Feb., 1912. Mammals of Illinois and Wisconsin — Cory. 437 



The Prairie Mole is common throughout IlHnois and at least the 

 southern half of Wisconsin, as I have examined specimens from Prescott 

 County, and Hollister records it from Camp Douglas, Juneau Co. {I. c, 

 p. 142). It is quite common in the vicinity of Chicago and I have seen 

 a dozen specimens taken in or near the city limits, including two from 

 Jackson Park. Jackson states he saw what he assumed to be ridges 

 made by this species at Gales ville and Trempealeau, Trempealeau Co., 

 Durand, Pepin Co., and Menomonie, Dunn Co. (/. c, 1910, p. 90). 

 From Illinois the Field Museum collection contains specimens from 

 the northern, southern and western portions of the state. Wood re- 

 ports it from Champaign County (/. c, p. 589); Howell records it as 

 common in Madison, Alexander, Jefferson, Richland and Pope counties 

 {I. c, 1910, p. Si)- 



The Prairie Mole is a burrowing animal and lives almost its entire 

 life-time beneath the surface of the ground. Its huge fore feet are 

 especially adapted for digging, enabling it to excavate subterranean 

 galleries with ease. The results of its labors are often in evidence in 

 lawns and gardens, in the shape of irregular ridges of earth which mark 

 the course of its underground passages. The distance which under 

 favorable conditions an animal of this species can dig in a single night is 

 almost incredible. Audubon and Bachman state that one has been 

 known to excavate a gallery several hundred yards in length, and 

 Dr. Merriam informs us that he traced a fresh made burrow for nearly 

 one hundred yards.* Moles are of decided benefit to the agriculturist, 

 as their food consists largely of worms and insects of various kinds. 

 They are also flesh eaters as well, and in captivity will eagerly eat 

 fresh meat, but they are not vegetable feeders, although the depreda- 

 tions of Field Mice, which make use of their runways, are often un- 

 justly laid at their door. 



Regarding the habits of these animals Robert Kennicott says: 

 "The proper food of this animal, like that of all other moles, is principal- 

 ly insects, in search of which, it passes along just below the surface, 

 raising the earth so as to form a ridge, whereby its track is readily 

 traced in summer, when it does not usually go beyond 2 or 4 inches 

 deep for food, except in very dry weather • — the insects lying mostly 

 near the surface. Its habits in winter are not well known, though it 

 is certainly active at this time, when it doubtless travels readily below 

 the reach of frost, in search of food, to which depth some kinds of 

 insects then descend. It appears incapable of enduring much cold, 

 however, and, though one has been known to come to the surface 

 occasionally during thaws in winter, it is never observed to come out 

 in severe weather, as its hardy relatives, the shrews, habitually do. 



* Mamm. Adirondack Reg., 1886, p. 155. 



