The least shrew is the shortest of all the park's mammals. It may be active at any hour, but the peak of activity is at night. They use the runways of mice and rats, and the tunnels of moles, or they construct their own tunnels that are characteristically wider than high. The least shrew, unlike most shrews, prefers dry, open, grassy fields. These types of habitats have been decreasing in the park as cultivated areas yield to the regrowth of forest. Thus, numbers of Cryptotis in the park are undoubtedly less now than prior to the establishment of the park.

Species Measurements:
- Adult Total Length: 69-84 mm (2?-3? in.)
- Tail: 12-21 mm (?-? in.)
- Hind Foot: 9-12 mm (? in.)
- Weight: 3-6 g (1/10-1/5 oz.)

Physical Characteristics:
The least shrew is the smaller of the two short-tailed shrews that occur in the park, and is the shortest of all the park's mammals. The upperparts are dark grayish-brown, while the under parts are somewhat paler. Shrews possess long tapering snouts, and tiny eyes and ears. Hearing and smelling are acute. The tips of the incisor teeth are dark chestnut in color. Shrews have five toes on each foot.

Habitat:
The least shrew, unlike most shrews, prefers dry, open, grassy fields. The Komareks found this shrew in moderately overgrown broomsedge fields, and in an open grassy patch along the forest margin. These types of habitats have been decreasing in the park as cultivated areas yield to the regrowth of forest. Thus, numbers of Cryptotis in the park are undoubtedly less now than prior to the establishment of the park.

Reproduction:
In the park, least shrews probably breed from late winter until late fall. A lactating pregnant female was recorded on August 13 (Ambrose, 1986). A female that had just finished nursing was recorded October 16, and four males in breeding condition were recorded October 20 (Komarek and Komarek, 1938). Litters of two to seven young are born after a gestation period of 21 to 23 days. Weaning occurs at about three weeks. Shrew nests are about 6 to 8 inches in diameter, with a 2 to 4 inch inside diameter. Nests are composed of finely shredded grasses and leaves. Young are weaned and independent at 4 weeks of age.

Longevity:
Captive shrews have lived two years.

Terrestrial Ecology:
Least shrews may be active at any hour, but the peak of activity is at night. They use the runways of mice and rats, and the tunnels of moles, or they construct their own tunnels that are characteristically wider than high.

Feeding Habits:
These shrews feed on snails, lepidopterous larvae, beetle larvae, orthopterans, earthworms, and spiders.

The home range is probably small, perhaps as little as a fraction of an acre.

Predators and Defense:
Owls, domestic cats, bobcats, foxes, skunks, and snakes are among the major predators. In the park, a least shrew was recovered from the stomach of a screech owl (Otus asio) (Stupka, 1940).

Parasites:
None recorded from the park.

The least shrew is found throughout the eastern United States south of a line from central New York to central South Dakota, western Nebraska, eastern Colorado, and west through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas to New Mexico.

This shrew has been recorded at localities up to 2,730 feet in the park.

References:

Ambrose, J.P. 1986. Dynamics of Ecological Boundary Phenomena Along the Borders of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ph. D. Dissertation, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. (Also National Park Service-Cooperative Studies Unit Technical Report

Komarek, E. V. and R. Komarek. 1938. Mammals of the Great Smoky Mountains. Bulletin of the Chicago Academy of Science 5(6): 137-162.

Linzey, D. W. 1995a. Mammals of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company, Inc., Blacksburg, Virginia.

Linzey, D. W. 1995b. Mammals of Great Smoky Mountains National Park-1995 Update. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 111(1): 1-81.

Stupka, A. 1935-1963. Nature Journal, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 28 volumes (years) each with index. (Typewritten copy in files of Great Smoky Mountains National Park).