INSECT-EATING MAMMALS: SHREWS
Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda)
Dark, slate-gray body Length 4″ or 5″ Tail about 1″
This little mammal is a creature of damp areas and is generally associated with damp forests. It makes burrows just under the surface of the ground. It is the only poisonous mammal in the United States and uses its venom to stun and kill its prey. However, the only result of a nip on your finger will be considerable swelling. Because of its insect-eating habit the Shrew is a most beneficial animal.
Cinereus Shrew (Sorex cinereus)
Grayish-brown body Length 3″ to 4″ Tail more than 1″
This is the most common shrew on the Neck. It is found roving about the salt marshes in search of insects. It hunts during the day as well as at night, generally keeping concealed under a grassy cover.