Family: Soricidae, Shrews view all from this family

Description Grayish brown or brownish above; paler below. Short tail. Only 3 unicuspids visible (fifth absent; fourth is hidden behind third). L 2 3/4-3 1/2" (69-89 mm); T 1/2- 7/8" (12-22 mm); HF 3/8 - 1/2" (9-12 mm); Wt 1/8- 1/4 oz (4-6.5 g).

Similar Species The only other North American shrews with tails less than half the head and body length are species of the genus Blarina, most of which are gray and have 5 unicuspids.

Habitat Grassy or weedy fields, sometimes in marshy areas or wet woods.

Range Southern Minnesota and s South Dakota east to c New York and s New England, south to e Texas, and east throughout se U.S.

Discussion Most active at night, but sometimes moving about by day, the Least Shrew feeds on moth and beetle larvae, earthworms, spiders, and internal organs of large grasshoppers and crickets. It probes loose soil and leaf litter for prey, which it detects chiefly with the stiff hairs around its mouth. It is sometimes called a "bee mole" for its habit of entering beehives to feed on the brood. While most shrews tend to be solitary, this species may be fairly social: 25 Least Shrews were found in a leaf nest under a log in Virginia, and in Texas one nest contained 12 individuals and another 31. In a laboratory, two individuals were observed cooperating in excavating a burrow, with one digging and the other removing dirt from the burrow and packing the tunnel walls.