Summary:
I have posted various close-up videos on YouTube of Asian House Shrew, taken from 15 to 30 cm from the animals, at a feeding station at my house in Phuket (Thailand). They visit each evening, and it is probably unusual for these shrews to appear regularly like this. I first filmed them in Dec 2024, using a Samsung phone. In Jan 2025 (Episode #3) I placed my phone 20 cm from the pellets giving close-up footage and audio; you can hear the squeak it gives each time it takes a pellet. Recent footage (2025 Sep) is with a Nikon Z7 and Z8.
Paul Carter: paulcarter@pacapix.com
Posted: 2025 June 5 Updated: 25 Sep 2025
Contents
a) Introduction
b) Videos posted on YouTube
c) Images
d) Links to iNaturalist Posts
A. Introduction
I often video Asian House Shrews at a feeding station at my house in Phuket (Thailand). They visit each evening, usually just before sunset, for protein-rich food pellets (Mynah pet food) that I leave out. I post some of these videos on YouTube where other videos of this species are not filmed from such a close range.
At the feeding station in June 2025 I saw two shrews together for the first time but there may have been multiple shrews before then but unseen by me. They are not that “friendly” when seen together, a little bit of shoulder-barging involved. They are not known for being social animals.
Besides the pellets they also gnawed on coconut that I used to leave out. There is only about 30 m2 of garden outside my fence and they survive in this small area. Predators seen here include cats, snakes (including rat snakes and pythons) and monitor lizards. In June 2025 I found a dead House Shrew on the path here (iNat), the cause of death unknown.
Besides Thailand, I have also photographed Asian House Shrew in Bali and Sri Lanka.
Equipment: I initially used a Samsung phone but in September 2025 I started to use my Nikon z7 and z8 and a RODE microphone. However, the audio on the phone was better than what I was get using the RODE microphone; I am still trying to understand why (advice is welcome).
B. Videos posted on YouTube
Most recent videos are shown first:
Episode 20250921: 2025 Sep 21: Length 1:42 minutes. Filmed with a Nikon Z7 + 50 mm macro lens and a RODE microphone.
Episode #3: 2025 Jan 2. Length: 59 seconds. I placed the phone 20 cm from the pellets giving close-up footage; and you can hear the squeaks each time it takes a pellet.
Episode #1: 2024 Dec 29. Length: 61 seconds. The phone was placed inside the house and against the window.
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C. Images
The animal shown in the first two images below was caught on my balcony (Phuket) and released back into the garden.
D. Links to iNaturalist Posts
Links:
iNat post: Phuket, Thailand: 18 Jan 2019.
iNat post: Phuket, Thailand, 25 June 2025 (dead shrew).
iNat post: Bali, Indonesia: 5 May 2022.
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