amnhnyc:

A photo of a hairy-tailed mole crawling on snowy terrain. The animal is almost black, with a pink snout, pink hands, and long claws. It is mouse-like in shape but has no visible ears or eyes.ALT

Who’s this fuzzy potato? It’s the hairy-tailed mole (Parascalops breweri)! Found in parts of eastern North America, this burrowing mammal creates tunnels that can extend up to 78 ft (24 m) long. Though it typically weighs only 2.2 oz (62.8 g), this critter’s powerful forelimbs can generate force more than 30 times its body mass, allowing it to slide through the soil with ease. Its diet includes worms, insects, and snails.

Photo: crazybirdy, CC BY-NC 4.0, iNaturalist