Water shrews live near water and can be found on stream banks, rivers, ponds ans drainage ditches as well as reedbeds and fens. It is the only species of British shrew which can swim. They are active at night so are rarely seen.
Water shrews leave black, cylindrical droppings in piles along their runs through vegetation. They often leave remains of their prey, such as cases of caddis fly larvae, on the banks of streams or on stones.
Water shrew skulls rarely appear in owl pellets. Like all Derbyshire species of shrews, they have red tips to their teeth.