Quick answer
Moles feed on mostly earthworms, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Underground tunnels in grassland, woodland, gardens. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
Key takeaway
Moles feed on mostly earthworms, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Underground tunnels in grassland, woodland, gardens. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
Mole diet overview
Moles (Talpa europaea) are best summarised as Insectivore (mostly earthworms). Anatomy and habitat (Underground tunnels in grassland, woodland, gardens) decide whether they hunt, graze, filter, scavenge, or mix strategies across the year.
How moles find food
Energy-rich foods are prioritised when available; lean seasons force broader diets or longer travel. Young animals may eat different items or receive food from parents.
Mole role in the food web
As consumers in their food web, moles move nutrients and influence prey or vegetation.
Feeding and human conflict
Never feed wild moles. Habituation raises injury risk and can lead to lethal management. Captive diets must match species needs, not generic pet food rules.
Built for digging
The mole is one of nature's most specialised diggers. Its broad, outward-facing front paws work like shovels, and an extra thumb-like bone widens each paw to move more soil. Its fur has no grain, so it can move forwards or backwards in a tight tunnel without snagging, and a high tolerance for carbon dioxide lets it breathe the stale air of its burrows.
Diet and the worm larder
Moles are insectivores that feed mainly on earthworms, detecting the vibrations of prey falling into their tunnels. When food is plentiful a mole will bite the heads off surplus earthworms to paralyse them and store them alive in a special chamber — caches of hundreds of worms have been found in a single larder. A mole must eat frequently and can starve within a day if it cannot feed.
Sources
Mole FAQs
What do moles eat?
Moles feed on mostly earthworms, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Underground tunnels in grassland, woodland, gardens. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
What is the scientific name of the mole?
Talpa europaea — used in research and conservation listings for moles.
Where do moles live?
They are associated with Underground tunnels in grassland, woodland, gardens. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of moles?
Listed in our guides as Least Concern. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.