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I think I found a shrew,
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Posted by dorisl 5 NW Chicago burbs (dorislorr@comcast.net) on Sun, Oct 14, 07 at 12:12
| Its the third time Ive seen one of these black mousy kind of animals. The first one was flying away in a hawks feet, the second was playing with a kitty cat, and this one was digging around in my compost area.
Its a black mousy thing, can really see which end is the front, except when it was standing on its back feet squeeking at the kitty that was playing with it.
It doesnt move very quickly, It keeps going tho, when its trying to get away.
I think it had a tail, but it really just looked like black fur crawling around.
You guys agree or think its something else. They're good that they eat slugs, right, but I also read the eat worms, which I have a TON of so do I like this guy or not?
:)
Doris
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: I think I found a shrew,
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| You might need to google some images of shrews, voles, and moles to see which you can match up with what you saw. I will say, however, that your descriptions sure do jive with my experience with shews (and cats). |
RE: I think I found a shrew,
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They can move pretty quick. Maybe your kitty was playing with it longer than you thought...
I have so many of them down here, we have a cornfield behind the house, and they can be pretty destructive.One favorite thing they like to do is eat holes in the bottom of any veggies that are sitting on the ground. Nice red tomatoes with a big hole on the bottom side...bummer. It's my fault, I didn't take the time to stake them this year. They are also very destructive in the greenhouse, they dig into plant pots and eat the roots in winter. They can be caught just like a mouse though, with a peanut butter bait on a mouse trap. FYI. |
RE: I think I found a shrew,
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| sandy, you are talking about voles (or even mice), and not shrews. The latter are strict carnivores and not interested in your veggies at all. Shrews, though underground dwellers, are often seen on hunting expeditions in the yard, garage, etc. (That's how cats come into contact with them, usually to the cat's dismay.) They feed just about anything in the animal kingdom. ;-) |
RE: I think I found a shrew,
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| shiny black fur, no tails, caught several on glue traps in the garage and found a dead one in my basement!!! I figured they are moles or voles since the lawn in the last several years has become incredibly bumpy to walk on and is very unpleasant now. I observed one a couple of times in broad daylight entering my garage while I was working on a project. At first thought it was a mouse, then after thinking about it, remembered there was no tail. That's why I set the glue traps, just to find out what I was seeing. Can't believe they are/were coming in the house! Creepier than mice I think! |
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