blarina brevicauda
September 11, 1981 — 10:15 am
Des Plaines, Illinois — home
I heard shuffling in the raspberry patch next to the garage and saw movement between the flagstones in the walk. I picked up a stone and saw the Short-tailed Shrew in a small trench it had dug. It ran up the trench under the bricks toward the raspberries.
It was approximately three-and-a half-inches long including a one-inch tail. It’s fur was a uniform dark gray. I didn’t see any ears or eyes. As it moved, its pink nose wiggled rapidly.