I saw a Common Shrew at the weekend at South Stack on Anglesey. It was on the cliff path circling round and around chasing its tail. It was oblivious to me and other members of the group I was with as we approached. One of the group gently lifted it up and put it in the grass above the path to prevent it being trod on. The shrew moved down through the grass and a crack in the soil back onto the path where it returned to its tail chasing antics. I placed my hand gently over it and it momentarily calmed down a bit before circling again.
Does anyone know why it would behave like this? I know young shrews hold onto the tails of their mother and siblings and travel along in a sort of caravan line but this looked like an adult. As it was found in the middle of the path I thought it may have received a bump to the head but it had no obvious signs of injury. On looking at the photo it does seem to have a tick underneath its eye.
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