North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Jim Fruth <jfruth@uslink.net>]

Rob,
    Your "rodent" is really not a rodent.  It is a shrew, an insectivor from
the family Soricidae.  They are the world's smallest mammals whose primary
diet is insects.  They have a very high metabolic rate and some species need
to eat the equivalent of their own body weight every day - that's alot of
insects that we don't need to contend with.  When there are no flying
insects, ie. in Winter, they seek out pupae and dormant larvae.  Their main
defense against predators - a foul smell - deters carnivorous mammals, but
not birds of prey.  They have poor eyesight and, when provoked, will attack
anything, regardless of size.  They are beneficials.

Jim Fruth
Pequot Lakes, MN