The next time you think you can’t do something challenging just because you’re too young, it may be worth reconsidering.
A group of college students recently photographed a tiny mammal in California that managed to dodge cameras since it was first identified nearly 100 years ago!
The tiny Mount Lyell shrew was first identified in 1902. The mammal weighs in at 2 to 3 grams, which is just a fraction of a pound, and is less than 4 inches long. Until recently, it was the only known mammal in California that had never been photographed. The little critters are ELUSIVE, spending most of their time underground, and one had not been trapped or recorded in 20 years.
Three college students set out to change that last November. After getting a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vishal Subramanyan, Prakrit Jain, Harper Forbes, set out for a three-night field expedition. As high schoolers, Jain and Forbes discovered and named a new species of scorpion. Forbes is now a student at University of Arizona, while Jain and Subramanyan are attending college in California.
The group camped out, setting up traps with insects to attract the shrews. Subramanyan, Jain and Forbes could only sleep for two hours at a time because they had to keep a close eye on their traps—photographing and quickly releasing the shrews so they could safely return to their habitat.
The young researchers captured 15 shrews of four different species, including the Mount Lyell shrew. The researchers are hoping that their photograph will help build public recognition of the tiny critters and support for conservation efforts. California lists the Mount Lyell shrew as a mammal species of special concern, which is a designation that offers the shrew some protection.
“Photography is really important for cataloging biodiversity on a rapidly changing planet,” Subramanyan said. “When it comes to California’s shrews, there’s so few good photos out there. So taking these photos that haven’t really been taken before helps the public understand and foster a connection with these animals.”
