Southeastern Shrew
Sorex longirostris
Description & Range:
The southeastern shrew is a small species of shrew that is 2-4 total inches in length, with a short, narrow, and bi-colored tail that is approximately 1 inch long. Their dorsal fur is reddish- gray, while their ventral fur is grayish-brown to dark black.
The northern part of their range begins in central Illinois and southern Maryland, and extends as far south as central Florida and as far west as eastern Oklahoma. They are commonly found along the eastern coast of the United States within this range.
Habitat:
The southeastern shrew is most commonly found in upland hardwood forests, but also inhabits old fields, forests, and wetlands. They prefer moist areas with dense ground cover, such as vines, briars, and tall grasses. Common vegetation in their preferred habitat includes Japanese honeysuckle, bush clover, and greenbriar.
Diet:
Southeastern shrews are insectivores, primarily eating spiders, centipedes, beetles, crickets, and other insects. They will also eat snails, slugs, worms, seeds, and some plant matter. Southeastern shrews have a high metabolism and must eat at least 50% of their body weight every day, thus they spend the majority of their time hunting and foraging for food.
Reproduction:
The breeding period occurs between March and October, with breeding occurring at least twice per year. The litter size ranges from 1-6, with an average offspring of 4 young per litter. Southeastern shrews build their nests with leaf litter inside rotting logs.
Sounds:
Southeastern shrews make high-pitched chirping noises that are often inaudible to human ears. They use these sounds primarily to echolocate, but they will also make clicking, buzzing, and squeaking sounds, especially when defending their nest.
Behavior:
Southeastern shrews are active at all hours of the day or night, but their activity is limited to short periods of time and is typically spent foraging for food and eating. Their lifespan is rarely more than a year.
Sources:
Peterson Field Guide to Mammals of North America, Fourth Edition
https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Sorex_longirostris/
https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/southeastern-shrew/
https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103012/Sorex_longirostris