Estonian Post issued a colourful stamp featuring the mole that can be encountered on the territory of Estonia. This is a mammal of the genus Talpa in the family Talpidae. Moles are known pests to human activities such as agriculture, lawncare, and gardening. However, they do not eat plant roots; they only cause damage indirectly as they eat earthworms and other small invertebrates in the soil. The stamp was designed by Indrek Ilves.
The mole is a small animal. Its body is 11-16 cm long on average and its tail is 2-4 cm long. They have a very short neck, long snout, small eyes concealed in coat, spade-like forelimbs adapted for digging and velvety fur. Moles live mainly in Western and Central Europe, England and Asia. They can be found everywhere in continental Estonia, but not on the country’s western islands of Saaremaa, Hiiumaa and Muhumaa. Moles are active day and night, especially at night, and all year round. They mostly eat earthworms, especially in winter. Mice, shrews, rats, frogs, lizards, snakes and others also fall prey to moles.
See also other fauna stamps.
