The Secretive Shrews and Moles Beneath Ohio’s Forest Floor
Beneath Ohio’s forests, fields, and wetlands lies a hidden world shaped by shrews and moles—small, energetic mammals that spend much of their lives underground or beneath leaf litter. Though rarely seen, these animals play a crucial role in controlling insect populations, enriching soil, and maintaining the health of the ecosystems above them.
Ohio’s shrews are among the most active mammals in the state. A dark-furred species with a venomous bite is one of the most common, using its potent saliva to subdue prey larger than itself. A tiny, quick-moving shrew inhabits forests and wetlands, while a species adapted to cool, moist environments thrives in shaded woodlands. These shrews consume enormous quantities of insects, worms, and small invertebrates, making them vital pest controllers.
Ohio’s moles are equally fascinating. A species with a distinctive star-shaped nose is one of the most unusual mammals in North America, using its sensitive appendages to detect prey with incredible speed. A common tunneling species creates the familiar raised ridges seen in lawns and fields, aerating soil as it searches for insects and earthworms. A species that blends traits of both shrews and moles occupies a unique ecological niche, hunting above and below ground.
Some of Ohio’s smallest mammals are also among its rarest. A semi-aquatic shrew hunts along streams and ponds, diving underwater to catch insects and small fish. Even more elusive is one of the tiniest mammals in the world, a creature so small and fast that it is seldom observed directly.
Though they often go unnoticed, shrews and moles are essential to Ohio’s ecosystems. Their constant digging improves soil structure, their voracious appetites keep insect populations in check, and their presence supports a wide range of predators. These tiny mammals remind us that some of the most important ecological work happens out of sight, beneath our feet.