Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Eulipotyphla
- Family
- Soricidae
- Genus
- Sorex
Habitat
Prairie shrews primarily inhabit grasslands, prairies, and meadows in central North America, including parts of the United States and Canada. They prefer areas with dense vegetation, moist soil, and access to burrows for shelter and foraging.
Diet
Prairie shrews mainly consume insects such as beetles and ants, along with earthworms and other invertebrates. They are active hunters that forage frequently throughout the day and night to sustain their high metabolic rate.
Behavior
Prairie shrews are solitary and territorial, marking their areas with scent and defending them from intruders. They are primarily nocturnal, spending days in underground burrows and emerging at night to forage. These shrews exhibit high activity levels and produce ultrasonic vocalizations for communication.
Conservation Status
The IUCN status of the Prairie shrew is Least Concern, with a stable population trend. Major threats include habitat loss from agriculture and urbanization.