Conservation Status: Common
Hertfordshire: Common
Protection: Shrews are listed on Schedule 6 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. This protects them from being trapped without a licence ( unless precautions are taken to ensure they remain alive).
General Information: Commonly found wherever there is some low vegetation cover. They are most abundant in thick grass, bushy scrub, hedgerows and broad-leaved woodland. Active day and night, they make surface runways through the vegetation, feeding on a wide variety of common invertebrates; many of which are pest insects. They are essentially solitary and can be very aggressive towards each other. Walking through a field, their high pitched rapid che-che sound, just audible to the human ear, can frequently be heard.
Threats: The continued loss of semi-natural habitats and use of agricultural chemicals may become a threat to the numbers of animals. The common shrew is the most frequent victim caught in discarded bottles and drink cans. It is an animal often found in owl pellets and is frequently killed (but not eaten) by the domestic cat.
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