Posted by Lori Fahey on June 28, 2007

Q: Hello, While running through swampy area (with connecting paths and boardwalks) recently, I came upon a dead mole. The carcass was in the center of the wooden boardwalk and there did not appear to be any trauma to suggest it was attacked (Although I did not examine it too closely). Several hundred meters later (and on another boardwalk) I encountered two more carcasses a few meters apart. Again, there did not appear to be any trauma. The carcasses were almost in the center of the boardwalk. There did appear to be some disturbance to the muck bordering the boardwalk and there was a small amount of mud,leaves etc. on the edge of the boardwalk near where the two carcasses were located. There was nothing unusual noted near the first carcass. The weather in this area recently has been extremely hot with a heat advisory for the past two days. Would this be the work of a natural predator? Perhaps a cat from a neighbouring housing development?

I have never seen anything like this before and was wondering if you could explain it.

Thanks

State: Ontario

Habitat: swamp

A: There are three species of moles that live in Ontario, but one (Eastern Mole) is found in only the extreme southern portion of the province so I'm assuming this is not the species in question. The two most likely then are the Hairy-tailed and Star-nosed Moles with the Star-nosed being the one most likely to be found in a wet (swampy) area.

Your little mystery is not an easy one to figure out without all of the "clues" so I can only come up with one or more possible answers. Since you found three moles so close together, my first thought is that these may be young of the year. Maybe a predator found a nest of young animals and dug them out. Adult Star-nosed Moles are about 18cm (7" ) in length and young would be smaller but probably not by much. As you noted, since they weren't damaged in any way this leads me to think that a predator, such as a well-fed cat, has killed them but was not interested in eating them. Moles are preyed upon by a range of different animals but most predators, I should think, would have eaten or carried off the animals and not left it untouched. One last thought would be that some kind of chemical has been used in the area, or flowed into this area from surrounding land, and this is what has killed the moles. Has there been any pesticides or other chemicals used in your area?

Sorry I can't give you a definite answer. If you do have more information to share, please feel free to write. Thanks for asking.

John Wiessinger ( June 28, 2007)