Quick answer
Key facts about common shrew — size, diet, habitat, and conservation in one place.
Relentless metabolism
Shrews lose weight overnight without food and may consume 80–90% of body weight daily. Heart rate exceeds 1,000 beats per minute — among the highest of any mammal.
Venomous saliva
Saliva toxins paralyse worms and insects, stored as cached paralysed prey. The venom is harmless to humans but helps subdue prey larger relative to the shrew's size.
Territorial squeaking
Shrews defend territories with ultrasonic squeaks and scent marking. They are prey for owls, cats, and foxes but reproduce rapidly with multiple litters per year.
Not a rodent
Shrews belong to order Eulipotyphla, separate from rodents. Their pointed snouts, tiny eyes, and insect diet distinguish them from mice and voles in gardens.