They are slender rodents, with soft grey fur and long pointed snouts. Shrews have the highest metabolism of any mammal. They need to eat almost constantly to maintain their body weight. Many of the short lived shrews die of starvation quickly during the winter months. They do not usually eat the same things as we do, so they do not get into the cupboards and stored food like mice.
Shrews eat insectsand other protein sources.
The inquisitive shrew will often wonder into homes and are often seen zipping around the walls and baseboards. Even though they do not damage stored food and are not known to be major chewers, the presence of shrews in the house is not usually desired. They are larger than mice but their ears are shorter. The red-backed vole is common in the Matanuska Valley and occasionally invades homes when temperatures plummet in mid winter. Voles are secretive and usually do not cause much damage in homes, but their presence is not usually desired.