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How to Feed a Shrew

Shrews are not recommended as pets, but if you find an injured one, you can try to care for it until you can turn it over to a wildlife rescue center. Shrews are small, carnivorous mammals with an extremely high metabolic rate. They need to eat almost constantly and can starve to death within a few hours. Some species also have venomous saliva that they use to subdue their prey. Shrews eat insects but can also attack and kill rodents larger than themselves.

Things You'll Need

Sugar
Water
Crickets
Mealworms
Wax worms
Earthworms
Ground meat
Cat food
Shallow bowls

Instructions

- 1
  Place the shrew in a large bucket with moist soil and leaves, moss or pieces of bark. Provide dry nesting material, such as cotton wool.
- 2
  Revive a shrew that appears near starvation by giving it a few drops of highly concentrated sugar water.
- 3
  Purchase live foods at pet stores or bait shops. Crickets, mealworms, wax worms and earthworms are all acceptable shrew food. If you can't get to a pet store, ground meat or cat food in a shallow bowl are suitable replacements.
- 4
  Feed the shrew immediately, and give it a constant supply of food. If shrews don't eat often they starve.
- 5
  Give the shrew water, but only in a shallow bowl to prevent it from drowning.

Animals & Science