RESPONSE OF MASKED SHREWS (SORER CINEREUS) TO PRECIPITATION IN IRRIGATED AND NONIRRIGATED FORESTS

Pitfall trapping in wastewater-irrigated and nonirrigated (reference) deciduous forests in central Pennsylvania provided an opportunity to e xamine the activity of the masked shrew (Sorer cinereus) with respect to precipitation in irrigated and natural forest conditions. At refere nce forest sites, masked shrew capture rates increased significantly f ollowing rain (P = 0.02). At irrigated sites, capture rates on rainy n ights did not differ from capture rates on nonrainy nights (P = 0.33). These results suggest that increased moisture at the forest floor may allow longer and more frequent foraging periods not associated with p recipitation.