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. The breeding season lasts from April to September, but peaks in the summer. The females rear 2-4 litters a year with no help from the males. The young are weaned after 22-25 days, after which they are fully independent of their mothers. When disturbed from the nest, the young will sometimes follow their mother in a caravan fashion, using their mouths to hold on to the tail of the sibling in front.