Moles

admin
, 07 August 2018
Moles
Mole © Ray Armstrong

By Charlotte Owen

WildCall Officer

Moles spend almost their entire lives underground, leaving tell-tale mounds of soil to mark their passage but otherwise remaining elusive.  Sightings are understandably rare but in the last few weeks I’ve seen more moles than ever before – sadly, all of them dead.  The most likely culprit is the weather, and the heat wave seems to have hit the mole population particularly hard.  The ground is baked solid and becoming impenetrable, even to such expert tunnelers, while food is increasingly scarce as earthworms and other soft-bodied invertebrates delve deep in search of cooler, damper soil. 

A mole can prepare for drought to a certain extent by ensuring its permanent burrow system has plenty of extra-deep tunnels.  As well as being a safe retreat from the heat, these tunnels function as a giant pitfall trap to collect unsuspecting worms, centipedes and beetles as they make their way through the soil.  Rather than actively hunting down its prey, all the resident mole has to do is make regular patrols of its underground labyrinth to gather in the harvest.  As the sun beats down and the ground dries out, moles simply move deeper to follow their prey and stay ahead of the advancing dry-front.  But sometimes even their deepest tunnels aren’t deep enough and without a ready supply of juicy food, which also provides a vital source of moisture, hungry moles are vulnerable to dehydration as well as starvation.  When even their deepest tunnels are baked solid, moles are forced to the surface in a desperate search for sustenance, hopeful that a little patch of damp ground can be found under a log or rock - but many of them don’t make it.  The one positive to come of a sad situation is the rare opportunity for a close look at these velvet-coated creatures, so perfectly adapted for a life underground. 

Eventually it will rain and the moles will rejoice, along with the hedgehogs, badgers and birds that are struggling in these conditions too.  In the meantime, they will be grateful for a shallow dish of water and some extra food while the hot, dry weather continues.

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Comments

  • Sarah Collins:

    I have seen two out in the day
    Is this due to dry weather
    Can I do anything to help them
    I have water out and I caught and relocated to a quiet area near a steam
    We are very rural

    23 Jul 2026 16:03:00

  • Sussex Wildlife Trust:

    Hi Sarah, we can't say for sure but it is likely the hot weather is the reason for the Moles being found out in the day. The soil is very dry, meaning it's difficult for Moles to move through it, but also means their prey is harder to come by. Providing water is really all you can do in this situation, and providing as much shade as possible in areas where you know the Moles are, to try to keep the earth as cool and damp as possible, and to provide shelter from the sun and from predators, for the Moles if they do surface. 

  • James Robertson:

    I live in Leeds and came across a mole crawling across a local footpath a few days ago. I left it alone assuming it would find its way but sadly I found it had died at the side of the footpath. I feel I could have helped but would have no idea what to do. Any suggestions on what we can do if find others during this dry weather?

    31 Jul 2026 08:31:00

  • Sussex Wildlife Trust:

    Hi James. Sorry to hear this - Moles can really struggle in the extreme heat we have had, as much of our wildlife does. The ground becomes too hard to dig and they can no longer find enough to eat, as Earthworms and other insects which live in the soil are also struggling. If you find a Mole above ground, it is usually best left if it is near soft earth that it can burrow into, which it will soon do as they are not adapted to be above ground for very long. However, if found in an odd place, or looking unhealthy, you can call a wildlife rescue. You can find a list on our website - Who can help with injured wildlife? Providing water and shade in gardens and green spaces is important for wildlife in this weather, so this is something you can do at home to help wildlife if you have an outdoor space. 

  • Paul Tarrant:

    I have a mole living in yhe damp shallow ground around my roses
    He pops up when I water
    If I keep pressing the soil down gentley around the roots until the rains eventually come can I keep both the mole and my roses alive

    02 Aug 2026 21:58:00

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