A nose that works like fingertips
Twenty-two soft rays surround the nostrils, and each carries dense touch receptors. The mole taps them rapidly against soil, plants, and prey. Its brain decides almost instantly whether an object is food.
Dark water-resistant fur, tiny eyes, and broad front feet complete its digging form. A long, scaly tail stores fat and helps with movement in water.
At home in wet ground
Star-nosed moles favor marshes, wet meadows, stream banks, and damp forests. Tunnels often open into water. They’re strong swimmers that hunt insects, worms, crustaceans, and other small prey above and below the surface.
Females build protected nests and raise one litter in the warmer season. Young are born without a working coat, but the star is already formed.
Range patterns
The main range covers southeastern Canada, the Northeast, and Great Lakes. A southern extension follows parts of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Wetland access and trapping effort shape reports, so records don’t measure abundance.
Wetland links matter
The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern. Draining wetlands and breaking streamside cover can isolate populations. Clean, connected shallow water protects both the mole and its prey.
