Mole Rat 1. Mammal Rough Note Book for South Africa Tom Larson, 1947 Aug.15, 230 Port Elizabeth, 120 ft. Golf Course, South Africa Mole rat (Georychus hottenotus typicus) Serial numbers-(230-Aug.15,1947)(235,236-Aug.16) (237,238,239,240,241-Aug.17)(249,250,251-Aug.19) (253,254,255,256-Aug.19,Aug.20) Family-(Bathyergidae) All these specimens were caught in special mole traps set in runways on the Port Elizabeth golf course. This golf course is infested with mole rats, golden mole, and the blesmole. The piles of dirt pushed up by the mole rats average from two to ten or more feet apart. The animal will make a small passage off to the side of the main tunnel, bore to the surface and push the dirt out. In broad daylight you can see the pile of dirt enlarge as the animal works. Though the mole rat is most active at night, he will also work during the day as well. The animal feeds on the roots of plants. He seems to prefer grass roots. In trapping the mole rat, I would push aside the damp dirt of a fresh working, poke my finger into the outlet hole and feel the main tunnel passage. Usually the outlet passages are made at right angles to the main tunnel. Once, I located the main tunnel I would cut out a square piece of sod about 4" by 4" and insert the trap directly in the passage way. I would put grass over the trap then dirt. Outline of typical mole rat tunnel networks [illegible] (dirt piles) -> [illegible] (main tunnel)