Family: Soricidae, Shrews view all from this family

Description A large shrew. Dark brown above and below. Long tail. Hindfeet lightly fringed with hair. L 5 3/4-6 7/8" (147-174 mm); T 2 3/8 - 3 1/8" (61-80 mm); HF 3/4- 7/8" (18.5-21 mm); Wt average 1/2 oz (16.1 g).

Similar Species Water Shrew is silvery white below; fringe of hair on hindfeet is better developed.

Habitat Marshes and streamsides; sometimes moist forests.

Range Extreme sw British Columbia south to coastal n California.

Discussion The largest member of the Sorex genus in North America, the Pacific Water Shrew eats earthworms, sow bugs, spiders, centipedes, and other invertebrates on land, and readily enters water to take aquatic arthropods. It can run on top of the water for several seconds, gaining buoyancy from the air trapped in its partially fringed toes, and can also dive to the bottom. Air trapped in its fur gives this shrew a silvery appearance when submerged. This species has a penetrating scent, which suggests that it engages in some form of chemical communication.