They are replaced by the French shrew in Jersey. They are abundant in woodland, grassland and hedgerows. Diet Common shrews are insectivorous and carnivorous, feeding on insects, spiders, worms and carrion. Except for when rearing young, shrews are solitary and are extremely aggressive towards each other. They have home ranges, which vary in size from 370-630 square metres and which usually last the shrew's lifetime.
Males extend their ranges during the breeding season, in their search for females.
On meeting strangers of the same sex, shrews will momentarily freeze, and then squeak loudly and rear onto their hind legs. They may then chase each other, resulting in a scuffle where they aim bites and kicks at each other. They build nests below the ground or under dense vegetation. Shrews have a good sense of smell and hearing, but their eyesight is poor. They locate prey hidden up to 12 cm deep in soil, by probing and sniffing with their snout.