Northen+Short-tailed+Shrew

Northen Short-tailed Shrew



​They tend to weigh between .4 to 1.0 ounces and are around 4-5 inches long. The average lifespan for the northern short-tailed shrew is two and a half years but they may live up to three years in the wild. The gestation are between 21-22 days. They tend to have 5-7 young. They have poor vision with their small eyes, and they leave a strong pungent odor where they are being active in. They are mainly nocturnal but are sometimes active during the day.

Short-tail shrews also have a mouthful of 32 sharp teeth and are among the very small number of mammalian species that have venom glands. They eat: grasshoppers, wasps, crickets, snails, earthworms, mice, small birds, snakes and slugs, seeds, eggs, all kinds of flowers, fruits, vegetables.

They produce poisonous saliva that can paralyze small prey and can cause tingling and numbness to people. It has a long snout compared to others, small eyes and five clawed toes. The head is very narrow compared to other rodents. They also have rapid metabolism. They can have 2-4 litters a year.

There are 30 species living in North America, and they are amoungst the worlds smallest mammals.



[] [] [] The Mammals of Minnesota Field Guide book