A tiny, elusive mammal that lives underground in California has been caught alive on camera for the first time.
The Mount Lyell shrew, native to the Eastern Sierra Nevada region, has long been difficult to document due to its fast metabolism and secretive nature.
Three undergraduate students, Vishal Subramanyan, Prakrit Jain, and Harper Forbes, took on the challenge as part of their fall 2024 project.
They set over 100 traps in November and checked them every two hours for three days and four nights to capture clear images of the rare shrew.
Challenges in Photographing the Mount Lyell Shrew
Capturing live images of the Mount Lyell shrew was not easy. Subramanyan explained that these tiny mammals are incredibly fast and constantly moving. Their rapid metabolism forces them to stay active around the clock, feeding on insects and arachnids to survive.
Previous attempts to trap the shrews using pitfall traps often failed because if left in the trap for more than two hours, they would starve to death. To prevent this, the students checked their traps every two hours, making their expedition both time-consuming and physically demanding.
To take the photos, the team set up a white background inside a box and placed glass on top to allow photography from above. They also prepared a terrarium filled with soil and mealworms to keep the shrews comfortable while capturing images.
Extreme Conditions and Scientific Impact
The expedition was not just difficult due to the elusive nature of the shrew but also because of the extreme conditions. Temperatures in the mountains dropped to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, making it challenging for the team to work for long hours in the cold.
The project was funded with support from Cal Academy, where Subramanyan was part of the California Creators for Nature program. The initiative aims to engage people in conversations about nature, climate change, and environmental justice through social media.
Jain emphasized the importance of documenting lesser-known species, pointing out that many animals in the U.S. have never had their photos taken or have only poor-quality images available.
By photographing the Mount Lyell shrew, the students hope to contribute to conservation efforts and raise awareness about the threats these small mammals face.
Climate Change and Conservation Efforts
The Mount Lyell shrew is highly vulnerable to climate change, with studies from UC Berkeley predicting an 89% loss of its habitat by the 2080s. As temperatures rise and ecosystems shift, these small mammals could lose the environments they rely on for survival.
The students plan to submit their photographs to scientific databases, making it easier for researchers to identify and study this species.
Understanding their role in the ecosystem is crucial, as shrews are prolific predators that consume several times their body mass daily. They also serve as an important food source for larger predators such as snakes, owls, and wild cats.
This groundbreaking effort to photograph the Mount Lyell shrew highlights the importance of documenting and protecting lesser-known species.
Through determination and innovative techniques, these three students have provided valuable images that will aid researchers and conservationists in their work.
As climate change threatens the habitat of the Mount Lyell shrew, their work serves as a reminder of the need for ongoing wildlife preservation efforts.