Missing Shrews

[George Hogg]

A fellow naturalist has pointed out she has not heard any shrews this year and suggests the prolonged snow blanket has killed most off.
This is in Scotland.
Has anyone heard any?..George

[Dogghound]

Yes quite alot here, of course without trapping it is very hard to carry out any sort of detailed survey on population levels. Is she in an area of high altitude? it is likely extreme tempratures may have had an impact on populations in some areas particularly high latitudes and altitudes. Im sure the hard winter reduced numbers.

[George Hogg]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Yes quite alot here, of course without trapping it is very hard to carry out any sort of detailed survey on population levels. Is she in an area of high altitude? it is likely extreme tempratures may have had an impact on populations in some areas particularly high latitudes and altitudes. Im sure the hard winter reduced numbers.

No, Lowland Scotland,but our snow may have lasted a bit longer than yours.

[Dogghound]

Extended cold weather does have a marked affect on small mammal populations. However you woul possibly need to do some trapping or more etailed survey work to see what the effects have been on you local patch. Unlike rodents shrews have a slightly shorter breeding period with less litters so it takes them longer to recolonise an area.