what is a shrew
The shrew is a small mammal that feeds on insects and small vertebrates. Although they are very small, they are very active animals and they need large amounts of insects to be well fed. In this article, we are going to learn more about them.
In order not to confuse them with a mouse, we can see that their muzzle is very pointed and their eyes are tiny. In addition, their size is generally smaller than that of an adult mouse, since they reach between 5 and 8 cm in length plus the tail. It is usually gray or brown and very shy, when discovered it runs away to hide. They barely see and are mainly guided by touch and smell. They do not hibernate and roam day and night year round, being most active at dawn and dusk.
Habitat
They prefer places with some moisture such as gardens, rocky terrain, forests, roadsides and ponds where they can find tasty treats to put in their mouths. Their spherical nests are built on the ground with grass and in turn inside a hole.
the reproduction
Breeding of the shrew can take place throughout the year depending on the location, although the most normal is between February and September. When the youngsters are a week old, a peculiar behavior can be observed which consists in forming a caravan when they move, moving from place to place in succession. To do this, they hold each other by the tail, which makes it easier for the mother to control them.
Do shrews bite?
One of the most frequent doubts of those interested in biological pest control is whether shrews bite. Because although it can be beneficial for the garden and eliminate pests, it can present a risk. They are not animals that attack, far from it, but they can defend themselves if they feel threatened. For example, it is important that if we see offspring, it is better don’t touch thembecause the males in charge of defending them are very aggressive and they won’t hesitate to bite. In short, the shrew bites if it feels attacked, threatened or invaded.
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What do shrews eat?
One of the things that interest us gardeners about these little animals: what do shrews eat? Shrews feed mainly on insects and their larvae, which they find wandering on the ground, such as crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, beetles. They can also eat snails and slugs. Sometimes they can also sneak into the vermicomposter, but if we catch them we can move them to another place in the garden and prevent predators from climbing where we have them.
I have seen articles where they say they are harmful. Do not believe everything you see on the Internet, because there are people who see damage everywhere and where there is none, and who also do not realize that shrews are necessary for control insects too. You can leave a comment or a question in the Huertina Forum if you have any questions.
Shrews, on the other hand, do not eat our food from the garden, so they pose no risk. Nor for the animals we raise, since it is not one of those animals that eats chickens or is going to harm them.
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