Lutra 56(2)_Margry_2013_lowres

A new record of taiga shrew (Sorex isodon Turov, 1924), from Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

The taiga shrew (Sorex isodon) has been known to be present in Norway since 1968, initially in the counties of Troms and Hedmark, and, more recently, in Sogn og Fjordane County. In the summer of 2011 a dead specimen was found outside its known distribution area in Sogn og Fjordane County, at an altitude of 800 m. This raises some questions, since the taiga shrew is known as a lowland species which prefers dense vegetation. One explanation for its presence at a high altitude is that it was dropped by a bird of prey after being caught at a lower altitude.