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North American Least Shrew

Cryptotis parvus

Mammal · family Soricidae · order Eulipotyphla

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
30 states[3]
Typical length
4 in[4]

The North American least shrew (Cryptotis parvus) is a tiny mammal in the shrew family[5]. NatureServe ranks it Secure worldwide, and it is native to 30 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the species a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. Its national rank in the United States is N5, also Secure[6]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe believes the population is stable, though some local declines are documented[7].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)

Where North American Least Shrew lives

NatureServe lists the least shrew as native in 30 US states and territories, including Texas, Kansas, Ohio, Virginia and Georgia[3]. NatureServe ranks it as extirpated or possibly extirpated in New York and Wisconsin[8]. Extirpated means it has disappeared from an area but still lives elsewhere. Its state conservation ranks vary a lot from state to state[9]. It has also spread west in the central United States[7].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: native, state rank S3MNIllinois: native, state rank S5ILMichigan: native, state rank S1MINew York: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SHNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S2SDIowa: native, state rank S2IAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S1PANew Jersey: native, state rank SNRNJConnecticut: native, state rank S1CTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank S5CONebraska: native, state rank S4NEMissouri: native, state rank S4MOKentucky: native, state rank S5KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S2WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S4MDDelaware: native, state rank SNRDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: native, state rank S2NMKansas: native, state rank S5KSArkansas: native, state rank S5ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S4LAMississippi: native, state rank SNRMSAlabama: native, state rank S5ALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S4TXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[9].
Show state ranks (32 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS5Secure
ArkansasS5Secure
ColoradoS5Secure
ConnecticutS1Critically Imperiled
DelawareSNRNot Ranked
District of ColumbiaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS5Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS2Imperiled
KansasS5Secure
KentuckyS5Secure
LouisianaS4Apparently Secure
MarylandS4Apparently Secure
MichiganS1Critically Imperiled
MinnesotaS3Vulnerable
MississippiSNRNot Ranked
MissouriS4Apparently Secure
NebraskaS4Apparently Secure
New JerseySNRNot Ranked
New MexicoS2Imperiled
New YorkSHPossibly Extirpated
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS1Critically Imperiled
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS2Imperiled
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS4Apparently Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS2Imperiled
WisconsinSXPresumed Extirpated

Habitat

The least shrew generally lives in open country with thick, low plants[10]. It also uses brushy areas, forest edges and sometimes marshes[10]. NatureServe records woodland, grassland, old fields, cropland and hedgerows, suburban orchards, and several kinds of wetland[11]. The nest can be underground or under a log, stump, rock or board[10].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size and diet

The least shrew mainly eats insects and other small animals without backbones, such as earthworms and spiders, plus a little plant matter[12]. NatureServe calls it an invertivore, which means an eater of invertebrates[13]. A typical adult is about 10 cm (4 in) long[4]. It weighs about 8 g[14]. Gestation lasts about 2 weeks, and litters have 2 to 7 young, averaging 4 to 5[15]. Young are weaned in 3 weeks and mature after 5 weeks[15]. A female can have two to three litters per year[15].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 10 cm (4 in)
Typical adult weight[14] 8 g (0.3 oz)
Food habits[13] Invertivore
Migration[16] non-migrant

When to look for it

The least shrew is active both day and night, and probably more at night[17]. NatureServe lists it as a non-migrant, though populations can differ[16]. In the north it breeds from March to November, and in the south it breeds all year, mainly in spring and summer[15].

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record North American Least Shrew as present in 1 park units[18]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

Questions people ask

Is the North American least shrew endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5, which means Secure[2].
Where does the North American least shrew live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 30 US states and territories, including Texas, Kansas, Ohio and Virginia[3]. It is ranked as extirpated or possibly extirpated in New York and Wisconsin[8].
What does the North American least shrew eat?
It mainly eats insects and other invertebrates such as earthworms and spiders, plus some plant matter[12].
How big is a North American least shrew?
A typical adult is about 10 cm (4 in) long[4]. It weighs about 8 g[14].
When is the least shrew active?
It is active day and night, and probably more at night[17].

Facts and sources

  1. North American Least Shrew is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for North American Least Shrew: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists North American Least Shrew as native in 30 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 10 cm (4 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. North American Least Shrew (Cryptotis parvus) is a mammal in the family Soricidae, order Eulipotyphla. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe notes on trend for North American Least Shrew. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe ranks North American Least Shrew as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: New York, Wisconsin. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe state ranks for North American Least Shrew (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe notes on habitat for North American Least Shrew. NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for North American Least Shrew: Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - mixed, Shrubland/chaparral, Savanna, Grassland/herbaceous, Old field, Cropland/hedgerow, Suburban/orchard, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested... NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on food for North American Least Shrew. NatureServe Explorer
  13. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 8 g (0.3 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on reproduction for North American Least Shrew. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for North American Least Shrew: non-migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on phenology for North American Least Shrew. NatureServe Explorer
  18. NPSpecies park lists recording North American Least Shrew as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.