Epigeal movement of smoky shrews Sorex fumeus (Miller, 1895) following precipitation was examined in two habitats with different moisture conditions. Shrews and invertebrates were collected in pitfall traps over several consecutive nights each month from August to November 1996 and from March to August 1997. Capture rates of smoky shrews significantly increased following rainfall at dry ridgetop sites (p = 0.001) but not at moist streamside sites (p = 0.335). In mesic environments, favorable conditions on the forest floor not associated with precipitation may increase movements of shrews. Available invertebrate biomass did not increase significantly with rainfall in either habitat type (p = 0.121 and 0.368). Increased surface activity by smoky shrews after rain events is probably related more to their ecophysiology than to increased prey availability.
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