Moles, with their velvety fur, subterranean lifestyle, and fascinating digging habits, might pique the curiosity of animal lovers seeking an unconventional pet. The idea of having one of these elusive creatures as a companion can be intriguing. However, before you envision a mole happily residing in your home, it’s crucial to delve into the realities of mole behavior and their suitability for domestication. While the notion of a pet mole might surface in fiction, like Jessica’s unfortunate pet in the film Let’s Scare Jessica To Death, or even in folklore where owning a mole was once linked to witchcraft, the practicalities of keeping a mole as a pet are far more complex.
The Reality of Moles as Captive Animals
While some individuals have attempted to keep moles in captivity, it’s essential to understand that they are far from ideal pets for most people. Moles are highly specialized creatures adapted to a life underground. Their well-being is intrinsically linked to their ability to tunnel and live in a specific environment. Replicating this environment in a domestic setting presents significant challenges.
One of the primary issues with keeping moles as pets is their innate need to feel secure and enclosed. In their natural habitat, moles are constantly surrounded by the walls of their tunnels. This tactile feedback provides them with a sense of safety and reduces stress. When placed in open environments, moles experience a panic response due to feeling exposed and vulnerable. This constant state of anxiety can be detrimental to their health and can even lead to death within days. Stress significantly impacts their appetite, and moles, with their high metabolic rate, need to eat almost constantly. A newly captured mole, already traumatized by the experience, might refuse to eat due to stress and could quickly perish from starvation and fear.
Adult moles, in particular, are unlikely to adapt to captivity. Their established behaviors and ingrained need for a natural environment make the transition incredibly difficult, often leading to fatal levels of stress. Juvenile moles, being less set in their ways and potentially more adaptable, might have a slightly better chance of adjusting to a carefully constructed captive environment. However, even with juveniles, success is far from guaranteed, and they are often only caught in the first place due to their inexperience.
Creating a Suitable Habitat for a Mole
If one were determined to attempt keeping a mole, understanding their habitat requirements is paramount. While moles naturally tunnel through dirt, a captive environment doesn’t necessarily require soil-filled tunnels. Setups resembling large ant farms with pre-formed tunnels, accessible from the back for feeding and cleaning, can be utilized. The crucial element is the presence of enclosed tunnel-like spaces that provide the mole with the security it craves.
Maintaining a stable environment is also critical. Moles are accustomed to the consistent temperatures of their underground tunnels, which are shielded from extreme fluctuations. Captive moles are highly sensitive to temperature changes and cannot tolerate environments that are too hot, too cold, or experience rapid temperature shifts. Direct sunlight can also be quickly fatal to them.
Humidity is another factor to consider. While moles are surprisingly adept swimmers and might even appreciate access to a water area if their enclosure is elaborate enough, excessive moisture in their environment can be harmful. Balancing humidity levels is crucial for their well-being.
Dietary Needs of Pet Moles
Moles are voracious eaters with a diet primarily consisting of invertebrates. Larger mole species, like those found on the west coast, primarily feed on earthworms, supplemented with insects and slugs. Eastern moles have a slightly different preference, consuming a higher proportion of moth larvae alongside earthworms.
Meeting the dietary needs of a captive mole is a significant challenge. They require a substantial amount of food daily, consuming up to two-thirds of their body weight in worms and insects. For example, a mole might need a dozen large earthworms every day, which necessitates a reliable and consistent food source. Cultivating a worm bin is almost essential, but backup sources are also necessary to ensure a continuous supply.
Commercially available moth larvae, such as waxworms and butterworms (though butterworms are noted for their unpleasant smell), can supplement their diet, but these are expensive, especially when used as a primary food source. While some keepers might use wet cat food to supplement the diet, the long-term suitability and nutritional adequacy of this are questionable. Slugs and beetles collected from gardens (provided no pesticides are used) can offer dietary variety, mimicking the diverse invertebrate diet moles would have in the wild.
Social Behavior and Handling
Moles are solitary and highly territorial animals. They exhibit extreme aggression towards each other, with fights often resulting in death. Even in natural settings like lawns, typically only one mole occupies a given area at a time. Introducing two moles into the same enclosure is almost certain to lead to violent conflict. This solitary nature extends within families, as mothers become aggressive towards their own offspring once they are weaned.
While moles are known for their territoriality and aggression towards their own species, their temperament towards humans is less clear-cut. They are not known to bite even when captured, possibly due to the rearward positioning of their teeth in their elongated mouths. Some anecdotal observations suggest that moles might not inherently dislike being held, possibly finding the sensation of being enclosed reassuring, similar to being within a tunnel. However, it is also possible that any apparent tolerance to handling is simply a result of fear and petrification. Regardless, moles are not typically considered animals to be handled or cuddled due to their delicate nature and stress susceptibility.
Ethical and Practical Considerations
Before considering keeping a mole as a pet, several ethical and practical points must be considered. Moles are wild animals with highly specific needs that are difficult to meet in captivity. Removing them from their natural habitat can be detrimental to their well-being, and the chances of successfully providing a suitable captive environment are low for most individuals.
Furthermore, local regulations regarding keeping wild animals should be checked. In many areas, it might be illegal to capture and keep moles without proper permits. From a conservation perspective, it’s generally advisable to leave wild animals in their natural habitats. Observing and appreciating moles in the wild, perhaps even in your garden as Mrs. Molesworth was in the original article, can be a more rewarding and ethical approach.
Conclusion: Moles as Pets – Admire from Afar
In conclusion, while the idea of keeping a mole as a pet might be intriguing, the reality is that they are exceptionally challenging and unsuitable pets for the vast majority of people. Their highly specialized needs for a secure, stable environment, a demanding diet, and their solitary nature make them difficult to care for and prone to stress in captivity. While anecdotes and historical references might exist suggesting moles can be kept as pets, these are likely exceptions or refer to terrarium-style observation rather than typical pet ownership involving handling and interaction.
For most animal enthusiasts, appreciating moles in their natural environment is the most responsible and rewarding approach. Their fascinating adaptations and ecological role are best observed in the wild, leaving them undisturbed to continue their subterranean lives. If you are truly fascinated by moles, consider creating a wildlife-friendly garden that supports their natural habitat, allowing you to observe these unique creatures from a respectful distance.
References:
- Glendenning, R. “Biology & Control of the Coast Mole” in The Canadian Journal of Animal Science 39, pages 34-44, 1959.
- Borroni, A., Loy, A. & Capanna, E. “A Flexible Arrangement for the Study of Moles in Captivity” in Acta Theriologica 44:2, pages 207-14, 1999.
- Gorman, M. L. & Stone, D. R. The Natural History of Moles. Ithica, New York: Comstock Publishing, 1990.
