Reasons You Want Help in Shrew Removal
Homeowners all over Florida realize why shrew removal is critical. Wait, do you know what a shrew is, and would you recognize it if you had one in your home? Well, if you did find one in your home, you’d have a big problem.
Exactly, What is a Shrew?
The shrew is a misunderstood mammal. They are often confused with other mammals, like mice, small rats, and moles. They are funny little nocturnal animals. So it is no wonder we don’t all know precisely what to look for when talking about the shrew.
By the way, did you know the term shrew is used to describe a woman with a violent, scolding, or nagging temperament? What’s more, the Ancient Egyptians considered the shrew to be the spirit of darkness.
Read on to learn about the types of shrews in Florida and more.
Shrew Types and Appearances
The Southern Short-tailed Shrew is a small, gray, short-tailed mammal. They look like a tiny mouse, mole, or a little rat. However, they are not in the rodent family; they are in the Soricidae family. The southern short-tailed shrews of Florida are around 3-4.5 inches in length and weigh less than an ounce.
This shrew’s furry tail is shorter than half of the length of their head and body together. They have long pointy snouts, tiny eyes, and small ears covered by their thick fur. As little diggers, they have powerful front feet that are a bit larger than the back feet.
Sherman’s Short-tailed Shrew is found in southwestern Florida and is darker and longer than the short-tailed shrew.
Least Shrews are throughout mainland Florida in the dry grassy brush. They are grayish-brown with a light underbelly and white feet, and it is only about 3 inches in length.
The Southeastern Shrew is in north and central Florida and is reddish-brown. It can grow to be 3-3.6 inches long with a longer tail than most shrews. However, it weighs only a tenth of an ounce.
And the Homosassa Shrew is another species of the Southeastern Shrew found in the Homosassa Springs area.
Shrew Habitats
The Short-tailed shrew is most common in moist, drained forests where burrowing material is plentiful. These burrows are two levels and are often beneath a log. Other shrews enjoy all the various areas in Florida, including dry grassy land and marshy areas.
Florida’s shrews enjoy any area full of juicy grubs, worms, small snakes, and insects. As long as they eat an amount equaling their weight each day, they are satisfied with anything they can overpower.
Shooing Shrew Damage
Homeowners definitely want to shoo away a shrew when found. Folklore has often said it is beneficial to have a shrew in the home, as they will eat small mice and help with rident control. However, they may be neglecting the issue of the pungent smell of the shrew. Imagine if one of these shrews got into your Florida home. The damage can be tremendous.
Home Invasion
These little mammals often fall into window tracks, attack pets, birds, and other mammals with their venomous bite. While not dangerous to humans, they will bite if a person tries to handle them. And, don’t forget, most wild animals carry disease with their bites.
Also, shrews will get into stored food containers, pet food, and bird feeders. However, that is not the worst of what they may do to your home. A shrew will urinate and defecate in one or two areas of the house, creating a pile. They eliminate where they live, so it builds up and seeps into the fabrics of your home. No one wants that.
In Florida
The largest complaint about the shrews in the state of Florida is the feeding habits of the shrew. These little pests will not only eat insects, but they can climb trees and damage the eggs in a bird’s nest and eat all bird feeders’ seeds. If a large population inhabits one area, they could effectively damage the bird population there. That creates a problem for Florida’s wildlife and environment.
Shrew Removal and Prevention
Homeowners can gain control over shrews outside through common mole and mouse deterrent tricks.
- Castor Oil is a repellant disliked by most moles and rodents. They abhor the scent.
- Cats, dogs, and owls can scare the population away from the area.
- Mowing the lawn and keeping the yard waste and overgrown brush to a minimum provides nowhere for the shrew to begin to burrow.
- Setting live traps in conjunction with oats and peanut butter or bacon grease as bait is a common way to catch them in the act.
- Carefully monitored snap traps can be placed in the yard, ensuring pets and others do not get into the trap.
In the house, eliminating the shrews swiftly is critical, or the odor will take over. Pest Control companies have small traps such as mouse or chipmunk traps that will effectively capture the shrew. Other traps such as snap traps or electronic traps work to shoo the shrews for good.
World Class is Here for Pest and Shrew Removal
At World Class Wildlife Removal, we understand the need for swift action when there is a shrew problem in or around your home. There is no pest we cannot catch and remove. Furthermore, once the shrew is gone, the area will be professionally disinfected and deodorized.
We recognize there is no way you want to handle a shrew infestation on your own. Contact World Class Wildlife Removal to chase away the stinky shrew once and for all.