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Roll over the photo at right to see a close-up of the short tail Cool Links: The Stunning Saliva Of Shrews - Researchers are trying to unravel the mystery of the shrew's venomous brew. From the Chemical & Engineering News website. Northern Short-tailed Shrew species profile, from the Discover Life in America website. back to Nature Notebook upper photos: Gilles Gonthier; lower photo: Patrick Coin |
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Often mistaken for a mole, the Short-tailed Shrew is the largest shrew in North America. They prey upon mice, smaller shrews, snails, earthworms, and centipedes. Biting their victim in the face or neck, the Short-tailed Shrew paralyzes its victim with poison in its saliva, often devouring the prey before it is dead. The venom isn’t dangerous to humans.