January 18th 2025.
After more than a century since its discovery, the Mount Lyell shrew is finally stepping into the spotlight. This small, never-before-seen mammal has been captured on camera for the first time, much to the excitement of scientists. Found in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, this pointy-nosed shrew spends its days scurrying around and feasting on insects hidden under logs.
Despite its elusive nature, the Mount Lyell shrew has garnered little attention over the years. In fact, the California government's factsheet on the shrew simply states "no data found." Even a quick Google search yields only sketches and maps, with no actual photographs of the shrew in sight. Its Wikipedia page is also quite brief, and experts have long been concerned about the lack of information on this species, especially in the face of climate change.
But thanks to the hard work and dedication of young researchers Vishal Subramanyan, Prakrit Jain, and Harper Forbes, the Mount Lyell shrew has finally been captured on camera. In November, the California Academy of Sciences managed to capture five of these tiny creatures near Lee Vining in the Eastern Sierra. Measuring only nine to 10 centimeters in length and weighing a mere three grams, these shrews are quite small but hold great significance for scientists.
The academy shared their findings on Facebook, stating that the Mount Lyell shrew is a species of special concern due to its limited knowledge and vulnerability to climate change. Vishal and his colleagues worked tirelessly, staying up through the night to set and monitor traps in hopes of capturing the shrews. Finally, after much effort and dedication, they were able to snap photos of five Mount Lyell shrews in their natural habitat.
Subramanyan explained that he and his friends became intrigued by small mammals during a field trip where they captured tiny rodents. They were determined to get a closer look at the elusive Mount Lyell shrew, a species that was first discovered by biologist Clinton Hart Merriam in 1902. However, the shrew had not been trapped or recorded in over 20 years, making it one of the most poorly known mammal species in California.
So why has this shrew remained so elusive? Well, for starters, they have an incredibly high metabolism and need to eat every two hours to survive. This makes them quite difficult to track down, as setting traps overnight often results in finding a dead shrew in the morning. To combat this, Subramanyan and his colleagues slept in two-hour shifts and checked their traps regularly, which were simple holes filled with cat food.
But their efforts paid off when they managed to capture a shrew within the first two hours of setting their traps. Subramanyan emphasized the importance of capturing these elusive creatures on camera, stating that it helps in cataloguing biodiversity on our rapidly changing planet. A 2015 study from UC Davis found that the Mount Lyell shrew stands to lose up to 90% of its habitat due to human-caused climate change.
In addition to their scientific significance, Subramanyan also believes that these photos can help the public foster a connection with these animals. "There are so few good photos of California's shrews out there," he stated. "Taking these photos that haven't been taken before helps the public understand and appreciate these animals." So, thanks to the hard work of these young researchers, the Mount Lyell shrew is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
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