Habitats

Shrews can be found in:

• Deserts

• Forest

  • Coniferous 

  • Deciduous 

  • Tropical

• Grassland

  • Arid

  • Humid

• Hedgerows

• Savannas

• Scrubland

• Tundra

Regions

Shrews have been recorded in Africa and Eurasia, throughout North America, down to northwestern South America, as wells as on island groups east of mainland Asia to the Aru Islands on the Australian continental shelf.

Asian house shrews have been introduced to parts of Arabia, Africa, Madagascar and some Pacific and Indian Ocean islands. - Britannica: Shrew

Diet

"Active all year, day or night, short-tailed shrews forage in leaf litter and fallen grass for invertebrates (primarily earthworms, slugs, snails, and insects), and they pursue small salamanders, reptiles, and mice. Their saliva contains a neurotoxin and a hemotoxin that are introduced into a wound by chewing. These toxins are used primarily to immobilize mice and invertebrates, especially snails, which are stored for later use. Their diet also includes roots, beechnuts, berries, sunflower seeds, and fungi. Voracious eaters, short-tailed shrews consume about half their weight each day and must also drink frequently."  - Britannica: Shrew

Tools & Apps

Europe

UK

• Mammal Mapper "is a free app where you can record signs and sightings of mammals in the UK. Mammals can be recorded along a route whilst you’re walking, running, cycling or even a passenger in a car, or as one-off sightings, for example a hedgehog in your garden."

Organizations

Europe

UK

• Mammal Society "a UK based charity devoted to the study and conservation of the mammals of the British Isles. We aim to raise awareness of the issues mammals face and share our scientific research so they can be best protected in the future. Although a small team we are mighty, and are dedicated to helping mammals across the nation."

Maps

Europe

UK

• Water shrew distribution (in green), taken from ‘Britain’s Mammals 2018