The Small Mammals of Colorado 



MOLES AND SHREWS. 



Our single species of mole is confined to the northeastern portion of 

 Colorado, indeed the only record of which I have knowledge is from Wray. 

 This species is the Northern Plains Mole, Scalopus aquaticus caryi. In 

 "The Mammals of Colorado" it is called the Large-nosed or Western 

 Silvery Mole. Both moles and shrews belong to the order Insectivora, the 

 members of which depend largely upon insects and similar forms of ani- 

 mal life for their subsistence. 



Of exclusively underground habits, moles are rarely seen on the sur- 

 face of the ground, though they make their presence known by the mounds 

 of earth which they throw up from their tunnels. These tunnels are made 

 in their search for food, which consists of earthworms and grubs. The 

 forelegs are short, with wide, naked hands, the palms being turned out- 

 ward, and forming splendid instruments for digging. The velvety fur 

 almost hides the eye. This fur is brown, with grayish shades, lighter 

 below, appearing dull or bright and silvery according as the light strikes 

 the hair. Moleskins are used as fur, being very soft and warm, though it 

 takes many to make a garment. 



The small animals known as Shrews are often confused with mice, to 

 which they are not at all nearly related, belonging, as previously stated, 

 to the Insectivora, while mice are rodents, or gnawers. Four of our Colo- 

 rado species are tiny brown animals about four inches long, of which the 

 tail comprises somewhat less than half. They live about the damp meadows 

 in the mountains, along the streams, and also among the dead logs and 

 underbrush in the timber, and range to timberline, and even to the summit 

 of Pikes Peak. They make much use of meadow mice runways, and are 

 often captured in traps set in such places. Voracious little animals, with 

 sharp teeth and savage dispositions, they have no hesitation in attacking 

 prey as large as themselves. If two are confined together one usually kills 

 and eats the other, and they are said to occasionally kill mice.. The eyes 



No. 1. Dusky Shrew, Sorex obsenruH; photographed from a dead specimen. 

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