Vagrant Shrew - Sorex vagrans
Vagrant Shrew - Sorex vagrans
Global Rank:
G5
State Rank:
S4
Agency Status
USFWS:
none
USFS:
none
BLM:
none
CFWCS Tier:
2
General Description
Pacific coast: tine present on anteriomedial edge of I1; tail distinctly bicolored in young, indistinctly bicolored in adults; never more than 4 pairs of friction pads on the second to fourth digits of hind feet; level of pigmentation at or below level of median tine on I1; body size small to medium; U5 triangular, body of U1s not touching, P4 overlapping U5; zygomatic process of maxillary pointed (Carraway 1990).
Diagnostic Characteristics
See carraway (1995) for a key to western north american soricids based primarily on dentaries.
Distribution
Montana Range
Migration
Non-migratory.
Habitat
At elevations below 5000 ft, usually Doug. Fir, Lodgepole Pine, W. Larch, Grand Fir, W. Red Cedar forests (Hennings and Hoffmann 1977). Often found in moist sites (Hoffmann and Pattie 1968).
Food Habits
Insects, annelida, shrews, vegetable matter, insect larvae (U50CLO01). Apparently will also use plant seeds, carrion, and some mushrooms (van Zyll de Jong 1983).
Ecology
Uses echolocation to orient in darkness (Buchanan 1972). May live in geographic sympatry with SOREX MONTICOLUS, S. CINEREUS, S. PALUSTRIS, and S. HOYI (Hennings and Hoffmann 1977).
Reproductive Characteristics
Preg. from Apr-Jul. Average 6.6/litter. Females usually don't conceive 1st year. No 1st year males showed signs of sex. develop. Males begin producing spermatoza early March (U50CLO01). Short lifespan, high annual turnover (van Zyll de Jong 1983).
Citations & Sources