Habitat
The vagrant shrew, also known as the Wandering Shrew, lives in North America, primarily western Canada and in the United States, west of the Continental Divide. It lives in a range of different habitats, such as forests and meadows, however it is rare to find them in dense woodlands as they prefer more open coniferous areas. This shrew prefers places with plenty of woody debris because they use logs as shelter from predators as well as a place to forage for food.
Physiology
Vagrant shrews look similar to other shrews in its area, montane shrew and Trowbridge's shrew, however it has a few differences. Vagrant shrews are smaller in size with a shorter tail and have fewer friction pads on its hind legs. There are also fine detail differences between the skulls of Trowbridge and vagrant shrews. This shrew averages about 4 inches in length and 5.5 grams in weight.
Diet
Earthworms are a staple in this shrew's diet, however spiders, insects, other small invertebrates, and some plant material are also eaten. These shrews tend to hunt for food more during the night hours and appear to use their echolocation for 'seeing' their surroundings in the darkness instead of using it for hunting or communication.
Echolocation
Vagrant shrews utilize many underground tunnels for hiding as well as hunting, however it is believed that these shrews do not use echolocation for hunting but rather for 'seeing' their surroundings in the tunnels and in the evening hours.