Mammals
Masked Shrew
Sorex cinereus · also called cinereus shrew
Weighing barely more than a few paperclips, a masked shrew forages through leaf litter somewhere on a continent-spanning range that stretches from Arctic tundra to temperate forest, making it the most widely distributed shrew species anywhere in North America.
Overview
The masked shrew, Sorex cinereus, is a tiny, remarkably adaptable insectivore native to forest and grassland habitat across most of North America, including much of Canada and the northern United States. Its status as the most widely distributed shrew species on the continent, tolerance for climates ranging from Arctic tundra to temperate forest, and extremely lightweight body make it one of the most ecologically successful small mammals found anywhere in North America.
A tiny body, a continental range
Few small mammals manage to occupy as much of a continent as the masked shrew, whose tolerance for wildly different climates and habitats has let a creature weighing only a few grams spread across nearly the entire breadth of North America.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and abundant across suitable forest and grassland habitat throughout most of North America.
Masked Shrew: common questions
Why is the masked shrew considered so widespread?
This species tolerates a remarkably wide range of climates and habitat types, from Arctic tundra to temperate forest, contributing significantly to its status as the most widely distributed shrew species found across the entirety of North America.
How big is the masked shrew?
This species is extremely lightweight, typically weighing only a few grams as a fully grown adult, similar in scale to several other small Sorex shrew species found across the Northern Hemisphere.
How long does the masked shrew live?
This species typically lives for around a year in the wild, a short lifespan consistent with the fast-paced metabolic demands common among small shrew species facing similarly intense energy requirements.
Where can the masked shrew be found?
This species is native to forest and grassland habitat across a broad range spanning most of North America, including much of Canada and the northern United States, making it one of the most geographically widespread small mammals on the continent.