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How does shrew caravanning work?

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Caravanning is a behavioral adaptation used by young shrews when they are old enough to leave the nest. When the mother needs to relocate her young or escape from a disturbance, the offspring form a single-file chain by each grasping the base of the tail of the sibling directly in front of them. The lead shrew in the chain follows the mother, allowing the entire litter to trail behind her safely as she moves to a new location.1