They may not immediately catch your eye, but if you pay close attention you will see their heaps all over the city. There are many of them, but we don’t know much about the mole yet. That’s why this weekend is the national mole count. Urban ecologist Geert Timmermans doesn’t just do this during this weekend: “Their heaps teach us a lot about nature in the city.”
“You don’t see them, so we don’t know how many there are,” begins Geert Timmermans. The blind beasts can often be seen in one way: through the heaps above their corridors. “People often think that thirty heaps also means thirty moles, but one mole often has a territory that includes many heaps.” This weekend’s count is brought to the attention of the Mammal Association.
“It’s nice to know how many moles there are, but it’s also good to know to learn about nature,” says the ecologist. “Take the Vondelpark, there are no moles there, but there used to be.” The animal is unable to find its way to the park: “That means that the park is also too closed off for other animals. Because if the mole can go somewhere, any animal can.”
Colonized IJburg
Moles are swimmers, but another popular route these days is the bridge to IJburg. “IJburg used to be water, there were no moles yet.” The bridge to IJburg also ensures that the gang diggers can go that way. “If another area is occupied and new young are born, then they are simply moved out of the habitat. You see that they are going to colonize IJburg.”
“Most people don’t like it. They turn up your lawn, but are actually very useful.” Timmermans’ tip? “Crush the heaps flat and there’s nothing left to do.” He also goes outside on Sunday to look for heaps. “Pass the location of the heaps to the Mammal Association and this way we can all better map out where moles do and do not live.”