Do Moles Hibernate In Minnesota?
What Is hibernation?
Do moles hibernate in Minnesota? First, let’s explore the definition of hibernation. Hibernation is a way that animals conserve energy to survive adverse weather conditions or lack of food. Hibernation involves physiological changes such as a drop in body temperature and slowed metabolism. During hibernation, an animal remains completely immobile and appears to be sleeping
Do moles hibernate in Minnesota?
One of the most common misconceptions about moles is that they are hibernating animals. Moles are mammals but do not hibernate like bears, ground squirrels, and groundhogs. During Minnesota winters, moles more closely resemble that of opossums and raccoons which are generally active but that activity remains out of sight. In warmer climates, you will actually see mole activity year-round.
Where do moles go during the winter?
In Minnesota and other cold-weather climates, visible mole activity such as surface tunnels and mounds steadily declines from fall to winter. Cold weather drives moles and their food source deeper into the ground. Ultimately, everything ends up somewhere around the frost line. The frost line averages about 2 feet in depth in the Greater Minneapolis-St Paul Metropolitan area. At the frost line, moles don’t need much in terms of oxygen to survive. They are very tolerant to higher levels of carbon dioxide because their blood cells have a special form of hemoglobin and they utilize oxygen very efficiently. They also receive plenty of water from the food that they consume, namely worms and nightcrawlers.
If I had moles on my property in the fall, will they return in the spring?
You could be the lucky one! If you had an isolated problem in the fall caused by a single mole, it’s possible he or she perished of natural causes over the winter. A mole’s natural lifespan is about 4 to 5 years. In some cases, it’s also possible that a mole just decided to relocate. Unfortunately, in most cases, you’ll have as much or more mole activity in the spring. Moles breed in late winter and each female will have as many as 2 to 6 offspring. Ultimately, as spring temperatures increase, warmer weather drives worms and nightcrawlers back to the surface and the moles follow in tow.
If you have a mole infestation Metro Mole Control Can Help!
At Metro Mole Control, we know how destructive moles can be to lawns, landscaping, and property values. While we can’t do anything to address them during the dead of winter, we can add you to our spring reminder list. Just complete the Contact Us form on our website or click on the Get Help Now button below indicating that you would like to receive a spring reminder Email. As soon as the weather cooperates, we’ll send that reminder to see if you’d like to schedule a no-cost / no-obligation property inspection.
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