Shrew

 Shrews are the smallest of the mammals. They are often mistaken for mice but are insectivores, not rodents. They are found throughout Alaska, even on some isolated islands.   Shrews are found everywhere except Greenland, Australia, southern South American and some Pacific islands.

Shrews are small, ranging in size from 74-158 mm (3-6.5 inches) total length. Their tails are typically from one-quarter to one-half of their length. They weigh from 1.5-20 grams (a penny weighs 3 grams). Most are a grayish-brown coloration with a paler colored belly.  Shrews are short-legged and have a long pointed nose with long whiskers. Their teeth are tiny, white with reddish-brown tips, but sharp for attacking and eating prey. Their tails are hairy in young shrews but usually naked in old adults.  Their eyes are tiny and vision is poor, but they have acute senses of smell and hearing.

Shrews are solitary except when breeding, mainly terrestrial, and live under the grass and leaf litter. They are active throughout the year and burrow through the snow during the winter. Most shrews prefer moist habitats, and the water shrew is often found in streams, ponds, and marshes.
The breeding season is from March to August. Two to 10 young are born after a 17 to 28 day gestation period. The young are born naked and blind in a nest of grass. The young are weaned after 3 weeks. Females generally have several litters per year. Shrews live from 12 to 18 months.