Wildlife

You’re walking along some bushes in a park, and suddenly see a tiny gray creature skittering into the fallen leaves. At first you might think it’s a rodent, but this frenetic ball of energy is actually a shrew.

While it may appear small and gray, shrews are one of the most voracious mammalian predators on the planet. And they’re abundant and widespread, found on five continents in a variety of habitats. In the United Kingdom, there are an estimated 50 shrews per hectare in woodlands, with a country-wide population of more than 40 million shrews. The northern short-tailed shrew may be the most common mammal of the eastern United States.

Soricidae, the shrew family, contains more than 385 species. Superficially, many of these species look similar, with most having pointy snouts, a streamlined body and a grayish coloration. But they exhibit a diversity of behaviors. Even though they’re common and widespread, few people see them and fewer know their crazy habits and adaptations.

Let’s take a look at just some of the many reasons to marvel at shrews.