Shrew (family Soricidae)

MammalInsectivoreTiny

Overview

Shrews are tiny, mouse-like mammals of the family Soricidae, among the smallest mammals on Earth. The common shrew (Sorex araneus), shown here, has a long, pointed, twitching snout, small eyes, velvety fur, and sharp, often red-tipped teeth. Despite looking like mice, shrews are not rodents — they are insectivores, more closely related to moles and hedgehogs.

Shrews live life at an extraordinary pace: their hearts beat very fast and their metabolism is so high that they must eat almost constantly, day and night, or they will starve within hours.

Note: there are hundreds of shrew species worldwide with varied habits; details here use the common shrew as a reference. Treat general statements as approximate and verify against authoritative sources.

Habitat & Range

Shrews are found across much of the world, in habitats ranging from woodland, grassland, and hedgerows to wetlands and gardens. The common shrew is widespread in Europe, favouring places with thick ground cover — leaf litter, long grass, and undergrowth — where it can hunt small prey and stay hidden from predators.

Diet

Shrews are voracious carnivores/insectivores, feeding on insects, earthworms, spiders, slugs, and other small invertebrates. Because of their very high metabolism, they must eat huge amounts relative to their size and cannot survive long without food. Some shrews have a venomous bite that helps subdue prey, and a few even cache immobilised prey to eat later.

Behavior

Shrews are mostly solitary, territorial, and active in short bursts around the clock rather than being strictly day- or night-active, fitting frequent feeding around brief rests. They have poor eyesight and rely on smell, touch, and hearing; some species use a simple form of echolocation. Their frantic, energy-hungry lifestyle means they live fast and, typically, only a year or so.

Human Interaction & Conservation

Shrews are valuable natural controllers of insect and other invertebrate pests in gardens, fields, and woodlands. They are largely harmless to people, though cats often catch them and then leave them uneaten — partly because some shrews have unpleasant-tasting scent glands. Many shrew species are common, but some are restricted or poorly known. Consult authoritative sources for species-specific status.

More photos of the shrew