Mammals Active day and night

Bendire's Shrew

Sorex bendirii

iNaturalist Wikipedia

Witness the 'Jesus Shrew' of the Pacific Northwest—a sleek, dark-furred diver that can literally run on water. This elusive riparian specialist is a master of the misty stream banks from British Columbia to California.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Total length 15-17 cm (5.9-6.7 in); weight 10-21 g (0.35-0.74 oz)

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Colors

Uniformly dark chocolate brown to soot-black fur; slightly paler grayish-brown on the belly; dark, sparsely haired tail

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Key Features

Largest North American member of the Sorex genus
Stiff fringe of bristles on the hind feet for swimming
Velvety, water-repellent dark fur
Long, pointed snout and tiny eyes

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active day and night

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Peak hours Active in 2-3 hour cycles throughout the day, with peak movement during nocturnal hours

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily insectivorous; hunts aquatic larvae (stoneflies and mayflies), earthworms, slugs, snails, and small crustaceans. Occasionally eats small fish or tadpoles.

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Habitat Wetlands, marshes, and the banks of slow-moving streams within damp coniferous or deciduous forests.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Bendire's Shrew Live?

Native to the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest in North America, the Bendire's Shrew is a West Coast specialist. Its core range extends from southwestern British Columbia in Canada, southward through the western portions of Washington and Oregon, reaching its southern limit in the humid redwood forests of Northern California. These shrews are almost exclusively found west of the Cascade Mountains, thriving in the moisture-rich environments of the Pacific temperate rainforests.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

2 Countries

320K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

CA Canada US United States

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Bendire's Shrew is a remarkable semi-aquatic specialist, often nicknamed the 'Jesus shrew' for its incredible ability to run across the surface of the water for several seconds. This feat is possible thanks to air bubbles trapped in the stiff hairs on its feet, which provide just enough buoyancy and surface tension for the shrew to scurry over the water before sinking. They are highly energetic animals with a metabolic rate so high they must forage almost around the clock, alternating between short bursts of intense activity and brief periods of rest.

On land, they are secretive and move through dense undergrowth or tunnels in the leaf litter. In the water, they are proficient divers, using their sensitive whiskers to detect prey along the bottom of streams. While they are generally solitary and territorial, they rarely interact with humans due to their preference for thick, wet habitats. If encountered, they are likely to dive underwater or vanish into the mud at the first sign of movement.

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Camera Tips

To capture a Bendire's Shrew on camera, you must focus on the 'splash zone.' Place your camera at the very edge of a small stream or within a marshy bog, aimed at a flat log or a muddy path through the reeds. These shrews follow predictable runways, so look for tiny, well-worn paths in the moss or mud. Position the camera extremely low—no more than 2-4 inches off the ground—and ensure the focal point is close, as these animals are small and stay low to the earth.

Because shrews are incredibly fast, your camera settings are critical. Use a camera with a trigger speed of 0.2 seconds or faster. If your device allows it, set it to take a rapid-fire sequence of 3-5 photos or a short high-definition video. Shrews are often just a 'brown blur' in standard trail cam shots, so a high frame rate is the only way to get a clear image of their features. Macro lens attachments can also be a game-changer for such small subjects.

Scent is the best way to get a Bendire's Shrew to pause long enough for a photo. A small amount of wet cat food or a cotton ball soaked in fish oil placed inside a small section of PVC pipe (a 'bait station') will encourage the shrew to investigate. This keeps the animal in the frame and provides a consistent focal point. Be sure to check your camera frequently in rainy weather, as their preferred habitats are prone to flash flooding which can submerge or wash away your gear.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Bendire's Shrew.

American Water Shrew

Smaller than Bendire's, with a more distinct silver-white belly and found further inland across more of North America.

Vagrant Shrew

Much smaller and lighter brown; lacks the specialized swimming fringes on the feet and prefers drier meadows.

Trowbridge's Shrew

Has a distinctly bicolor tail (dark top, white bottom) and is generally found in drier forest upland rather than aquatic edges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Bendire's Shrew is active both day and night throughout the year. Because of their high metabolism, they forage in short, intense bursts every few hours, though they are slightly more active under the cover of darkness to avoid predators.

To attract Bendire's Shrew, you need a water source. Maintaining a natural, pesticide-free riparian buffer near a stream or a very damp, wooded corner of your yard with plenty of leaf litter and logs will provide the cover and food they need. Using fish-based scents can draw them toward your camera.

They are primarily insectivores, eating a variety of invertebrates. Their diet includes aquatic insect larvae like stoneflies, as well as earthworms, snails, and slugs found in damp soil.

They are rarely found in typical suburban lawns. However, if your property borders a wetland, creek, or protected forest in the Pacific Northwest, you may have them nearby. They are quite sensitive to habitat fragmentation and water pollution.

The Bendire's Shrew is much larger than most other shrews in its range. Its fur is also significantly darker (almost black), and if you look closely at the hind feet, you'll see a unique fringe of stiff hairs used for swimming, which other shrews lack.

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