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The Amazing Star-Nosed Mole
The star-nosed mole looks like it has a flower for a face. The flower is made up of 22 pink tentacles on the tip of its nose.
These tentacles are very sensitive. When the mole digs into the ground, they tell it exactly what's there: a flea, a worm, or just a bit of dirt.
They are so sensitive that they can feel movement in the air. They can also sense the electricity caused by moving muscles of other creatures.
Scientists call them Eimer's organs. Other mole species also have Eimer's organs - but not as big and beautiful as those of the star-nosed mole.
The star-nosed mole lives along rivers in eastern Canada and the north-eastern United States. Its favourite food includes water insects, worms and snails.
It digs tunnels in the ground, and uses these as a home. While it's digging, it also eats up any tasty treats it finds.
Because this mammal is a good swimmer, it often hides the entrance to its tunnel under water. This makes it hard for hawks, owls and skunks to attack it.
However, as it is just 20 centimetres long and weighs 55 grams, it is sometimes swallowed up by big fish.
True or false?
1. Eimer's organs help the mole hunt in the dark.
2. Only star-nosed moles have Eimer's organs.
3. Star-nosed moles are good swimmers.
Burrowing through
Choose the correct alternative:
Moles are famous for digging tunnels. They have wide paws with thick claws that help them dig. Moles that swim/drown use their paws like boat paddles.
Moles come to the surface to gather twigs to make nests and to prey/hunt. But most moles spend a lot of time underground. Because of this, moles have excellent/terrible eyesight. But they have good hearing and special sensors called Eimer's organs.
Moles are insectivores (animals that eat mostly insects). Moles that stay underground eat insects like earthworms, fleas, ants and beetles. Moles that spend time in the water eat water insects, tadpoles and sometimes fish.
Pest or Blessing?
Find antonyms - words that mean the opposite:
dislike, unhealthy, infertile
Gardeners don't like moles because their tunnels destroy plant roots. Also, when moles are digging new tunnels, they leave piles of  soil on the ground. Gardeners don't like molehills on their lawns.
But moles are important for a healthy environment. By moving the soil,  moles improve soil quality. Without moles, soil would be less fertile.
Golf course owners and gardeners who don't like moles can set traps that don't hurt the creatures. Then they can move the moles to a place where they don't disturb people. But as moles live in family groups, it's best to catch them all and move them together.
compare!
The world's smallest mole is the American shrew mole that weighs 7g and is 3cm long. The biggest is the Russian desman that can weigh 220g and has a body 22cm long and a tail almost the same size
Moles in Asia
Find words that mean:
easy to find, unfortunately, toxin
There are 42 species of mole living today. You can find them in most places - except for Antarctica and Ireland. Can you guess why?
The white-tailed mole and the long-tailed mole are very common on the mainland.
The white-tailed mole lives in forests. It lives underground but you might see it hunting through leaf litter for insects. The long-tailed mole  stays high up in the mountains.
Sadly modern farming is killing moles. When farmers use pesticides, they kill the insects moles eat. Also, if the mole eats an insect that died from poisoning, the mole is poisoned, too.
Because of pesticides the rare Echigo mole from Honshu, Japan is now endangered.
fab fact!
Because most moles spend their time underground, they don't care whether it's day or night. Moles get up when they want to, and sleep when they're tired
fab fact!
Scientists call male moles boars. Female moles are called sows. A group of moles is called a labour
now do this
Try to answer the following questions without referring to the text:
1. Moles live mostly ...
a. underground
b. in trees
c. in rivers
2. Moles are ...
a. carnivores
b. insectivores
c. herbivores
3. Star-nosed moles live in ...
a. North America
b. Asia
c. Europe
4. Which is the biggest?
a. Star-nosed mole
b. American shrew mole
c. Russian desman
5. Which is the smallest?
a. Star-nosed mole
b. American shrew mole
c. Russian desman
6. A labour of moles means ...
a. a male mole
b. a female mole
c. a group of moles
See Moles
Seeing moles can be very difficult as they live mostly underground. Because of this, you won't see them in  zoos either.
The best thing to do is to look for molehills, and then hope one will pop up. You can also ask a gardener where you can find this little mammal.
The mole rat digs tunnels, is almost blind and has claws on its paws but it is not a mole. The mole rat got its name because it looks so much like a mole.
You can see mole rats in forests and fields. They love to eat plants, seeds and fruit which is why farmers dislike them. In 2003, mole rats were such a big pest in Guyuan  that forestry officials imported 10 Siberian foxes to help get rid of them.
Answers
True or False: T, F, T
Correct alternative: swim, hunt, terrible
Antonyms: like, healthy, fertile
Synonyms: common, sadly, poison
Quiz: 1. a, 2. b, 3. a, 4. c, 5. b, 6. c



Nature's top diggers