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Nine species of shrews are found in a wide swath over Washington state, from sea level to mountain meadows. They are the states smallest mammals the tiniest, the pygmy shrew, is the size of a thumb and, though widespread, they are the least-known of the mammals.
Shrews resemble mice, except their muzzles are long and pointed and their eyes are tiny. Most are brownish or blackish in color with pale bellies. They are about half the size of adult mice.
Telling one shrew from another is difficult. The one pictured here is likely Sorex vagrans, which is commonly known as the vagrant shrew or wandering shrew. Experts need to see the skull to peer at a tooth, the fourth unicuspid, because its size helps differentiate between common species.