Mammals crepuscular

Northern Broad-footed Mole

Scapanus latimanus

The Northern Broad-footed Mole is a subterranean powerhouse, using its specialized spade-like paws to navigate a hidden world beneath your garden. Rarely seen but always working, this master excavator is one of nature's most effective soil aerators.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Total length 14–19 cm (5.5–7.5 in); weight 50–115 g (1.8–4 oz)

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Colors

Uniformly dark brown to grayish-black velvety fur with a silvery sheen; pinkish-gray skin on the snout and paws.

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Key Features

Exceptionally broad, spade-like front paws with stout claws
Velvety fur that can be brushed in any direction without resistance
Pointed, hairless snout and nearly invisible eyes and ears
Stocky, cylindrical body designed for subterranean movement

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern crepuscular

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Peak hours 5-8 AM and 6-9 PM

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Season Year-round; surface activity is most visible in Spring and Autumn when soil is moist.

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Diet Primarily insectivorous, feeding heavily on earthworms, beetle larvae (grubs), snails, and slugs. They are opportunistic hunters that will occasionally eat small roots or bulbs, but 90% of their diet is animal matter.

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Habitat Common in moist, loose soils within meadows, open woodlands, riverbanks, and suburban gardens from Southern Oregon through Central California.

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Behavior

The Northern Broad-footed Mole is a master of the subterranean world, spending nearly its entire life in a complex network of tunnels. It constructs two types of passageways: deep, permanent galleries used for nesting and escaping extreme weather, and shallow surface tunnels used for foraging. These moles are intensely solitary; they defend their tunnel systems vigorously and only seek out others during the brief spring breeding season.

While their presence is often announced by the iconic 'volcano' mounds of soil they push to the surface, they are rarely seen above ground. They have a high metabolism and must hunt almost constantly, using their sensitive snouts to detect vibrations and scents of prey moving through the soil. Despite their reputation as garden pests, they provide a vital service by aerating the earth and consuming large quantities of invasive insect larvae.

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Camera Tips

Capturing a Northern Broad-footed Mole on camera is a true test of patience and strategy because they rarely emerge from their tunnels. To increase your chances, look for a 'fresh' surface run—a raised ridge of soil rather than a tall mound. Carefully peel back a 3-inch section of the tunnel roof to expose the passage. Set your camera on a low-profile ground stake or a beanbag, aiming it directly at the opening from a distance of about 12-18 inches. Moles are sensitive to air currents and will usually rush to 'repair' the hole within a few hours, giving you a perfect shot of their snout or paws.

Because moles move with surprising speed when they sense light or danger, use 'Video Mode' or a very high-speed 'Burst Mode.' A camera with a fast trigger speed (under 0.3 seconds) is essential. If your camera allows for focal adjustment, set it to the closest possible range, as these animals are small and will appear as a blurry smudge if the focus is set for larger mammals like deer or foxes.

Standard white-light flashes will likely startle the mole and prevent it from returning to that area. Use an 'Invisible' or 'No-Glow' 940nm infrared flash to ensure the mole remains undisturbed. If you are struggling to find a surface run, try placing a camera near a ground-level water source or a damp patch of soil under a leaky garden hose at night; they occasionally venture out to drink or find new territory during the first rains of autumn.

Be mindful of the weather. The best time to deploy your camera is immediately following a light rain. The moisture brings earthworms to the surface, which in turn brings the moles into their shallowest tunnels where they are easiest to film. Avoid placing cameras in dry, hard-packed clay, as the moles will stay deep underground where your camera can't reach them.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Northern Broad-footed Mole.

Southern Broad-footed Mole

Nearly identical in appearance but restricted to Southern California and Baja; was previously considered the same species.

Townsend's Mole

Found further north in the Pacific Northwest; it is significantly larger and has much darker, almost black fur.

Shrew-mole

The smallest North American mole, lacking the massive front digging paws and looking more like a long-tailed shrew.

Frequently Asked Questions

They exhibit peak activity during the quiet hours of dawn and dusk (crepuscular). However, because their underground environment is buffered from light, they can be active in short bursts every few hours throughout the day and night.

The best way to attract them is to maintain healthy, organic soil. Avoiding chemical pesticides ensures a healthy population of earthworms and grubs, which are their primary food source. Keeping your lawn or garden beds moist also keeps their prey near the surface.

They are voracious carnivores that primarily eat earthworms, beetle grubs, and other soil-dwelling invertebrates. A single mole can eat nearly its own body weight in food every day to fuel the massive energy required for digging.

Yes, they are highly adaptable and thrive in suburban environments like lawns, golf courses, and parks where the soil is often watered and rich in nutrients, making it easier to tunnel and find food.

Identification is primarily based on geography. Northern Broad-footed Moles (Scapanus latimanus) are found from Central California up into Oregon. If you are in Southern California or Baja, you are likely seeing the Southern Broad-footed Mole (Scapanus occultus).

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