Behavior
Due to its small size and reclusive habits, the Eurasian Least Shrew can be difficult to spot. Like shrews in general, the Eurasian Least Shrew mainly eats insects, but will also dine on carrion or any other source of protein it finds. In winter, it may occasionally seek food indoors. Because of its small size for a mammal, the Eurasian Least Shrew has an extremely high metabolic rate and must eat frequently to avoid starvation; in captivity it has been reported to eat 120 meals a day, consuming three to four times its own weight each day. The Eurasian Least Shrew is active around the clock, with occasional sleep periods of 10–50 minutes each.
The Eurasian Least Shrew can swim well, and in captivity even seems to enjoy playing in water. Its small size also makes the Eurasian Least Shrew a phenomenal climber: it has been observed climbing up even the smooth inside corner of a glass terrarium. Its eyesight is poor, but it has very good hearing. While the Eurasian Least Shrew frequently emits sounds, much of its communication is in frequencies beyond the limits of human hearing.
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