The Northeast States identified the Least Shrew as a Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need. To advance conservation, better information is needed to determine the species distribution and conservation status within the Region. To address this need, we are working with the USGS to develop an eDNA survey protocol that will pilot efforts in Virginia and Maryland. Once the protocol is perfected, the pilot effort will be expanded to cover the species’ entire range to collect critical needed to evaluate the species’ status and infor future conservation strategies.
