A shrew in the woodpile?

[smallblueplanet]

Just been out to chop some sticks and spotted a lil dark brown thing run under the woodpile! Now I've spotted it (or another it) once before a few days ago, it was dark brown, very small and (looking from above) had a 'flat' look about it.

I think it's a shrew and the only reason I'm slightly bothered is that the woodpile is in the garage and I don't really want to find mice nesting in there! I figure if its a shrew its come in from the cold (ala Smiley stylee! ) and will leave again come springtime.

Whaddya think?

[Birdie Wife]

Reckon you're right Manda shrews are fabulous beasties.

[smallblueplanet]

What do you know about shrews BW, you're the knowledgable sort!

[Birdie Wife]

Live fast, die young!
Varieties: Common, pygmy and water
Water shrews are very unusual in that their bite is poisonous . You won't find them in your wood pile though

Howzat?

[smallblueplanet]

Live fast, die young! ...



Howzat?

Me or the shrew? Its too late for me!

Common?

[BrideXIII]

common shrew, very cute, wif lil long noses

[Beanie]

I had something like this nesting in the compost heap on the lottie - thought it was mice at first but after looking at your pic think they could be shrews instead. Very cute, run very fast!

[Flummery]

They are real sweeties. We spotted a squashed one on the road once on a walk with the school kids (when I was still a Worker!) I told the children what it was, and all about them, but one little lad went back and told his Ma very excitedly that we'd seen a dead shoe! She was totally puzzled till we explained!

[wiccanlou]

yep that be a shrew.

[Beanie]

Just been reading up about these on the BBC website -
(BBC - Science & Nature - Wildfacts - Common shrew)

"Common shrews are insectivorous and carnivorous, feeding on insects, slugs, spiders, worms and carrion. They need to eat 80-90 per cent of their own body weight in food daily. "
So probably good to have on an allotment then, despite the fact they eat worms!

And - "When disturbed from the nest, young common shrews will sometimes follow their mother in a caravan fashion, using their mouths to hold on to the tail of the sibling in front."
Awww, cute!!

Also - "British shrews are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and it is an offence to kill them without a special licence. "
Not that I'd want to, anyway!

[tamsin]

Could also be a field vole, they don't have big ears like mice but shorter noses than a shrew. Can't really see how long their noses are in the picture. We occasionally see a vole popping into the rabbit run to nick snacks.

[Stacey Steve]

Had voles nesting in the greenhouse last winter but they went after I did my spring clean. I don't know if I've got them this year, as I'm trying not to disturb till the weather gets better (I wish).