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What Does a Mole Look Like?

Broad-Footed Mole Appearance in Southern California

Moles are almost never seen above ground, but occasionally one turns up near a tunnel entrance or on the surface after heavy rain. Here is what the broad-footed mole — Southern California's native mole species — looks like.

Mole Size

Adult broad-footed moles (Scapanus latimanus) are:

  • 5-7 inches in body length with a short, nearly hairless tail of 1-2 inches
  • Cylindrical, torpedo-shaped body — broader at the shoulders, tapering toward the head and tail
  • Weight: 1.5-3 ounces
  • Smaller than a gopher — roughly the size of a large mouse or small chipmunk

    • Mole Fur and Color

    Mole fur is distinctive:

  • Dark gray to nearly black — often described as velvety
  • The fur has no "grain" — it lies flat in any direction, which allows moles to move forward and backward through tunnels without their fur catching on soil
  • Belly fur is slightly lighter than the back
  • No markings, stripes, or spots

    • Mole Eyes and Ears

    Moles have extremely reduced eyes and ears:

  • Eyes are tiny — often not visible externally, covered by fused eyelids and skin
  • No visible external ear openings
  • The head appears smooth and featureless compared to a rodent like a mouse or gopher

    • The Defining Feature — Oversized Front Feet

    The broad-footed mole's most distinctive feature is its front feet. They are broad, paddle-shaped, and permanently turned outward and backward — oriented for pushing soil to the sides rather than grasping. The claws are long and robust.

    When you see a mole, the front feet are immediately recognizable as the dominant physical feature — disproportionately large relative to the animal's body size.

    Mole vs Gopher Appearance

    Mole: dark gray, no visible eyes, oversized paddle front feet, pointed snout.

    Gopher: brown, visible eyes and ears, normal-sized feet with claws, prominent orange-yellow teeth.

    If you find an animal and are unsure which it is, the feet are the giveaway — mole feet look like paddles, gopher feet look like normal rodent feet with long claws.

    Gopher vs Mole Guide | California Mole Species | Mole Control Service