Ornate Shrew

Sorex ornatus

This animal is not a mouse. It is not a rat. It is not even a rodent. The Ornate Shrew is small, measuring less than 4 inches in total length. What is lacks in size, it makes up for in appetite. As with all shrews, its metabolism is so high it must eat every few hours or it won’t survive the day. The Sorex ornatus is not a vegetarian. It earns its living eating bugs, grubs and worms mostly. The Ornate Shrew is a west coast native, ranging from Northern California to Baja California.