Species › Mammals › Smoky Shrew

Smoky Shrew

Sorex fumeus

CommonMammal
Illustration of Smoky Shrew (Sorex fumeus)

The Smoky Shrew is a medium-sized, gray shrew of Appalachian forests and northern woodlands, often the most abundant shrew in high-elevation eastern forests. It is a habitat specialist closely tied to cool, moist conditions found in mature deciduous and mixed forests. The smoky shrew occupies a key position in forest floor food webs, consuming large quantities of invertebrates.

Habitat
Cool moist forests and stream ravines of the Appalachians
Diet
Earthworms, beetles, salamanders, and other invertebrates
How common
Common

Best time to see a Smoky Shrew

The best time to see a Smoky Shrew is February–July, when about 65% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 85 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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