Northern Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina brevicauda

It is one of the very few venomous mammals in the world, using its toxic saliva to paralyze prey so it can keep them alive and fresh for later consumption.

Scientific name

Blarina brevicauda

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Eulipotyphla › Soricidae › Blarina

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

stable

Biome

forest

Habitat

Deciduous and coniferous forests, grasslands, and damp brushy areas with deep leaf litter.

Diet

Carnivorous; mainly earthworms, insects, snails, salamanders, and small rodents.

Range

North America, United States, Canada

Size

Length: 10-14 cm; Weight: 15-30 g

Lifespan

1 to 2 years

Active

nocturnal

Threats

Pesticide accumulation, habitat fragmentation, and predation by domestic cats and birds of prey.

Safe to approach?

Defensive and venomous. This shrew is harmless to humans unless handled, but it will bite if trapped or squeezed. Maintain a respectful distance. If bitten, wash the wound immediately with soap and water; the venom causes localized burning and swelling. Seek medical advice if pain persists or signs of infection develop.

The northern short-tailed shrew ( Blarina brevicauda ) is the largest shrew in the genus Blarina , and occurs in the northeastern region of North America. It is a semifossorial, highly active, and voracious insectivore and is present in a variety of habitats. It is notable in that it is one of the few venomous mammals. The specific epithet, brevicauda , is a combination of the Latin brevis and cauda , meaning "short tail".

Photo: Gilles Gonthier, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

Plain-text version: /species/6c97685c-e773-4e16-bcd0-0a3b495b9398.md