Arctic Shrew

Arctic shrews can be found in the northern US and through most of Canada. Their populations are abundant through most of their range, thus negating the risk of extinction.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Eulipotyphla
Family	Soricidae
Genus	Sorex
Scientific Name	Sorex arcticus

Quick Information

Also known as	Blackback shrew, Saddlebacked shrew, musaraigne arctique (French)
Description	Size: 3.94-4.92 in (100-125 mm) Weight: 0.19-0.48 oz (5.3-13.5 g) Color: They have tri-colored fur, most visible during winter; dark brown on the dorsal side from the head to the tail, light brown on the sides, and the belly is graying brown; the tail is dark brown dorsally while the ventral side is light brown; they molt twice a year, the winter pelage is brighter and denser, while in summer it is pale and loosely packed
Subspecies	Sorex arcticus arcticus Sorex arcticus laricorum
Distribution	From the Arctic Circle in the north to the Northern United States
Habitat	Mostly found near water bodies like streams, marshes, lakes, wetlands, and swamps; can also be seen in tamarack and spruce swamps, boreal forests, mixed conifer swamps, old or dry fields, mixed grasses, alder thickets, forbs, sedge hammocks, willow, and cattail shrubs
Sounds & Communication	Mostly through touch, smell, and sounds; they can make and hear high pitched sounds
Lifespan	Around 18 months in the wild
Diet	Insects and invertebrates; larch sawflies are a major portion of their diet
Adaptations	Their fur coloration helps them stay camouflaged and hidden from predators; a common defense mechanism for shrews (including this species) is the secretion of a musky odor from its sides
Predators	Great-horned owls
IUCN Conservation Status	Least Concern

Behavior

• Arctic shrews lead a solitary lifestyle.
• They are active both during the day and the night. When they rest they lie on the ground either on a side or their ventral surface on the ground, rolling their body up with the head tucked into it.
• They become territorial when they attain adulthood.

Mating & Reproduction

Despite limited information on the mating habits of Arctic shrews, it can be safely inferred that theirs’ is similar to that of other shrew species. Females have 1 or 2 litter each year, each consisting of 4-10 offspring. The gestation period ranges between 13 and 21 days.