'Mole explosion' hits area

Could this piece of land in Telford be dotted with the most molehills in the county? Residents have watched in amazement over recent weeks as the area has become inundated with the earthy mounds.

The once neat and tidy patch off Rose Crescent in Wellington, a favourite for dog walkers, is now estimated to have 50 molehills.

The Mayor of Telford & Wrekin, Councillor Miles Hosken, has described it as an "explosion of moles" and wonders if the numbers of the animal should be curbed.

Monica Drinkwater, who has lived in Rose Crescent for 26 years, said she had never seen anything like it before, adding: "There has to be about 50 molehills there. I can see them from the house.

"It's amazing to see so many. I suppose it started a couple of months ago, we've just been getting more and more."

Councillor Hosken, ward councillor of Ercall, said he too had noticed the seemingly never-ending number of molehills.

"There's a tremendous number," he said. "Apparently across the country people are suffering with these little devils.

"I've reported it to the council on two or three occasions. They had a look at it and it seemed to die down."

But he said: "There seems to be a little bit of an explosion of moles. It makes the area look totally and utterly different with the molehills.

"Possibly they need a mole exterminator."

He added that he was concerned about people putting a foot in a molehill and tripping over.

"I'm an animal lover but in this particular instance I think perhaps the council should look at eradicating a few," he said.

The People's Trust for Endangered Species has launched a campaign calling for the public's help in counting molehills.

The trust wants to use the survey to find out if the creature is in trouble. The underground mammal is rarely seen and a molehill is often the only sign to indicate its presence.

• What do you think? Do you know a place with more molehills than this? Call the Shropshire Star on (01952) 242424.

Mole factfile:

• Moles have short, usually black fur with shovel-like forearms and a pink snout.

• They are about 15cm in length and live on average for three years.

• Moles are found across Britain and spend almost all their lives underground.

• Mole hills are the by-product of tunnelling and appear in autumn or winter.

• Once a mole has created a tunnel network it tends to stop digging.

• Moles patrol the underground tunnels for earthworms and insects.

• Moles have poor eyesight but a very good sense of smell and touch.

• There is no legal protection in the UK for moles and they are often regarded as pests by farmers and gardeners.

• Tunnelling close to the surface of a newly planted field can cause plant roots to die, while mole hills can damage farm machinery.