Donald A. Windsor
A dead Masked Shrew (Sorex cinereus) was found in the Town of Smithville, on Whitling Road between Collier and Stone Quarry Hill roads, on Sunday 21 October 2012, by Bruce Webster.
Its body was 2 inches long and its bicoloured tail was 1.5 inches.
My identification was based on the diagnostics in the source cited below. The Masked Shrew has no mask, for reasons that remain elusive.
We have 7 species of shrews in New York State. Six are reported as being in Chenango County (www.nyfalls.com/wildlife). I intend to write on the other five as the opportunity presents.
Reid, Fiona A. Mammals of North America. 4th Ed. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. 2006. Pages 368-370.
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