What do moles eat in their summer cottage: a hidden threat
Having found signs of the presence of moles on his site, any summer resident will begin to get rid of unwanted neighbors as soon as possible. This is due to the widespread belief that moles feed on the underground parts of various plants and cause great harm to the crop. However, few people know what moles actually eat.
Content
What does a mole eat
Representatives of the mole family are by nature predators, and plant food is of little interest to them. The basis of their diet is made up of various insects, which they carefully seek out underground, as well as small rodents, reptiles and amphibians.
The diet of moles in the wild
Animals that live in their natural environment most often eat the following:
- small rodents;
- snakes;
- frogs and toads;
- worms;
- insect larvae;
- beetles and spiders.
The diet of moles in gardens and orchards
Swallow and predator.
Loose fertile land is especially attractive to moles, as it always has a lot of potential prey for them. Just as in the wild, in gardens these animals can eat caught frogs, rodents and insects.
In addition, the favorite food of the mole in summer cottages are:
- bears;
- earthworms;
- larvae of May beetles and butterflies.
Only in cases of special hunger, moles can eat plant debris, bulbs and roots, but prefer a completely different diet.
What does a mole eat in winter
There are no special differences between the summer and winter diet of moles. Just as in the warm season, the animals feed on sleeping insects found underground. The winter menu of moles mainly includes:
- spiders;
- beetles;
- worms;
- woodlice.
The mole is cunning and nimble. And all its benefits are very tangible for gardeners. But why is it so eager to destroy it?
Conclusion
Despite a common misconception, moles do not eat plant foods and are predatory mammals. By eating harmful insects, they do more good than harm. However, in the process of searching for food, moles can cause serious damage to the root systems of various plants, so their presence in vegetable gardens and orchards is completely undesirable.
