What do shrews eat besides insects?

While shrews are primarily known as insectivores, their diet is quite varied due to their high metabolic rates and constant need for food. Beyond insects and other invertebrates, shrews also consume a range of other items, including:

• Small vertebrates: Many species prey on small animals such as mice, salamanders, and reptiles.123
• Plant matter: Their diet can include seeds, beechnuts, berries, and various roots.12
• Fungi: Shrews are also known to consume fungi.12

Because shrews must consume a significant amount of food daily—sometimes exceeding their own body weight—they are opportunistic feeders that utilize their acute senses to locate these diverse food sources in their environment.123