Vagrant Shrew - Sorex vagrans
Fall cleanup, frost protection, and rain preparation has been in full swing the past few days. While moving an old bed liner from a compost pile I found this little critter. It had one heck of a complex of trails and burrows all through the top of the compost pile. I was able to catch it fairly easily even though it is fast like a mouse.
The Vagrant Shrew is a fairly common shrew in the Pacific Northwest and was first identified in 1857 by Baird. The Vagrant Shrew feeds on invertebrates and fungi in forests, meadows, and moist environments.
Generally not considered a pest, the Shrew is a regular prey of owls. I have yet to find one in my garden proper, just in areas near the trees and brush. The Shrew is able to produce up to 20 young per year, so I am wondering if they might be beneficial enough in and around the garden to be worth breeding.
Check out my blog @flemingfarm
Fleming Family Farm
FLEMING FAMILY FARM, LLC
Sustainable & Organic Methods | Heirloom Produce
All images are original works of Fleming Family Farm unless otherwise notated and credited.
If you find this post useful or entertaining, your support is greatly appreciated by upvoting, resteeming, & following!
Join the SteemitHomesteaders Slack Channel! Image is Invite Link.
I haven't seen one in years. I put them in the same category as mice and moles. As long as there's not an over population and they don't seem to be destroying the gardens, then they can stay. Otherwise...
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
The mice attack some of the stuff in my garden since I black plastic mulch the whole thing as they have plenty of places to nest. I always thought Shrews were bad until the past few years. One of the few burrowing things that are able to cohabitate with my plants.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
My dad had some shrews in his house for awhile, they were squeazing into the basement through a new hole that was made for a gasline. Not sure what type they were maybe Prairie Shrews but they were super fast and could go through a floor register from the furnace.
Great post! Cute little bugger.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I have read of some shrews being more mouse like and "invading" houses. I'm happy the only ones that end up inside are brought in by our cat. He has a penchant for hauling live prey around and letting them loose in the house. I have found 2 live shrews inside thanks to him, and 1 dead one.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yeah some cats are like that. lol
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
An interesting creature, for shrew,...I mean, for sure.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit