Order Eulipotyphla (Insectivores)

Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus)

Order: Eulipotyphla | Family: Erinaceidae

Biology: An anthropophilic species with primarily nocturnal activity, it has adapted well to human settlements. It reproduces once a year in the spring, following hibernation. Females give birth to 3-8 blind young, which are able to roll up after 11 days. Nursing lasts 1-1.5 months, after which the young hedgehogs begin their independent lives. Sexual maturity is reached in the second year of life.

Habitat: Forest ecosystems, rarely found in steppe areas.

Ecological Role: It consumes invertebrates, young mice, and small reptiles. Its lifespan is 5-7 years, with a maximum recorded longevity of 14 years.

Conservation Status: In the IUCN Red List – LC.

European Mole (Talpa europaea) 

Order: Eulipotyphla | Family: Talpidae

Biology: A solitary, aggressive mammal weighing 60–100 g. In loose soil, a mole can burrow underground in 10–15 seconds, while in compacted soil, it takes 40–45 seconds. They breed once a year, and males are extremely aggressive when competing for females, sometimes consuming the defeated rival. Gestation lasts approximately 40 days, and the female gives birth to 3–10 pups (frequently 5–7). The young become independent after 4–5 weeks of nursing and reach sexual maturity the following year. 

Habitat: Prefers open ecosystems with soft, easy-to-dig soil; also commonly found in forests. Their presence is indicated by characteristic, chaotically arranged molehills. 

Ecological Role: The diet consists primarily of earthworms, but also includes insect larvae, slugs, and millipedes. Their lifespan is 3–5 years. 

Conservation Status: In the IUCN Red List – LC. 

Common Shrew (Sorex araneus) 

Order: Eulipotyphla | Family Soricidae

Biology: A small mammal weighing 7–13 g. It exhibits the Dehnel phenomenon, which involves a reduction in body weight and cranial volume during the autumn. They breed twice a year; gestation lasts 18–20 days, and the female gives birth to 6–8 pups. The young are nursed for three weeks, after which their eyes open and they begin to consume solid food. 

Habitat: A hygrophilous species that favors moist natural environments or areas in the immediate vicinity of water. They are frequently found in forests and avoid open ecosystems. 

Ecological Role: An opportunistic predator that consumes a wide range of invertebrates; their daily food intake is equivalent to their entire body weight. Their lifespan does not exceed two years, with an average of 18 months. 

Conservation Status: In the IUCN Red List – LC. 

Bicolored Shrew (Crocidura leucodon)

Order: Eulipotyphla | Family: Soricidae

Biology: A small species weighing 7–11 g. It breeds 2–3 times a year. Following a gestation period of about 30 days, 4–8 young are born. At approximately 20 days old, the pups begin to venture out with their mother, forming unique "caravans" by gripping the base of the tail or the hip fur of the one in front with their teeth.

Habitat: Meadows, water banks, forest edges, grasslands, open xerophilous terrain, or cleared woodland areas.

Ecological Role: It feeds on a wide variety of invertebrates and occasionally preys on the young of small rodents. By destroying pests and their larvae, they play a vital role in the ecosystem. Their lifespan can reach up to 2 years.

Conservation Status: Listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova [VU] and the IUCN Red List – LC.

Lesser White-toothed Shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) 

Order: Eulipotyphla | Family: Soricidae

Biology: A small mammal weighing 5–8 g. It is the most anthropophilic shrew species. Breeding occurs 2–3 times between March and September, with a gestation period of approximately 28 days. Females give birth to 3–6 pups, each weighing 0.5 g; the young become active within 10 days, are weaned at two weeks, and new generations may reach reproductive age within the same year. A characteristic behavior of this species is the formation of "caravans," where the young cling to one another and follow the mother. 

Habitat: Open areas, forest edges, floodplains, clearings, hedgerows, orchards, and human settlements; they avoid dense forests. 

Ecological Role: Feeds on invertebrates, primarily insects and their larvae. They occasionally prey on the pups of small rodents. Their lifespan is up to 18 months. 

Conservation Status: In the IUCN Red List – LC.