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| Distribution |
In NC, occurs over nearly all of the state, but likely absent from the northern mountains, and distribution in much of the central and western Piedmont is very spotty. Thus, somewhat poorly known range in the western half of the state, but certainly present throughout the Coastal Plain and eastern half of the Piedmont.
Ranges only over the southeastern third of the country, north to MD and MO, and south to the Gulf Coast and central FL. |
| Abundance |
Locally common, if not locally abundant, in some areas of the eastern Coastal Plain, more so in the southern parts of the Coastal Plain. Apparently uncommon to locally common in the western Coastal Plain and eastern Piedmont. Scarce (generally uncommon) in the remainder of the Piedmont, and likely rare in the central and southern mountains, where it occurs only at lower elevations. |
| Seasonal Occurrence |
Occurs and is active year-round. |
| Habitat |
Generally in moist places, such as bottomlands and pocosins, wet fields, recent clearcuts, pine plantations, and other such damp thickets. It also occurs in some upland habitats, but wetlands are preferred. Areas with tangles of vines are also favored. |
| Behavior |
Active both day and night. |
| Comments |
This was a relatively poorly-known species as late at the 1980's, but with the advent of pitfall trapping for small mammals, it became clear that this species is quite common locally in much of the Coastal Plain, even in disturbed habitats such as pine plantations and recent clearcuts in damp areas. The Dismal Swamp Southeastern Shrew (S. longirostris fisheri) was Federaly listed as Threatened in 1986. However, Dave Webster found that it was not limited to just the Great Dismal Swamp area, but occurred in some numbers southward toward Wilmington in the lower Coastal Plain. After these discoveries, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delisted this subspecies in 2000, as it was determined to be much more widespread and common than previously thought. In fact, there is some question if this is a valid subspecies. |
| Origin |
Native |
| NC List |
Official |
 State Rank |
S4 |
| State Status |
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| Global Rank |
G5 |
| Federal Status |
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| subspecies |
Sorex longirostris longirostris, Sorex longirostris fisheri
Sorex l. longirostris occurs over the mountains, Piedmont, and at least the inner Coastal Plain; whereas S. l. fisheri is present in at least the eastern portions of the Coastal Plain. |
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| synonym |
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