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24-07-2008, 12:07 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cromford, Derbyshire Dales
Posts: 571
| | | Pygmy shrews - sad day
Took the dogs out for their normal walk this morning, found 5 dead pygmy shrews 1 adult and 4 juveniles on the path. Looked like their nest had been raided ,all killed and the little bodies just left there. Quite often see one dead on the footpath, but 5 was very sad.
Shirl |
24-07-2008, 12:26 PM
|  | Active Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 29
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Oh very sad, wonder what did it and why they weren't eaten? |
24-07-2008, 01:11 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cromford, Derbyshire Dales
Posts: 571
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
My guess would be cats, I have seen one or two round there and I think one might actually be living in the quarry. Problem is, shrews produce a nasty smell from scent glands which might make them unpalatable so any mammal who thought it might be in for a tasty snack would be disappointed. Still, hope they won't go to waste, there are quite a few birds of prey such as kestrels and owls so maybe they can have an easy meal.
Shirl |
24-07-2008, 01:53 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SE Ireland
Posts: 163
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Could they have drowned? I have quiet a few of them hanging about my place and they often get flooded in their homes and drowned.I have some photies of a live one if anyone is interested 
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24-07-2008, 02:57 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Shropshire
Posts: 765
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
I'd like to see photos!
It's always sad when you see a whole family (of anything) dead. |
24-07-2008, 03:34 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cromford, Derbyshire Dales
Posts: 571
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by forfi  Could they have drowned? I have quiet a few of them hanging about my place and they often get flooded in their homes and drowned.I have some photies of a live one if anyone is interested | I don't think so, there is no water course near the field and for a change we haven't had any rain for a few days. My best guess is still cats I am afraid. Don't think I will sleep tonight.
Shirl |
24-07-2008, 03:40 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SE Ireland
Posts: 163
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Bloomin moggies...........anyway heres a few of me piccies forfi Gallery - Wild About Britain Pics
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24-07-2008, 04:41 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Shropshire
Posts: 765
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
That ruler at the bottom's very helpful. Thanks for sharing! |
24-07-2008, 05:04 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SE Ireland
Posts: 163
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Glad to be of service madam  and they taste like chicken.....
what? what did I say wrong? 
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24-07-2008, 05:23 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,802
| |  Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by forfi Glad to be of service madam and they taste like chicken.. | What, you eat pygmy shrews?!
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24-07-2008, 05:41 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SE Ireland
Posts: 163
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Green What, you eat pygmy shrews?! | Gawd,is there no sense of humour left in the world ? Eric Morecambe must be rolling in 'is grave.
PS you did read all of me post didn't you?
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24-07-2008, 05:46 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,802
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
I was joking too, hence the ' !'.
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24-07-2008, 05:47 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SE Ireland
Posts: 163
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Green What, you eat pygmy shrews?! | Alternative answer:
I'm not wealthy like Elvis,I can't afford squirrels.
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24-07-2008, 05:47 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SE Ireland
Posts: 163
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Green I was joking too, hence the ' !'. | Sorry missed that
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24-07-2008, 05:54 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,802
| |  Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by forfi Sorry missed that | Sorry you missed that
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24-07-2008, 06:58 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SE Ireland
Posts: 163
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Green Sorry you missed that | Got it !! do I win a prize? It were Brenda Lee and the song was "I'm sorry,so sorry ".
But back to the Pygmies,don't know about UK but these are the smallest mammal that we have in Ireland.Supposed to be widespread but I have never found it outside of the warmer SE. Many of the folks that I mention it to have never seen them dead or alive.I guess its back to suitable habitat again.
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24-07-2008, 07:02 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,802
| | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by forfi ...do I win a prize?. | Yes, a nice top-of-the-range Smiley!!!!!
Here
Yes, back to PSs. I believe they are among the smallest, along with Dormice?
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'Experience and wisdom is what is left after you make a mistake' |
24-07-2008, 07:13 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SE Ireland
Posts: 163
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Green Yes, a nice top-of-the-range Smiley!!!!!
Here
Yes, back to PSs. I believe they are among the smallest, along with Dormice? | Naw ,we have none of them, only have house and field mice.UK has a lot more species than us due to ice age arrangements.
Thanks for the smiley but I do grouching a lot,have you a nice grouchy,yet stylish one ?
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24-07-2008, 07:28 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,802
| | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Yes, we have these models in stock, ' ' and ' ' but they cost £5 each as they're not prizes
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24-07-2008, 07:31 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2,839
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Pygmy Shrews are cute. Sorry about the poor dead family, it could be cat or Mink ?
The corvids are the birds to eat the dead bodies. |
24-07-2008, 08:03 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,083
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by forfi Naw ,we have none of them, only have house and field mice.UK has a lot more species than us due to ice age arrangements.
| You have White-toothed Shrews now, apparently!
henrya
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24-07-2008, 08:07 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,083
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Green I believe they are among the smallest, along with Dormice? | Dormice are quite big (as mice go) - you are probably thinking of Harvestmice
henrya
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24-07-2008, 08:54 PM
| | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: SE Ireland
Posts: 163
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by thunder You have White-toothed Shrews now, apparently!
henrya | Yes and only noticed by a chap studying owls !! he spotted the skulls in the pellets.They seem to be well established just north of here in Tipperary .Their arrival may have coincided with the arrival of another new species Trabi vulgaris sp
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Last edited by forfi; 24-07-2008 at 09:02 PM.
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25-07-2008, 08:25 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 3,481
| | | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Another possibility is fluctuating environmental conditions can cause mortality in pygmy shrews as they are so small they can struggle to maintain their core body temperature which can result in death. However often shrews are disgarded by predators due to their unpleasant taste. The one found in Ireland was the Greater white toothed shrew Crocidura russula there are 4 species of white toothed shrew in Europe for any body thats interested. Three in the Genus Crocidura and another species of Pygmy Shrew Suncus etruscus which is even smaller than our Pygmy Shrew and one of the smallest mammals worldwide its found in spain and italy may be worthwile looking out for it whilst on holiday.
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Last edited by Dogghound; 25-07-2008 at 08:28 AM.
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25-07-2008, 04:29 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,802
| | Re: Pygmy shrews - sad day
Quote:
Originally Posted by thunder Dormice are quite big (as mice go) - you are probably thinking of Harvestmice
henrya | Oh yes, that's the one 
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