Hajdúbagosi Földikutya Rezervátum Természetvédelmi Terület

The 265-hectare underground mole reserve is located on the border of Hajdúbagos. This is the habitat of the underground, mole-like small burrowing animal, the European mole, which has been declared highly protected since 1976 due to the danger of extinction. It has since been discovered that the western mole species group of the Transylvanian mole lives in the area.

The meadow's flora and fauna

This is one of the largest domestic habitats of the remaining Transylvanian mole population in Hungary. The total world population of the Transylvanian mole reaches 10 000 individuals, researchers estimate the Romanian population at nearly 9 000 individuals, the rest live in Hungary. About 190 individuals may live in this reserve.

Since its natural habitats, the primeval meadows, have been greatly reduced by the expansion of agricultural production, it requires increased protection.

The deeper parts of the grassland called Nagynyomás were still water‑covered even in the 1980s, but in recent drier years the wet areas have receded, which also promotes the mole’s expansion.

The still water‑covered wetter parts remain resting sites for migratory birds.

Besides the mole, several rare plant and animal species have also found refuge on the meadow.

Here bloom Hungarian bellflower, Hungarian carnation, and the homoki nőszirom. The bulb of the umbrella sorrel is one of the mole’s favourite treats.

In the acacia‑bordered primeval meadow several lizard species such as the homoki lizard or the agile lizard, the praying mantis and the antlion live.

The area’s particularly rich flora and fauna is characterised by the recording of 90 vertebrate species and 136 plant species here.

Description of the mole

The mole (Nannospalax leucodon) is a small burrowing animal barely 20 cm long, with huge protruding incisors.

Similarly to other subterranean animals, it is blind, and its eyes are covered by continuously hairy skin over the eye sockets. It navigates the underground cavities using its scent and temperature‑sensing whiskers. It has no eardrum. The animal weighs barely a quarter of a kilogram.

Its food is of plant origin. It feeds on roots and tubers. During the study of its feeding habits, researchers excavated several underground tunnel systems; one such tunnel consisted of a food‑storage cavity the size of three children's heads. In one cavity they found accumulated grasses, and the other two side cavities were filled with meadow carrot roots thickened to 6–8 cm and umbrella‑leafed salsify bulbs.

Its protrusions are much larger than those of a mole and have coarser granules. It builds its tunnels by pushing the soil forward with its head. From the thickness of the soil mounds pressed onto the ground surface one can infer the size of the animal and whether the expelled soil mound comes from its dwelling or feeding chamber. The feeding chamber lies at root level, at a depth of 25–30 cm; this soil is darker in color, whereas the dwelling chamber is located at about one meter depth, and the soil expelled from there is lighter in color.

The lower dwelling cavity system is partially flooded; the lowest cavity is its resting place, next to it is the brood‑rearing nest of the female, and the food storage chambers.