Shrews, Moles, & Hedgehogs
(Eulipotyphla)
There are about 450 species in this order. Most species are small and eat insects (which is why it used to be called Insectivora), although many species eat worms, crustaceans, and small vertebrates. Most of the species in this order have long, pointed snouts; lots of sharp teeth; small ears; and small eyes. They are found all over the world, except for the polar regions and Australia. The animals in this order are the most primitive living mammals and scientists think that all mammals may have evolved from the ancestors of this order. Shrews and moles have been observed in Harmon Park, but have not been caught for close examination and species-specific identification.
Southern Short Tailed Shrew
(Blarina carolinensis)
Not a well known animal, these small (2.8-4.2 inches), gray, short-tailed mammals. Their furred tails are always less than half the length of their head and body. They have long movable pointed snouts, small eyes, and small ears which are nearly concealed by their soft, dense fur. Well adapted for digging, they have strong wide front feet which are somewhat larger than their hind feet.
Southern short-tailed shrews are so similar in appearance to other short-tailed shrew species that chromosome counts are necessary to distinguish among them. Southern short-tailed shrews are primarily nocturnal predators with very high metabolic rates and high activity levels. Their diet consists primarily of annelids, arachnids, centipedes, crustaceans, insects, insect larvae, mollusks, some vegetable matter (seeds, nuts, fruits, and fungi), and small vertebrates. They are known to store living snails in their burrows for winter consumption. It is during the winter when most vegetable matter is consumed. The saliva of short-tailed shrews contains mild venom which has the ability to paralyze their prey. This poison, produced by submaxillary glands, is introduced into prey through wounds inflicted by their teeth. It is toxic enough to kill mice, but is not a danger to humans. Southern short-tailed shrews consume 50-150% of their body weight in food each day.
North American least shrew
(cryptotis parva)
This shrew is tiny (1/7 to 1/4 ounces and 2-1/5 to 2-1/2 inches). It has a short tail measuring 1/2 to 3/4 inches and it's body color ranges from a dark grayish to reddish brown on its upper parts with a contrasting lighter grayish colored belly. The least shrew's physique is especially designed for hunting and capturing insects.Its body is streamlined with a unique pointed snout equipped with a highly movable and
functional nose and very sharp teeth for killing and tearing its prey. The shrew has poor hearing and eyesight, but has movable vibrissae (whiskers) around the nose and mouth which provide a very keen vibratory sense to detect movement, aiding the shrew greatly in locating insects.The least shrew hunts by the senses of touch and smell at the ground surface or just underneath loose soil and leaf litter for unsuspecting prey.It is active at all hours of the day with peak activity at night (nocturnal).Preferred food items are grasshoppers, beetles and crickets; hence, its niche to inhabit grassland habitat types where these insects can be found in abundance.
Southeastern shrew
(Sorex longirostris)
Southeastern shrews are long-tailed shrews 2.7 to 3.5 inches in length with tails 1.0 to 1.3 inches long. Their hind feet are 0.35-0.5 inches in length with an ear length averaging 0.25 inches. Southeastern shrews weigh 0.1 to 0.14 ounces. Their brown fur is similar to the masked shrew but more of a reddish brown tint. Southeastern shrews feed on insect larvae, spiders, slugs, snails, centipedes, roaches, carrion of small rodents, and some vegetation.
Eastern Mole
(Scalopus aquaticus)
The Eastern Mole averages about 4 ounces in weight and 7 inches in length. The body is covered with a velvety thick fur that ranges in color from black to silver to copper. They have a short, round tail that is covered in scales instead of hair. Moles have large front feet with webbing between the toes that aid in digging. The hind feet are small and narrow, with slender, sharp claws. They have a hairless, pointed snout extending nearly ½ inch in front of the
mouth opening. They have no visible eyes and ear openings are concealed in their fur. Their diet consists mainly of grubs, worms, insects and plant material. They expend an enormous amount of energy while digging tunnels. For this reason, they eat their weight in food each day. Moles are often blamed for damaging plant’s root systems, but this damage is probably caused by mice that use their passageways. Rainy periods during the summer months are when they are most actively feeding.