A Speedy Vole, Unique Mouse or the elusive Pygmy Shrew?
Fast little mammal likes bird seed and is about 3" long total from nose to tail
A screen grab shows it is definitely not mole-like - no big webbed front feet, in fact the feet are kind of dainty - it's apparently omnivorous and too small - about 3" form nose to tail. It is closer to a mouse in size , but doesn't exactly look like any mouse I know and is pretty small for a Vole. Its hole was about the size of a quarter and it does not tunnel extensively, rather there is a lair under very heavy leaf litter on the edge of landscape fabric held by the large stone at 3,600 feet elevation. Probably a odd coincidence that I put bird seed right next to its house. You would think it would be easy to ID - What is it? Have any thoughts pass them on. Cute little thing though - and incredibly fast and athletic - I love the way it dives into the hole as a blur even in slow motion.
Late breaking thought - I didn't consider shrew as it seemed way too small for a shrew without an extremely pronounced snout, but I just found out there is a thing called an "American Pygmy Shrew" known to live in these parts and this little thing shares some of the characteristics - notably the size and feet and a less pronounced pointed nose compared to the typical shrew. The thing is just to darn fast - I'll have to go through the video frame by frame.
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Certainly looks more like a shrew than a rodent to me. The darting back and forth is also reminiscent of other videos of shrews I've seen as well.
ReplyDeleteI've looked into it a bit more and I think you are correct - it could be an American Pygmy Shrew which has a much less pronounced snout than Eurasian Pygmy Shrews. The feet and tail and general behaviour and location of the "nest" seem to match as well.
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