The curious case of the headless mole

The victim, image blurred to remove the gore

 It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that a heinous crime has been committed on my patch. At approximately 10:32 am this morning, 1st September 2024, I discovered the body of a velvet clad gentleman.

The individual, of undetermined gender or age was lying on top of some cut grass beside a nettle bed next to the river, with the top of its head missing. The cause of death was immediately obvious, the skull above the lower jaw was completely absent. There was very little blood an no other marks or wounds were on the body. The body was fresh with no decomposition, time of death is estimated to have been within the last 12-24 hours.

To try and understand what happened I have assembled a list of possible suspects who may have committed this murder:

1. A predator

Moles are eaten by a wide variety of animals. They spend most of their time underground and so are rarely predated but given a chance Foxes, Owls, Stoats, Weasels and Buzzards will all take one. There are, however, several problems. Foxes on catching a mole would eat it in a couple of bites. An owl, usually a Tawny Owl would caught the mole first in its talons leaving wounds on the body. It would then likely fly off and swallow the mole from a perch. Likewise the buzzard would catch the mole with its talon and then tear it into small pieces for consumption. Stoats and Weasels are aggressive hunters with surgical accuracy and could account for the targeted strike to the head. The brain is one of the richest parts of the body, full of essential fats and it makes sense that this might be eaten first.

Why though was the body left intact and unmarked? It is most probable that the would be murderer was disturbed in the act and fled the scene.

2. Another mole

Any eyewitness (me) reported that there was some unusual activity in the area prior to the bodies discovery. Whilst sat on the river bank they heard some squeaking and rustling in the leaves beside a tree trunk. He noted that there was a flash of black fur in the undergrowth. The individual was not identified but it could have been another mole. Moles are very territorial and males will fight to the death. Such struggles usually occur underground and involve biting and scratching.

It is unlikely a fellow mole however angry would be able to deliver such wounds and would not do so where both would be vulnerable on the surface.

3. Farmer Giles

At this time of the year mole dispersal takes place. Moles essentially remain underground for most of their lives. In the spring they may venture up to find mates or to feed if the ground is dry. In the autumn the juveniles, now nearly fully grown, leave the home burrows to set up their own system. It is also at this time of year that fields are harvested, tilled and ploughed. The coincidence of wandering moles and the movement of large machinery with metal blades indicates that a terrible accident could occur whereby a mortal blow to the head could quite easily delivered by accident. The meadow was indeed cut short sometime in the past few days and the body was found at the edge of this cut area.

4. Worm retribution

The nature of the wound could indicate some perverse revenge killing was employed by one or more worms or an agent of theirs. The primary diet of moles is earthworms, they eat 50 grams a day. Their tunnels act as traps into which the worms drop. The mole patrols its tunnels and gobbles them up. Moles are sensible fellows and will stash worms in special larders for eating later. To stop the worms escaping they bite the heads off before storing them. Their saliva also has a paralytic agent in to that subdues the worm.

Is the way the mole was left missing its head some grim statement made in a revenge killing?

Of these four suspects I think only really one is viable although I cannot in good faith claim to know for certain. There will be no Agatha Christie moment where I assemble the suspects in the library for a lengthy summation. Instead I think I will just say that a farming accident is most likely. Such things occur with regularity and harvest time can be a dangerous time for small mammals as the threshing, harvesting and cutting machines destroy their homes and drive them away. It is common to see Buzzards, Kestrels, Gulls and Crows following such machines to catch the mammals as they flee.

Sadly this is my third or fourth dead mole I have found in my life and I yet to have seen a mole in real life, alive and well despite the sketchy view I had earlier. For such a common mammal in the UK it really is very rare to see one, dead or alive.

Coming soon did the sparrow really kill Cock Robin? New evidence comes to light.