abstract |
The article
presents the research results (2018−2023) on the
trapping method of water shrews in the Ushachi district
of the Vitebsk region. To catch the animals, soil
traps were used, namely 5–6 litres volume cut-off
PET bottles dug in accordance with the shoreline
contour. Their distance from the shoreline was 0.5–1.0
m. Most often, shrews fell into traps placed on
channels (between lakes on rills), as well as in
areas with trees overhanging the other shore, and
near lakes on the ‘peninsulas.’ The maximum distance
from water shrew captures in the surveyed areas
was no more than 30 m which indicates the animals’
low migratory activity in favourable habitats. When
traps are dug further than 10 m from the shore,
rodents (voles and mice) and shrews predominate
in the catches. Shrews were caught under all kinds
of weather conditions. Experiments on catching shrews
using Gero traps installed on floating boards, as
well as soil traps dug along lines as they move
away from the water body, ended without results. |
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