Range, habitat, and population size of the Eastern Mole, Scalopus aquaticus, in Canada

Abstract

The Eastern Mole, Scalopus aquaticus, although widespread in North America, is confined in Canada to a small area of 350 km2 (35 000 ha) in southern Essex County and adjacent Kent County (now Municipality of Chatham-Kent) in south-western Ontario. With the exception of Point Pelee National Park, most of the habitat available to Eastern Moles within the Canadian range has been converted to agriculture or urban uses incompatible with mole habitation. Approximately 4.2% of the land area remains as natural habitat suitable for moles. We calculate the total area of natural habitat available to the species in Canada at 1060 ha of which 810 ha are contained within Point Pelee National Park. This area could support 2120-12720 moles at a density of 2-12 moles per hectare. During the last century, the range of the species appears to have expanded slightly to the east and west, but continued expansion will be constrained by soil types unsuitable for mole habitation that occur just beyond the present range.