Neurotrichus gibbsii
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
The American shrew mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii) is the smallest species of mole. It is the only living member of the genus Neurotrichus and the tribe Neurotrichini. It is also known as Gibb's shrew mole and least shrew mole. It is not closely related to the Asian shrew mole (Uropsilus in Urotrichini). Its shrew-like fur and typical mole head make the common name "shrew mole" fitting.
It is found in damp, forested or bushy areas with deep, loose soils in the northwestern United States and southwestern British Columbia. In the most northern part of its habitat, it lives along streams or moist dense woods and in the most southern part of its habitat, it is found in swampy areas that are overgrown with vegetation such as sedges or shrubs.
Like shrews, it has a pelage with guard hairs and underfur. Its fur is dense and soft. The color ranges from dark gray to a sooty bluish-black. Its tail is about half the length of its head and body. Its tail is also covered with scales and scattered coarse hairs. It has a long, flattened snout, and a short but thick, bristled tail. It is the smallest of the American moles. It is about 10 cm (3.9 in) in length... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Redwood National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Olympic National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
No species of the same family or order lives in Olympic National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other mammals.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report an American Shrew-mole sighting in Olympic National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 25th most-seen of the 27 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June and August–September
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report an American Shrew-mole in Olympic National Park on a given day, against under 5% in July and October–May, the lowest months. Those are among Olympic National Park's driest months, with about 85 mm of rain a month against 370 mm in November.
Between 9 am and noon
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American Shrew-mole sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
2nd of 2
Of the 2 parks where we can rate American Shrew-mole sightings, Olympic National Park ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Redwood National Park (United States, about 20%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the American Shrew-mole is recorded against all the mammals logged in Olympic National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
