Which habitats can shrews live in?

Shrews are highly adaptable mammals that inhabit a diverse range of environments across North America, South America, Africa, and Eurasia, as well as various island groups. Their ability to thrive in such varied settings is reflected in their specialized lifestyles:1

• Terrestrial and Arboreal: Most shrews are ground-dwelling, but some species, such as the African forest musk shrews and Asian white-toothed shrews, are adapted to travel and forage in bushes, vines, and small trees beneath the forest canopy.2
• Burrowing: Certain species, including North American short-tailed shrews and the Asian mole shrew, are specialized for life underground. They construct and forage within subsurface burrows, often utilizing tunnels created by other animals.32
• Amphibious: Water shrews are amphibious; they den on land but forage in clear, cold streams and small rivers.42
• Diverse Biomes: Shrews occupy environments ranging from tundra, coniferous, deciduous, and tropical forests to savannas, grasslands, and deserts.1

Regardless of the specific habitat, shrews generally require environments that provide adequate cover and, for burrowing species, soil that is well-drained yet retains enough moisture to maintain humid tunnel conditions.3