There is something inherently appealing about finding an animal few have seen in the wilderness . This could be a “ recede ” species or a particularlyrare beast , but for students at University of California , Berkeley , it was the phonograph record of a shrew that had not been seen in 20 year and had never been photographed that suck them to an ambitious project .
The Mount Lyell shrewmouse ( Sorex lyelli ) is a tiny little critter , measuring just 10 centimeters ( 3.9 inches ) long and weigh only 2 - 3 Hans C. J. Gram ( 0.1 ounces ) . The shrew is found only in the Eastern Sierra Nevada region and was first identified in 1902 , but thanks to its elusive and mostly underground lifestyle , it has never been snap before . This makes the Mount Lyell shrew the only known Californian mammal never to be photographed , until now .
To students Vishal Subramanyan , Prakrit Jain , and Harper Forbes , this seemed like too effective of a challenge to drop . After insure permits and inspired by a previous project little mammal housing , the trio set off trekking for three night into the mountains of the Eastern Sierra .
“ California is one of the most well - studied places in the world , and yet there ’s a mammal species in California that ’s never been photographed live . That was shocking to us , ” Subramanyan toldThe Guardian .
To overtake the shrews , the team set up 150 pitfall traps baited with worms and guy food , which they insure every two hours to ensure the benefit of the shrewmouse . It was n’t long before they take gold . “ It was kind of go , go , go , ” Subramanyan toldSFGATE . “ You trap some shrews , you shoot them , you release them , and by that clip there are more shrew . So it was jolly day-and-night . ”
As well as the Mount Lyell shrew , the squad also enchant individuals from three other shrew metal money . They pile up photographs , measurements , and samples to confirm the identity of the species .
“ I would love to say we spent three days waiting , and the shrew lastly appeared at the last second , ” Subramanyan told theSan Francisco Standard . “ But we puzzle the Mount Lyell within the first two hours . ”
The researchers go for that their task will elevate awareness about the Mount Lyell shrew . presently , while not think an endangered mintage , it is listed as a mammal specie of particular concern . The species is even predicted to lose89 percentof its home ground by the 2080s due to climate change .
