Water shrews (Neomys fodiens), Britain’s largest native shrew, have a venomous bite used to paralyse freshwater shrimps, water slaters and caddis larvae. Although, the shrews’ teeth cannot penetrate human skin, the venom in their saliva can leave a rash. So not exactly dangerous… More from the BBC here
Category Archives: shrews in Britain
The pygmy shrew: the smallest mammal in Britain
Pygmy Shrews can’t stop eating. Their metabolism is so fast that two hours after a meal they’re starving again. Hibernation is out of the question as they’re too small to store fat reserves, so they have to remain active during the winter, eating ceaselessly to keep warm. They are, in turn, an important part of the diet of Tawny and Barn owls, among other predators. They can live up to 15 months. Continue reading The pygmy shrew: the smallest mammal in Britain