Useful burrower under stress: The mole's habitat is shrinking

When you see the molehills that "adorn" many a meadow, several meters apart, you sometimes wonder: What kind of monster could be burrowing down there? It's hard to imagine that the creature is often only 13 centimeters long and lighter than two cups of fruit gummies. And yet the mole can transform entire gardens and expensive golf courses when it "throws its mouth." According to the Grimm's Dictionary, the name comes from the medieval word "Moldwerf," which means "earth thrower."

As it works its way through the soil with its digging shovels, it pushes the excavated material upwards with its head . The mounds also serve to ventilate the underground tunnel system, up to 200 meters long , in which it lives as a solitary creature. Without them, the mole would suffocate because the carnivore's high metabolic rate causes it to release large amounts of carbon dioxide. Therefore, flattening mounds is pointless. New ones quickly form.

Some gardeners will therefore be pleased to hear that the population of the European mole (Talpa europaea) is declining. A nationwide participatory project, launched by various stakeholders, including the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, aims to determine the exact extent of this decline. From May 16 to 26, visitors can report on the nabu-naturgucker.de portal how many moles they have spotted (which is very rare) or how many mole mounds they have discovered.

The mole is a beneficial insect and strictly protected

It's impossible to determine exact numbers. The species isn't currently threatened, but its habitat is shrinking. The decline of meadows and pastures, land sealing, pesticides, manure, and large machinery in the fields are all causing problems for the mole. So are the increasing weather extremes caused by climate change. It can't dig tunnels and chambers in soil that's too dry and hard. If the earth becomes soaked by persistent rain, it must leave its territory—threatened by cats and foxes—and build a large mound above the ground.

The mole, by the way, is not blind. It can see in light and dark, and also has a very good sense of hearing, touch, and smell. In addition to earthworms, it also eats garden pests such as caterpillars, grubs, and snails (not plants!), drives away voles, and ensures loose, aerated soil. It is a beneficial organism and therefore strictly protected. Although many gardeners refuse to admit it. In the Czech animated film , the little mole moves him to tears. In reality, however, he uses poison, shovels, and traps to combat it.