Moles are carnivores feeding almost exclusively small invertebrate animals living underground such as earthworms and the larvae of beetles and flies.[3] A mole may also occasionally catch small mice at the entrance to its burrow. Because their saliva contains a toxin that can paralyze earthworms, moles are able to store their still living prey for later consumption. They construct special underground “larders” for just this purpose. Researchers have discovered such larders with over a thousand earthworms in them.

A mole’s preferred habitats are wooded hilly districts. Moles have a well-developed sense of orientation retaining a mental plan of their complex layout of underground tunnels. Moles burrow in lawns, raising molehills and killing the lawn, for which they are sometimes considered pests. They can undermine plant roots, indirectly causing damage or death. Though moles are the bane[4] of many lawn owners, they make a significant positive contribution to the health of the landscape. Their extensive tunneling and mound building mixes soil nutrients and improves soil aeration[5] and drainage. Moles also eat many lawn and garden pests.

鼹鼠的一生几乎都是在地下度过的——它们眼睛小视力弱，体毛(丝绒般)柔软，臀部短小适于在狭窄的地方来回转身。鼹鼠还拥有宽大的前肢，结实的前爪上长有外翻的足趾，很适于掘土。一只鼹鼠在一个小时内居然可以挖穿14米长的地道!

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