Montane shrew

The montane shrew (Sorex monticolus) is a type of shrew in the genus Sorex. It is also called the dusky shrew.

Description
Montane shrews are small, long tailed shrews. They can grow up to 103 and 142mm long. It moults two times a year. They are brownish and silvery white or gray in summer.

Distribution and Habitat
The montane shrew can be found from northern Alaska to New Mexico and from the Pacific coast to central Manitoba. They also live in the Rocky Mountains, Blue Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada. They can be found on Vancouver Island and Queen Charlotte Island.

Montane shrews live in a lot of habitats such as tundra, alpine meadows, forests, and prairies. They are usually found in forest floor. They almost never dig a burrow.

 Behavior 
Montane shrews are live by themselves. They do not hibernate. They almost never sleep or rest. They are always eating.

 Feeding 
Montane shrews are insectivorous. It eats insects and their larvae, earthworms, spiders, snails, and, rarely eats small salamanders. Montane shrews have been seen eating conifer seeds, lichens, and fungi.

Reproduction
The breeding season may last from February to August. The gestation period is estimated to be about 13 to 28 days. The young ones  are born in a small nest made from grass and kept under a rock or fallen tree. They are given birth to blind and naked. At the age of 3 weeks they are weaned. The expected to live up to 12 to 18 months.

References

Category:Sorex
Category:Mammals of North America