The Common Shrew (Sorex araneus), is the most common shrew, and one of the most common mammals,
Common Shrew - WWC Archives
throughout Northern Europe, including Great Britain, but excluding Ireland. It is 55–82 millimetres (2.2–3.2 in) long and weighs 5–12 grams (0.2–0.4 oz), and has velvety dark brown fur with a pale underside. Juvenile shrews have lighter fur until their first moult. The Common Shrew has small eyes, a pointed, mobile snout, and red-tipped teeth. It has a life span of approximately 23 months.
Shrews are active day and night, but mostly after dark. They are active most of the time, resting for only a few minutes between burst of activity.
Territory[]
The Common Shrew is found in the woodlands, grasslands, and hedgelands of Britain, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe. Each shrew establishes a home range of 370–630 square metres (440–750 sq yd). Males extend these boundaries only during breeding season, to find females. The Common Shrew is extremely territorial and becomes aggressive when another shrew enters its home range. It makes its nest underground or under dense vegetation.
Diet[]
The shrew's carnivorous and insectivorous diet consists mostly of insects, slugs, spiders, small mice and worms. Shrews need to consume 200-300% of their body weight each day in order to survive. A shrew must eat every two to three hours to achieve this goal. This means that a shrew may starve if it finds no food for as little as 5 hours. They do not hibernate in the winter months because their bodies are too small to hold sufficient fat reserves.
Shrews have poor eyesight, but use their excellent sense of smell and good hearing to locate food. Using these senses, a shrew can locate prey up to 12 centimetres (5 in) deep in the soil.
Breeding[]
The Common Shrew breeding season lasts from April to September, but peaks during the summer months. After a gestation period of 24 to 25 days, a female gives birth to a litter of five to seven baby shrews. A female usually rears two to four litters each year. The young are weaned and independent by 22 to 25 days.
Breeding is the only time that shrews do not prefer to be solitary. Young shrews often form a caravan behind the mother, each carrying the tail of the sibling in front with its mouth.