-nosed Mole has 22 fleshy pink tentacles on its nose and a much longer, scaly tail.

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