The North American Least Shrew is distinguished from other eastern shrews by its very short tail—less than one-third of its body length. Unlike most shrews, it is somewhat social, with multiple individuals sometimes sharing communal nests. Least shrews excavate their own burrows and are among the few shrew species that can be induced to breed cooperatively in captivity.
Best time to see a North American Least Shrew
The best time to see a North American Least Shrew is September–March, when about 64% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 724 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a North American Least Shrew? What animal is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent North American Least Shrew sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a North American Least Shrew? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.
Get HuckGet an alert when a North American Least Shrew is spotted
Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.
Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.
Love mammals? Get Huck field notes
Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.