Scapanus townsendii
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Townsend's mole (Scapanus townsendii) is a fossorial mammal in the family Talpidae, and is the largest North American mole. It was named after the American naturalist John Kirk Townsend. The name was selected at the request of Thomas Nuttall as a patronym to honor Townsend's contribution.
It is found in open lowland and wooded areas with moist soils along the Pacific coast from southwestern British Columbia to northwestern California. This animal's total range in Canada is estimated to be 20 km² (7.7 mi2).
Townsend's mole is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN; however, in Canada it is considered an endangered species. It has velvety black fur, a pointed snout and a short, thick, a tail with barely any hair. It is about 21 cm (8.3 in) in length including a 4 cm (1.6 in) tail, and weighs about 138 grams (4.9 oz). Its front paws are broad and spade-shaped, specialized for digging; the rear paws are smaller. It has 44 teeth. Its ears are not visible and it has small eyes. It is similar in appearance to the smaller coast mole.
Townsend's mole spends most of its time underground, foraging... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Townsend's Mole sighting in Seattle on a given day, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 21st most-seen of the 25 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Townsend's Mole in Seattle on a given day, against under 5% in June to April, the lowest months.
Between 2 and 5 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Townsend's Mole sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Townsend's Mole sightings, Seattle ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Portland (United States, under 5%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Townsend's Mole is recorded against all the mammals logged in Seattle (13 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
