Specimens from Montague County were obtained in a pitfall trap set in grassy vegetation several meters from some post oak trees. As with B. carolinensis , they may burrow extensively under leaf litter, logs, and deeply into the soil, but ground cover is not required. At Aransas Wildlife Refuge their burrows may be in areas with little or no ground cover, but are always where soft, damp soils afford easy burrowing. As with the southern short-tailed shrew, this shrew is slightly venomous and may occasionally prey on animals larger than itself, such as mice. More frequently consumed food items are insects, arthropods, and earthworms.
Females produce two to three litters of four to six young each year.
Breeding season and reproductive habits are probably similar to B. carolinensis . B. hylophaga has an average lifespan of only 2 years. This page is copyrighted 1994 by Texas Parks and Wildlife, Nongame and Urban Program. All rights reserved. Used in this online edition with permission.