There’s a Venomous Mammal Hiding Right Under Your Feet in New York

New York is full of amazing wildlife, but one of the most interesting creatures in the state could go its entire life without encountering a single human being.

There are a few different ways to categorize local wildlife, but one of the easiest ways might be "dangerous" and "not dangerous". While the former category contains animals like grumpy snapping turtles, curious black bears and venomous snakes, there's at least one mammal that could be classified as both.

Venomous Short-Tailed Shrews in New York State

"It's a shrew on a shoe!" began a recent post from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC, below). While the adorable creature may look like a rodent, they are actually classified as insectivores, and they are way more vicious than they appear.

About New York's Short-Tailed Shrew

Incredibly, this tiny furball is actually a voracious predator, and uses its teeth, claws, and venom (yes, venom), to subdue and consume animals ranging from bugs and worms to even birds and snakes (below). Here's what to do if you encounter one of nature's cutest predators.

Are Short-Tailed Shrews Harmful to Humans?

While shrews are considered venomous, the toxins aren't stored in fangs like snakes, but rather in their saliva. While their venom is potent enough to kill or paralyze their prey, it is luckily not harmful to humans.

Shrews are nocturnal, and spend most of their time either underground or beneath the undergrowth or leaf litter. While they can occasionally become a pest if they enter local homes in search of food, chances are that New Yorkers can spend their whole lives without encountering this magnificent mammal.