Ornate Shrew

Sorex ornatus

Family:

Soricidae  (shrew)

Description:

This shrew has different fur coloring at different times of year. The coat is overall drab, brown on the back, trending towards a gray or buff on the underside. In winter, the backside coloring is darker brown, while the underside tends towards a grayish-white.

Habitat:

Ornate shrews reside among coastal marshes and wetlands environments.

Range:

This shrew found only in western North America, ranging from Northern California in the United States to Baja California in Mexico.  These shrews have been found at altitudes as high as 7,900 feet in the San Jacinto Mountains.

Diet:

Ornate shrews are carnivores. They eat earthworms, insects, other invertebrates and may also eat some plant matter.

Breeding:

The normal birth season occurs during the spring and summer breeding season, with a typical gestation period of 21 days. The litter size may vary between two and nine individuals. While females are capable of producing two litters within a year, one is the norm.

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