The ornate shrew is common in the southern two-thirds of California west of the Sierra Nevada, from Mendocino and Butte cos. Its optimum habitats are valley foothill and montane riparian, but it also occurs in a wide variety of woodland, chaparral, grassland, and emergent wetland habitats. Feeds on insects and other invertebrates under logs, rocks, and litter. No data found, but occurs in dry habitats, so the species may not require water. Prefers moist microhabitats.
Most surface activity is nocturnal.
No data found. The breeding season may be somewhat later than that of S. vagrans. Most prenancies are in March and April, though they may occur from February through October. The litter size is about 6, and females may have more than one litter in a year. Most individuals do not live to breed a second year.