The North American least shrew rarely lives more than a year. The North American least shrew is listed as endangered in Connecticut. It is also known as Gibb's shrew mole and least shrew mole. The North American least shrew will try to defend itself with its venomous saliva. The North American least shrew species, "Cryptotis parva", then arose from the genus "Cryptotis". The North American least shrew mostly dwells in mesic grasslands, marshes, and meadows.