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|  » Stats |
Members: 50,158
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Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, julong321 | |  | 
19-10-2008, 06:58 PM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hull
Posts: 783
| | | Dead shrew ID
I found this beautiful shrew in the middle of a path near Walton (East Yorkshire) this afternoon. No signs of injury and it looked very freshly dead, with velvety fur (although it already had a fly egg on it). The strangest thing is that a few meters before we had come across another dead shrew, this one with a squashed head, but the tail looked scruffy. Any ideas of the species and cause of death?  |
19-10-2008, 07:11 PM
|  | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 10,729
| | | Re: Dead shrew ID
Its a common shrew Sorex araneus, a high cause of mortality in shrews particularly at this time of year is fluctuating temperatures sudden cold nights can have quite a large impact on them, especially if they have little body fat. |
19-10-2008, 07:43 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hull
Posts: 783
| | | Re: Dead shrew ID
Thanks Dogghound, but it has been very mild (last night only went down to 10 degrees C)... |
19-10-2008, 07:49 PM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 10,729
| | | Re: Dead shrew ID
The other interesting point about this one is that its only young. They require alot of food per day about 50% dont live past 2months so its common to find them like this, I could be its just not finding enough food. Its very hard to predict the cause of death but if its not the cold then its likely its the lack of food. |
19-10-2008, 08:54 PM
| | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hull
Posts: 783
| | | Re: Dead shrew ID
I agree Dogghound, I didn't know until I read it later today, but yes, its tail was very neat, with the end 'pencil' of hairs as described in MacDonald & Barretss's Collins guide. It was so beautiful, small and perfectly formed. My 4 year old son kept asking why it was dead  . I looked its belly and I must say I could't tell if it was male or female, should it be obvious? As both dead shrews were close to each other (and one as old) is there any chance the young one was following the other one and they were run over? one dead and the other one sent a few meters from impact (sorry, but this sounds almost like CSI)! They were in the middle of the path... |
20-10-2008, 07:46 AM
| | Knight Grand Cross of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 10,729
| | | Re: Dead shrew ID
I doubt they were run over there would be more damage to them, I would think its either of my suggestions. They are not very social and not likely to be together. Its easy to sex the sexually mature specimens however you should still be able to sex it by looking between its legs and the base of its belly. | | |
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