Southern Water Shrew
Sorex palustris punctulatus
Description & Range:
The southern water shrew is one of ten subspecies of the American water shrew. This species of shrew is the largest long-tailed shrew in the eastern United States, with an approximate total length of 6 inches and weight of 6-12 grams. Their dorsal fur is grayish-brown to black, while their underside is a silvery gray. Their tail is also distinctly bi-colored, dark above and lighter below. Like other shrews, their eyes and ears are small and concealed in their fur. A distinguishing feature that differentiates them from other shrews is their large, webbed hind feet that have a fringe of stiff, bristle-like hairs.
Their distribution ranges from Alaska to Nova Scotia in the north, down to the Sierra Nevadas and Rockies in the West, and through the Appalachians south to Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia in the East. In Maryland, small populations can be found along just 6-7 streams in Garrett County.
Habitat:
The southern water shrew is always found near water, preferring high elevation mountain streams in the central and southern Appalachians. They typically live amongst rock crevices and overhanging banks along the streams. These streams will typically be bordered by bog wetlands and mature forests dominated by hemlock, spruce, and rhododendron.
Diet:
Southern water shrews are insectivorous, feeding on both terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates. They primarily eat aquatic insect larvae, such as mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies, but will also eat small fish and snails.
Reproduction:
Southern water shrews breed from February to August, producing two to three litters of 3 to 10 young.
Behavior:
Southern water shrews are active both day and night, spending most of their time on stream banks. Their large, webbed hind feet help them swim and dive for prey.
Conservation Status:
Southern water shrews are a globally rare species and are listed as Endangered in Maryland.
Sources:
https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/SWAP/SWAP_Chapter3.pdf
https://www.nrs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/jrnl/2007/nrs_2007_laerm_010.pdf
https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/information/american-water-
shrew/#:~:text=The%20general%20distribution%20of%20the,are%20always%20found%20near
%20water.
https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.974660/Sorex_palustris
https://www.naturalheritage.state.pa.us/factsheets/11436.pdf
