Alaska has only 8 western water shrew records, all from GBIF, scattered from Chena River State Recreation Area and Minto Flats State Game Refuge near Fairbanks to Anchorage, Haines, and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, tracking the cold streams, springs, and wet banks this shrew depends on across very different parts of the state. Unlike populations farther south that need high elevation for cold water, Alaska’s latitude can supply those same conditions close to sea level.
This shrew hunts by touch as much as sight, probing wet moss and shallow water with its whiskers for aquatic insect larvae, worms, and other invertebrates. Enlarged, fringed hind feet work like small paddles underwater, and dense fur traps a layer of air that can flash silver when the animal dives, a useful cue since sightings are usually brief.
Alaska’s observation record for this species is sparse, and the timing of its activity here isn’t well documented. Six of the eight records fall in July and August, matching the short window when high-country streams are snow-free and people are more likely to be near them.
Full species profile
