southern short-tailed shrew

The southern short-tailed shrew (Blarina carolinensis) is a North American insectivore that resembles a vole. It has small, degenerate eyes, ears hidden in its fur, and a pointed muzzle with reddish-tipped teeth. These shrews are among the largest North American shrews, weighing up to 30 grams. Their fur is dense and velvety, typically brownish-gray or black, with a short, furred tail.

Short-tailed shrews are active day and night, foraging for invertebrates like earthworms and insects, and also consuming small vertebrates, roots, nuts, and berries. Their saliva contains a neurotoxin and hemotoxin to immobilize prey. They are voracious eaters, consuming about half their body weight daily. They live in burrows they excavate or use those made by other animals. Their territories are marked with scent glands, and they use echolocation for navigation and prey detection. They produce three to four litters annually, with 5 to 7 young per litter, after a gestation period of 17 to 22 days. They inhabit areas with dense grass, forests, and palmetto groves, requiring ample cover and moist soil for their burrows.1