What type of Shrew

[Redrob]

I forgot to ask! What kind of Shrew is this? I found it wandering around on my back lawn approx- March this year! sorry for picture quality (phone camera)

[Dogghound]

Pygmy Shrew

[Redrob]

Thanx again! Its was the smallest thing ever. The down-side to this is I found a dead one three days later in the garden. I kept putting it under the bushes for protection...but it insisted on keep coming out, so I had to leave it in the end.

[Dogghound]

It doesnt look to healthy in the photo's. If you handle a healthy shrew they will either bite or squirm out of your hand. Shrews live life in the fastlane and often dont see summer, many die during the winter. Something like this will live about 12-14 months if it is lucky, about 50% dont make it past 6 months.

[diggleken]

Or pee on you!
I remember relocating a wandering family only a few yards to safety behind the boundary rope playing cricket (me not the Shrews) a few years ago, then ungratefully wet me........
Cheers
Ken

[Redrob]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

It doesnt look to healthy in the photo's. If you handle a healthy shrew they will either bite or squirm out of your hand. Shrews live life in the fastlane and often dont see summer, many die during the winter. Something like this will live about 12-14 months if it is lucky, about 50% dont make it past 6 months.

Such a shame they have such a short life span! It appeared to be quite energetic at the time, it was all over the garden, but it kept going in circles from time to time. I thought it was a young one that had come from the nest and lost its way..it didnt know where it wanted to be. It was acting as if it was blind.

[Dogghound]

They tend not to start breeding until April, so it is more likely to have been a adult, it has an adult look about it, plus the tail looks more adult. They are prone to a variety of diseases and parasites, walking around in circles is never a good sign.