# Northern Short-tailed Shrew (*Blarina brevicauda*) The Northern Short-tailed Shrew is a tiny mammal with a long snout and velvety fur. It's a busy creature that loves to explore and hunt for insects in the dark. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Short-tailed Shrew ![Northern Short-tailed Shrew](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426741/objects/6270.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Short-tailed Shrew has a stout body covered in uniform dark slate grey fur, which is noticeably darker than most other shrews. It features a short, sparsely furred tail, a long pointed snout, and tiny eyes and ears almost hidden by its dense fur. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Soricomorpha - **Family:** Soricidae - **Genus:** Blarina ## Interesting facts - Shrews eat up to three times their body weight every single day to survive! - They can sometimes "caravan" their young, with each baby holding onto the tail of the one in front! - This tiny mammal has a heart that beats up to 1,200 times per minute! - Unlike most mammals, its teeth have reddish-brown tips from iron deposits, making them super strong! ## Special abilities - **Venomous Bite:** Northern Short-tailed Shrew can inject paralyzing venom from glands in its jaw because it helps them subdue larger prey. - **Sound Navigation:** Northern Short-tailed Shrew can use high-frequency sounds to echolocate, which helps them find food and navigate in dark tunnels. - **Tunnel Architect:** Northern Short-tailed Shrew can dig extensive underground tunnels because it provides shelter and helps them find hidden food sources. - **Metabolic Marathoner:** Northern Short-tailed Shrew has an incredibly fast metabolism that helps them stay warm and active, even in cold conditions. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-13 cm - **Weight:** 0.015-0.028 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 7 km/h - **Litter Size:** 4-10 - **Gestation:** 20-22 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny hunters eat bugs, worms, and even small animals to fuel their super-fast metabolism. - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Earthworms, Slugs, Snails, Small rodents, Salamanders - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — Owls often prey on shrews, despite their potent bite. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Foxes may hunt shrews, though often find them unpalatable. - **Hunts:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — Shrews actively hunt earthworms in their underground tunnels. - **Hunts:** [White-footed Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-footed-mouse) (*Peromyscus leucopus*) — Shrews can subdue and eat small rodents found in their habitat. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Venomous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/venomous): Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Avoid handling shrews as they have sharp teeth and may bite if scared. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Short-tailed Shrew? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern Short-tailed Shrew? 10-13 cm ### How much does Northern Short-tailed Shrew weigh? 0.015-0.028 kg ### How long does Northern Short-tailed Shrew live? 1-2 years ### How fast can Northern Short-tailed Shrew move? 7 km/h ### What does Northern Short-tailed Shrew eat? These tiny hunters eat bugs, worms, and even small animals to fuel their super-fast metabolism. ### Where is Northern Short-tailed Shrew usually found? Forests ### How does Northern Short-tailed Shrew hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-valley-arboretum-and-botanic-gardens) — Iowa, US · Botanical Garden - [Glastonbury Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glastonbury-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Peninsula Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peninsula-village-historic-district) — Ohio, US · Historic District - [Rutgers Ecological Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rutgers-ecological-preserve) — New Jersey, US · Nature Reserve - [Spy Pond Field](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/spy-pond-field) — Massachusetts, US · Park - [Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chattanooga-zoo-at-warner-park) — Tennessee, US · Zoo [View all places to see Northern Short-tailed Shrew](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-short-tailed-shrew) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Northern Short-tailed Shrew: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-short-tailed-shrew)