40 



NORTH AMERICANi FAUNA 66 



Figure 13. — Distribution of Condylura cristata cristata. 



The star-nosed mole is less fossorial than the eastern or hairy- 

 tailed moles; it is active both day and night, summer and winter. 

 It often uses surface runways, and sometimes in the winter it will 

 burrow in the snow, or even rim across it. The tunnels that this species 

 digs are more irregular in pattern than those of other Maryland moles. 

 These burrows are deep in places, and then abruptly rise to near the 

 surface. Frequently the tunnels enter the bank of a stream a foot 

 or more below the water line. The nest of the star-nosed mole is 

 constructed of leaves and grass and is located in a flattened spherical 

 chamber about 5 or 6 inches in diameter and some 4 or 5 inches high. 

 It is usually placed 3 or 4 inches below the surface of the ground, but 

 may be as much as 10 inches down. It is always, however, above the 

 high water level. 



It is believed that star-nosed moles pair in the autumn and remain 

 together until the young are born. Breeding occurs in the spring, and 

 birth is from April to J une, the gestation period being about 45 days. 

 There is only a single litter per year, and the size of the litter varies 

 from three to seven, six being the usual number. The young mature 

 rapidly and are ready to leave the nest within about a month's time. 

 Star-nosed moles are more gregarious than other eastern moles, and 

 may perhaps, be colonial, although colonies are probably formed 

 through family lineage. 



