Mole Trapping - Get Rid Of Moles - Moles

Dr. Mole

Dr. Mole is Val Schaefer. Val is an ecologist and educator who received his B.Sc. from McGill University, his M.Sc. from the University of Toronto, and his Ph.D. from Simon Fraser University. The results of his Doctoral thesis on the habitat selection of the coast mole, Scapanus orarius, were published in five scientific articles. Val also recently updated a status report on the Townsend’s mole, Scapanus townsendii.

Val has been a Biology Instructor at Douglas College for 22 years, and Executive Director of the Institute of Urban Ecology at the college for the last 8 years. He has conducted numerous community projects on environmental education, habitat enhancement and urban bio-diversity. Val is the Supervisor of the Institute of Urban Ecology’s Green Links project which seeks to strengthen natural connections between green spaces by planting native vegetation in residential yards and utility corridors.

Published Articles by Dr. Val Schaefer

“Concentrations of Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen in Mole Tunnels”

• Published: Acta Theriologica. Vol. 24, 21: 267 – 276, 1979
• Highlights:
  • Moles are physically adapted to working in high levels of carbon dioxide (10 – 200 times that of atmospheric CO2) in their tunnels.
  • Moles are able to aerate their tunnels to increase the amount of oxygen.

“Factors Influencing Molehill Construction by the Coast Mole (Scapanius orarius True)”

• Published: Mammalia. t. 45, no 1, 31-38, 1981
• Highlights:
  • Mole activity is basically determined by how easy the soil is to dig in, and how abundant the food supply is.
  • Moles are more active in cool, moist soil.

“A Theory on the Dentition of Moles (Talpidae)”

• Published: Discovery. Vol 13, 64-65, 1984
• Highlights:
  • The dental features of North American moles differ from that of European moles because earthworms have only recently become available (around 94% of worms are introduced from Europe). The teeth of moles in North America have not yet adapted to this new source of food.
  • European moles have demonstrated the tendency to have “storehouses” of paralyzed worms. North American moles have not yet demonstrated this ability

“Movements and Diel Activity of the Coast Mole (Scapanius orarius True)”

• Published: Canadian Journal of Zoology. Vol 60, no 3, 480 – 482, 1982
• Highlights:
  • Moles tend to work on a “4 hours work/4 hours sleep” cycle
  • An average mole territory is approximately 100 x 130 ft.