Mammals crepuscular

Northern Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina brevicauda

A pint-sized predator with a venomous bite and a secret talent for echolocation. The Northern Short-tailed Shrew is the hidden guardian of your garden's soil.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Total length of 10-14 cm (4-5.5 inches); Weight of 15-30 g (0.5-1.1 oz)

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Colors

Uniform slate-gray or lead-colored fur with a velvety texture; slightly paler underbelly; dark, nearly black tail

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Key Features

Extremely short tail, less than 30% of body length
Pointed, highly mobile snout
Eyes so small they are barely visible
Velvety fur that can be brushed in any direction

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern crepuscular

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Peak hours Most active during the hours around dawn and dusk, but hunts in short bursts every 3-4 hours throughout the day and night.

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Season Year-round

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Diet A voracious insectivore that eats earthworms, snails, spiders, and grubs, but will also hunt small vertebrates and occasionally snack on seeds or fungi.

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Habitat Found in deciduous and coniferous forests, damp grasslands, and suburban gardens with plenty of mulch or leaf litter.

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Behavior

The Northern Short-tailed Shrew is a tiny bundle of relentless energy. Because of its exceptionally high metabolic rate, it must consume nearly its own body weight in food every day, leading to a lifestyle of near-constant foraging. Unlike many other small mammals, this shrew is venomous; its saliva contains a paralytic toxin that allows it to subdue prey much larger than itself, such as frogs or even small mice, though it primarily focuses on invertebrates.

These creatures are masters of the "sub-surface" world, spending much of their time in tunnels or under leaf litter. They are one of the few mammals known to use echolocation, emitting ultrasonic clicks to navigate through dark burrows and dense vegetation. While they are solitary and territorial, they rarely interact with humans directly, though they are excellent neighbors to have if you want to keep garden pests like grubs and snails under control.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Northern Short-tailed Shrew on camera requires a specialized approach because they are small, incredibly fast, and rarely venture into open spaces. To increase your chances, place your camera at ground level—literally sitting on the dirt or leaf litter. Aim the lens toward a known travel corridor, such as the edge of a log pile, a gap under a garden shed, or a visible tunnel entrance in the mulch. Because they are so small, your camera needs a very close focal point; if your device allows for macro adjustments or has a close-up lens attachment, use it.

Since these shrews rely heavily on their sense of smell, scent lures are highly effective. A small amount of pungent wet cat food or a few dried mealworms placed in front of the camera can pause their frenetic movement long enough for a clear shot. Be sure to clear away any tall blades of grass directly in front of the sensor, as these will trigger the camera in the wind and hide the tiny shrew from view. If your camera has a 'high' sensitivity setting for the PIR sensor, enable it to ensure the shrew's small heat signature triggers the recording.

Video mode is significantly better than photo mode for this species. Their movements are jerky and lightning-fast, often appearing as a gray blur in still images. A 10-15 second video clip will allow you to see their characteristic nose-twitching and rapid scurrying behavior. During the winter, look for them near bird feeders where they hunt for insects attracted to fallen seed, or place cameras near the foundations of your home where the soil stays slightly warmer.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Northern Short-tailed Shrew.

Masked Shrew

Much smaller with a significantly longer tail relative to its body size.

Meadow Vole

Has a blunter snout, visible ears, and a chunkier build compared to the sleek, pointed profile of the shrew.

Star-nosed Mole

Much larger with massive digging claws and a distinctive ring of 22 fleshy tentacles on its snout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Northern Short-tailed Shrews are active year-round and throughout the day and night. However, they exhibit crepuscular peaks, meaning they are most frequently seen or recorded during the dim light of dawn and dusk when they feel safest from avian predators.

The best way to attract these shrews is to provide a 'messy' habitat. Maintain a thick layer of leaf litter, use organic mulch in garden beds, and leave a few log piles or rock borders. Avoid using chemical pesticides, as these eliminate their primary food source of insects and worms.

They are primarily insectivores, feasting on earthworms, snails, slugs, and beetle larvae. Because they are venomous, they can also tackle larger prey like salamanders, frogs, and occasionally other small mammals.

Yes, they are very common in suburban environments but are frequently overlooked. They thrive in any area with moist soil and plenty of ground cover, including flower beds, under porches, and along fence lines.

Look at the tail and the face. A shrew has a very short tail (much shorter than its body) and a long, pointed snout, whereas a mouse has a tail as long as its body, large ears, and large bulging eyes.

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