How do shrews handle prey that is larger than they are?

When shrews encounter prey that is larger than themselves, they employ several physical and biological strategies to secure and consume their meal:

• Immobilization: Certain species, such as the North American short-tailed shrews and Old World water shrews, produce toxic saliva that helps immobilize their prey.1
• Physical Restraint: Shrews pin larger prey down using their front feet.1
• Manipulation: Once the prey is restrained, the shrew grabs it with its mouth. They use their flexible muzzle to manipulate the food, often pushing it sideways as they chew.1
• Specialized Teeth: Shrews possess large incisor teeth that function like forceps, allowing them to effectively grasp and hold onto their prey.2

Because shrews have extremely high metabolic rates, they must consume large quantities of food—sometimes more than their own body weight—daily to survive.1