Coast Mole
Encyclopedia
The Coast Mole or Pacific Mole (Scapanus orarius) is a medium-sized North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

n mole
Mole (animal)
Moles are small cylindrical mammals adapted to a subterranean lifestyle. They have velvety fur; tiny or invisible ears and eyes; and short, powerful limbs with large paws oriented for digging. The term is especially and most properly used for the true moles, those of the Talpidae family in the...

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It is found in forested and open areas with moist soils along the Pacific coast from southwestern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

 to central California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

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This animal has velvety black fur, a pointed snout and a short nearly hairless tail. It is about 16 centimetres (6.3 in) in length including a 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long tail and weighs about 62 grams (2.2 oz). Its front paws are broad and spade-shaped, specialized for digging; the rear paws are smaller. It has 44 teeth. Its ears are not visible and it has small eyes. It is similar in appearance to the larger Townsend's Mole
Townsend's Mole
The Townsend's Mole, Scapanus townsendii, is the largest North American mole.It is found in open lowland areas and open wooded areas with moist soils along the Pacific coast from southwestern British Columbia to northwestern California...

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This mole spends most of its time underground, foraging in shallow burrows for earthworms, small invertebrates and some plant material. It is active year round.

This animal is mainly solitary except during mating in late winter. The female has a litter of 2 to 4 young in a deep underground burrow.
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