Slepushonka - Sokur Momoloy

Blind Mole.

A rodent, a field mouse, adapted to live underground. It feeds exclusively on plant roots.

This small animal has a body length of 10-12 cm, with a short tail of up to 1.5 cm. Adult animals reach a weight of 45 grams. In nature, blind moles come in various colors: from black to beige shades.

The most common animals have a gray-brown color. The belly of the animal is lighter than the color of its back. The fur of the blind mole is soft and dense. The tail and ears are almost imperceptible.

The animal's face is blunt in shape without external ears. Blind moles have small, slightly bulging black eyes that see very poorly, and large protruding incisors.

The paws have wide bare soles. The animal has 5 toes on its feet, which are not covered with fur.

The main tool for loosening the soil is its incisors. Short and powerful limbs equipped with strong claws help to push the soil out of the tunnels. The compact, barrel-shaped body is well adapted for movement in narrow passages.

Members of this species live underground. Their main diet consists of the underground parts of plants: rhizomes, tubers, and bulbs. The animal will gladly eat insects, worms, or various larvae.

The favorite food of these rodents includes tulips, irises, garlic, and onions.

During the winter period, these cute little animals prepare small reserves. They store them in special burrow-warehouses near their homes. The reserves are not large, for example, a couple of tubers or rhizomes.

Blind moles make two types of tunnels: surface feeding tunnels at a depth of 20-40 cm and deep nesting tunnels that extend several meters below the surface. In addition to nesting chambers, they also create storages where they stock up to 2 kg of bulbs, juicy rhizomes, and tubers. Above-ground parts of plants are also consumed.

They settle in small family colonies, with up to ten individuals in each.

In mid-summer and autumn, they are forced to migrate to other areas, moving along the surface, preferably at night.

They reproduce 2-3 times a year, with each female giving birth to 3-5, and rarely up to 9 offspring. The breeding season lasts from early March to the end of October. The nests of the rodents and storages are located at a depth of 1-4 m. Near the nests, females also create burrow-storages.

These animals do not hibernate. They lead an active lifestyle in the morning, during the day, and in the evening.

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