Species › Mammals › Vagrant Shrew

Vagrant Shrew

Sorex vagrans

CommonMammal
Illustration of Vagrant Shrew (Sorex vagrans)

The Vagrant Shrew is a small, generalist shrew common in moist habitats throughout western North America, from Alaska to northern Mexico. It is one of the most abundant small mammals in riparian shrub zones and moist forest edges. Like all Sorex shrews, it has a high metabolic rate and must eat continuously day and night.

Habitat
Riparian shrubs, moist grasslands, and forest margins
Diet
Insects, earthworms, seeds, and small invertebrates
How common
Common

Best time to see a Vagrant Shrew

The best time to see a Vagrant Shrew is March–July, when about 68% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 225 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Vagrant Shrew? What animal is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Vagrant Shrew sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spotted a Vagrant Shrew?

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal and know for sure - plus a live map of where it is being spotted near you.

Get Huck - free
5,300+species
63national parks
50states

More mammals

Vancouver Island Marmot
Vancouver Island Marmot
Marmota vancouverensis
Variable Pocket Gopher
Variable Pocket Gopher
Orthogeomys heterodus
Variegated Squirrel
Variegated Squirrel
Sciurus variegatoides
Velvety Free-tailed Bat
Velvety Free-tailed Bat
Molossus molossus
Verapaz Shrew
Verapaz Shrew
Sorex veraepacis
Vervet Monkey
Vervet Monkey
Chlorocebus pygerythrus
Vesper Rat
Vesper Rat
Nyctomys sumichrasti
Virginia Opossum
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana