Rare Shrew Found In Western ND

For the second time in two years, a Dickinson State University research team has found a rare shrew in western North Dakota.

 

 

 

 

DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) - For the second time in two years, a Dickinson State University research team has found a rare shrew in western North Dakota.

The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of National History confirmed the tiny critter found this summer was a Merriam's shrew. The Smithsonian also confirmed the shrew found last year.

Dickinson State associate professor Michael Shaughnessy tells The Dickinson Press (http://bit.ly/QvdwYP ) the shrew is not endangered and has a wide range in the western U.S. But he says it's rare to find one in North Dakota.

Until the discoveries in the past two years, the only other Merriam's shrew documented in North Dakota was caught near Medora in 1913.

The recent discoveries were made in an ongoing project involving students who are surveying prairie dog towns.

 

AP

   

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