|
| Distribution |
In NC, it has a bimodal range, being found essentially only in the mountains and the Coastal Plain, though it does range south to the Piedmont of VA. There are a few sight reports and one or two specimens from the Piedmont of NC, plus a specimen from the foothills (Surry County) not far from the mountains.
Found from eastern Canada south in the eastern United States only to the Great Lakes states and the Atlantic coast states, south to GA. |
| Abundance |
Uncommon to locally common in the mountains; uncommon, and perhaps local, in the Sandhills and the remainder of the southern third of the Coastal Plain. Rare elsewhere in the Coastal Plain except very rare to absent in the northwestern portion of that province. Casual to very rare in the Piedmont, and mainly there in the foothills. |
| Seasonal Occurrence |
Active year-round, though seldom seen, as it spends nearly all of its time underground. |
| Habitat |
Almost strictly in wetland habitats; swamps, bottomlands, bogs, marshes, wet thickets, moist meadows, etc., are favored habitats. They can also be found along streams and springs in hilly topography, especially in the mountains. |
| Behavior |
They spend very little time on the surface, as with the other two mole species in the state. Its tunnels alternate between underground burrows and on-the-ground runways, unlike other moles. These tunnels are thus more undulating, and as it is a good swimmer, a mole tunnel leading to water is strongly suggestive of a Star-nosed Mole. |
| Comments |
This is one of the more bizarre-looking mammals in the state, with its fleshy 22-"fingered" snout. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission lists the Coastal Plain population as State Special Concern, because it is rather scarce; the mountain population has no special status. Both populations belong to the same subspecies (Condylura cristata parva) and thus there is apparently no phenotypic difference among the populations in the state. |
| Origin |
Native |
| NC List |
Official |
 State Rank |
S4 |
| State Status |
|
| Global Rank |
G5 |
| Federal Status |
|
| subspecies |
Condylura cristata cristata, Condylura cristata parva
Condylura c. cristata occurs only in the northern Coastal Plain, whereas C. c. parva occurs elsewhere in the state. |
| other_comName |
|
| synonym |
|
