Broad-footed Mole (Scapanus latimanus), Cross Marin Trail, Marin County, California - 12 May 2013. My wife found this unfortunate animal in the middle of this paved trail. About 15 cm in length. A separate photo shows a small hairy tail, which in combination with the striking forefeet and the location would seem to indicate this species.
Found dead from unknown cause along the Cross Marin Trail into Samuel P. Taylor State Park.
Neighbors are doing some logging and using heavy machinery and we've had a little flooding...whatever the cause i have found two dead moles in the yard...
The family Talpidae includes the moles, shrew moles, desmans, and other intermediate forms of small insectivorous mammals of the order Soricomorpha. Moles are, to varying degrees, subterranean animals, whilst desmans are aquatic. Talpids are found across the northern hemisphere, in Asia, Europe, and North America, although there are none in Ireland or anywhere in the Americas south of northern Mexico.
