More Mole-Rat News

Many of our loyal readers have asked us for an update on the two litters of mole-rat pups. In fact, it seems that we have somewhat unfairly reported more about the first litter than the second. In the hopes of redressing this imbalance, we bring you this update on both litters.



The August babies are now big enough to weigh on the gram scale. In size, they are nearly caught up with the smallest of the grown colony members. Their most recognizable feature is their color – unlike older mole-rats or very small pups, they are deep grey. Their skin is less wrinkled than that of older animals, perhaps because they just grew into it. They look sleek, plump and slightly shiny. The August pups act like fully integrated colony members. They engage in the tasks of transporting food, chewing concrete and patrolling the tunnels. They seem to be a very self confident and have even engaged older and larger animals in some challenge-type behavior, like head shoving, or trying to walk over instead of under the bigger animal. It is pretty common to see the members of this litter far away from each other, interacting with older colony members rather than sticking together as littermates.

The September pups are also doing well. Their eyes have opened, they are now subsisting entirely on solid food though one was recently seen begging an adult for cecal pellets. These younger pups are still pink but starting to show their grey pigment. Pups from this litter are usually found together, and colony mates treat them like babies, carrying them in their mouths and herding them into the sleeping chamber when they stray. But don’t be fooled, these pups are very mobile and can get around the chambers on their own.


Occasionally, though, they do get stuck in a chamber with a tube just a bit out of reach. They must wait for a larger colony member to move them. Staff are identifying these spots and putting little steps in wherever the babies have trouble. The main task we have seen the pups do is tunnel cleaning – the famous “moon walk” where mole-rats walk slowly backward pushing bedding behind them as they go. Why clean backward? Helps keep dust and debris out of their faces.


Meanwhile, we have a female who is days away from delivering another litter. Our hope is that this time, with the experience of successfully rearing young, our colony will be able to care for these pups without the need to isolate them.