How to hunt for star-nosed moles (and their holes)
Star-nosed moles range much of the Eastern US and Canada, but they're not too easy to spot, given their underground hideouts. (Morphart/Deposit Photos/)Adapted from Kenneth Catania’s Great Adaptations ©2020 Princeton University Press.Imagine you have moles in your yard (maybe you don’t have to imagine). What if I asked you to catch one? It can be done, but it’s not easy. Moles can detect your softest footsteps, and they are especially alert for sounds of digging. They know every inch of their tunnels like the back of their giant, clawed forepaws, and they avoid areas that have been disturbed. They have escape routes from their main tunnels and escape routes from their escape routes. When cornered, they dig a short tunnel and then backfill the entrance, magically disappearing as if through a secret door, and you’ll never guess they’re sitting just a few inches away. Plus, they have special hemoglobin in...