# Help with a baby mole? Please? Wildlife experts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 15, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698 "2003-07-15T17:07:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698/1 "2003-07-15T17:07:57Z")
I found a mole on our driveway this morning. Funny-I’ve seen 8 million mole tracks but never an actual mole. I think it’s a young’n. It’s gray and furry and precious, but only about 3 inches long. It was laying next to my car on its back, kicking its little flippers or whatever they are. I picked it up with a paper towel and had no idea what to do with it. It wasn’t wounded that I could see, but it had that telltale wet spot of fur that says “a cat’s been toying with me.” I couldn’t decide whether to kill it since I didn’t want it to suffer or give it a shot at making it. Hubby ended up digging a little shallow hole and putting it in there. When we put it down at first, it tried to burrow into the ground, but it’s either sick, in shock, or too young. I’m about to go check on it during lunch. Hopefully it’ll be gone, but if it’s still there and still alive, what should I do? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698/2 "2003-07-15T18:00:51Z")
I thought you were talking about a mole on your baby. Heh. Let nature take it’s course. I know they’re cute, but if it’s going to die, it’s going to die. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698/3 "2003-07-15T18:38:11Z")
feed it worms. Keep it cool & moist, & out of the sun. It might not be young. They come in different types, you know. Ogh, find some soft soil, that’ll help. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698/4 "2003-07-15T18:47:53Z")
The animal must be kept hydrated and warm. Place it in a shoe box that has been lined with a towel. Feed it some clean distilled water with an eyedropper. If it is able to eat, give it some earthworms or meal worms. You will be able to buy night crawlers at a fishing and bait shop and any regular pet store will have meal worms. For a young animal, the earth worms are probably the better bet. If it is able to eat the earth worms you will probably not need to give it water. Here’s a [link](http://brainmuseum.org/Specimens/insectivora/americanmole/) about moles. ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698/5 "2003-07-15T22:33:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kalhoun \* > \*\*I thought you were talking about a mole on your baby. Heh. > \*\* Same here. I was gonna mention Cindy Crawford or Millie on **Amazing Race** , but now that all seems kinda pointless. Good luck with the little critter. ---
**Author:** ![Calliope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Calliope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calliope)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698/6 "2003-07-15T23:59:37Z")
If it has been handled by a cat, the bacteria it has been exposed to will likely kill it without antibiotics. Cats have dangerously dirty mouths. If you want any shot at saving it, you’ll need to take it to a wildlife rehabilitator. You can do as Zenster says and put it in a shoe box lined with something soft. Keep it dark and quiet and get it to that rehabber. Here is a listing for your area: \*\*South Carolina, Southern region (Charleston)… 843-928-3494 Jim Elliott (Director), South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey South Carolina, Southern region (Charleston)… 843-514-3217 (mobile) Beth Amick Mowder, licensed wildlife rehabilitator [bmowder@hotmail.com](mailto:bmowder@hotmail.com) South Carolina, Southern region (Charleston, James Island)… 803-762-5105 Pris Massenburg Wright, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Comments: State Coordinator for Wildlife Assistance in South Carolina Wildlife Species: otters, squirrels, pelicans, herons, waterfowl South Carolina, Southern region (Isle of Palms)… 843-886-5457 Jennifer Nolan Hacking, Nolan’s Ark Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation [gvhacking@aol.com](mailto:gvhacking@aol.com) Specialty: Veterinary Technician\*\* ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698/7 "2003-07-16T02:34:32Z")
My cat leave moles (and mice) of various sizes on the front porch. No matter the condition, they are deposited in the garbage can. One less pest for the neighborhood. If you don’t like mole hills in your yard, may I suggest you do the same. I’m actually a nice guy and love all animals. I have pet mice and rats in my house right now. But I could do without the wild ones. ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698/8 "2003-07-16T17:50:07Z")
🙂 (Actually, I do have a baby, but no moles! He does have a scratch on his widdle nose, but that’s 'cause his fingernails become glamour length again after I cut them seemingly overnight!) Thank you so much for the help-I so appreciate the responses! As it turned out, when I went home for lunch, the soil around the hole was tufted and rearranged, and no sign of the animal. I tapped on the soil, and about a minute later noticed some very slight subterranean movement, so he hasn’t gotten far but he made it back underground by himself. I guess so far it’s mole=1 kitty=0 ! Luckily, we have the type soil in which a worm should be very easy to find (thus the reason we have moles in the first place!) so he shouldn’t have had to hunt for long. **racer72** I know what you mean. I could do without the hills, but I’ve always wanted to see a mole. When I was a kid, I’d follow and try to dig up the trails just so I could find one! I have this silly Snow White syndrome that compels me to save anything I find (unless it’s a roach or flea.) Believe it or not, I spent 10 minutes in my mother in law’s driveway the other night trying to right a beetle who kept flipping over onto his back before I gave up and put him out of his misery. :rolleyes: maybe I need a new hobby… ---
**Author:** ![welby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@welby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698/9 "2003-07-16T17:57:15Z")
Get a little pan, coat the bottom with oil. Clean and skin the mole. Add a little garlic and some Lawry’s seasoned salt, some onion. Cook until done. Server over long grain wild rice with a semi-sweet wine. ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698/10 "2003-07-16T20:41:51Z")
Hmmm… I do so love to cook! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercury)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-a-baby-mole-please-wildlife-experts/188698/11 "2003-07-17T00:53:10Z")
I was going to suggest posting some pictures. 😉 Sounds like a cutie.