Eastern moles spend nearly all their lives underground, so New York’s 122 records lean toward GBIF specimen and trapping data (92 of 122) rather than photographs, since actually seeing a mole above ground is rare even where they’re common. NatureServe rates the state population S5, secure, and Long Island’s 13 logged sightings, more than a tenth of the state total, anchor the sandy coastal-plain soils this species favors.
March (17) and October (15) stand out as the year’s two peaks, together more than a quarter of the total, likely tracking spring and fall soil-moisture conditions that push moles closer to the surface and make their raised tunnels more visible after seasonal rains.
Full species profile
