Part 12

THE MOLES

Within the park are found three different kinds of moles, two of which are very closely related and similar in general appearance. The third is distinct in size and coloration.

The Townsend mole, Scapanus townsendii (Bachman), is considered to be the largest of its kind on the continent, with a total length of about eight inches. The body is stout, with tiny eyes, short legs and tail. The fur is dense and velvety, blackish-brown in color, usually with a purplish tone.

It is found in “extreme northwestern California, Oregon and Washington west of the Cascade Mountains” (Jackson). Little is known about its status within the park. Workings were observed and a specimen collected at Spray Park (5,500 feet) in 1919.

The coast mole, Scapanus orarius orarius True, is smaller than the Townsend mole, attaining a length of about six and one-half inches. Its coloration is black or blackish-brown above, with the underparts more grayish in tone.

This species is found in the humid coast region of northern California, Oregon and Washington. It is apparently not common in any part of the park, but has been collected at Longmire and the Owyhigh Lakes.

The Gibbs shrew-mole, Neurotrichus gibbsii gibbsii (Baird), is a very small mole, about the size of a house mouse, around four inches in total length. The entire coloration is dark grey, with the longer hairs frequently tipped with whitish.

This mole is found in extreme southwestern British Columbia, western Washington and Oregon west of the Cascade Mountains, and south into California in the coast region and interior west of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It occurs rather commonly throughout the park below 4,000 feet, although an occasional record has been obtained at elevations in excess of 5,000 feet. Its habitat is around grassy swamps and near streams.

Specimens in park collection: Townsend mole, none; coast mole, RNP-105; Gibbs shrew-mole, RNP-21, RNP-106, RNP-112, RNP-114; Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters.

The mole is often confused with other small mammals, especially the rodents. However, it does not belong with the rodent group and can readily be distinguished by its short, very stout front legs which end in broad, handlike feet with the palms turned outward; and by its pointed nose; short tail; elongated body with fine, plush-like fur; and the apparent absence of external eyes and ears.

The mole is one of Nature’s strangest creations. From birth it is destined to live underground, working diligently in total darkness to obtain the food necessary for its existence. Its appetite seems never to be satisfied and captive specimens have been known to eat more than their own weight in a single day. Earthworms and grubs make up the major portion of the food eaten, although beetles, spiders, various insects and occasionally plants are of importance. The mole has the dubious distinction of being of great value to the farmer because of the worm pests he destroys, yet is regarded in return as one of the farmer’s worst pests. A large part of this bad reputation arises from the damage done growing plants by rodents that use the mole burrow to reach the tender flower bulbs and growing roots found underground.

While hawks, owls and small mammal predators take a limited number of moles as food, high water in areas containing their homes constitutes an important factor in controlling their abundance. The heavy rains and snow runoff in the park probably has much to do with the local mole population.

THE SHREWS

The smallest of our North American mammals, the shrew, is represented in the park by six different forms, all closely related and similar in general appearance.

The wandering shrew, Sorex vagrans vagrans Baird, is a small shrew with dark brown upperparts and ashy gray underparts. The tail tends to be bicolor with a dusky color above and paler below.

This species is found from southern British Columbia through western Washington and Oregon into northern California. Only two records have been obtained from the park. These came from a specimen trapped at Bear Prairie (2,000 feet) about three miles south of Longmire and from one taken in Stevens Canyon (no elevation given). The wandering shrew lives in areas where there is considerable moisture and a damp, heavy forest cover.

The Olympic dusky shrew, Sorex obscurus setosus Elliot, is a fairly large shrew with upperparts brown with a few light-tipped hairs, the lower parts ashy washed with buff. The tail is brown above and yellowish-white below.

This shrew is found from the Cascades westward and south as far as the Columbia River. In the park it has been recorded in a number of localities ranging from 2,000 to 6,800 feet in elevation. It is normally found in moist situations where the undergrowth is heavy and is one of our common shrews.

The cinereous shrew, Sorex cinereus cinereus Kerr, is of medium size and difficult to separate from the dusky and wandering shrews. It is distinguished by its small size and pale color.

This species “ranges over most of Alaska, Canada and the northern half of the United States” (Dalquest). Within the park it has been recorded only along the Paradise River, and data are lacking regarding its range.

The Trowbridge shrew, Sorex trowbridgii trowbridgii Baird, is a large shrew, about three-fourths the size of a common house mouse. In coloration it is black or grayish above, lighter below. The tail is sharply contrasting blackish above and whitish below.

This shrew is found west of the crest of the Cascade Range in Washington and Oregon, and has been collected in the park at Ohanapecosh (2,000 feet), Tahoma Creek (2,500 feet), and Longmire (2,700 feet). It prefers dark woods and moist situations.

The navigator water shrew, Sorex palustris navigator (Baird), is a large shrew about the size of a house mouse, with small fore feet and broad hind feet. Its coloration above is dark brown or blackish with some of the hairs whitish tipped, the underparts are whitish-gray. The tail is brown above and pale gray below.

This species is found from the Rocky Mountains and the outlying ranges of British Columbia to southern Colorado, and in California as far south as Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. It is commonly encountered from the lowest elevations in the park up to around 8,000 feet, and is usually found along stream banks and at lake outlets.

The Bendire water shrew, Sorex bendirii bendirii (Merriam) is about the size of a house mouse, a sooty-gray color above and slightly paler below.

It is found in the Klamath section of Oregon, a narrow strip along the coast of California, and in the Cascades from Washington to British Columbia. It has been recorded at elevations ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 feet on the west and south sides of the park. Like all water shrews it prefers moist areas and is usually found around wet meadows or in the forest cover near lowland creeks.

Specimens in park collection: Wandering shrew, RNP-89; Olympic dusky shrew, RNP-55, RNP-88; cinereous shrew, none; Trowbridge shrew, RNP-61; navigator water shrew, RNP-64, RNP-83, RNP-90; Bendire water shrew, RNP-1, RNP-56, RNP-72; Longmire Museum, Park Headquarters.

Because of their secretiveness and tiny size the shrews are seldom observed, although they are relatively abundant in the park. By stationing oneself in an elevated spot near a grassy stream bank or in a damp, shady, forested area it is sometimes possible to observe the actions of these small creatures. While their diet is largely composed of insects, they do eat such things as worms, as well as small birds and mammals that they can kill. They are very nervous animals and extremely courageous hunters, and will attack and kill other mammals much larger in size. They require an abundance of food to live and will die if deprived of food for even a few hours. This might lead one to suppose that they are somewhat weak, but such is not the case. They are active throughout the year, being seen abroad under even the most rigorous climatic conditions.