This animal inhabits open and wooded areas in western Canada and the United States west of the Continental Divide.

[3] In Canada, it is found in southern British Columbia, including Vancouver Island, and as far east as extreme south-western Alberta.

[4] Their preferred habitat appears to be wet grassland and meadows, ranging from alpine tundra to swampland, and they are often found close to rivers or other sources of water.

[7] Vagrant shrews are generally red brown in color with white or grey underparts, although coastal populations can be much darker, being almost black on the upper parts of the body.

It can most readily be distinguished from Trowbridge's shrew by examining fine details of the shape of the skull, although the latter species also tends to have a more distinctly pale underside to the tail in adults.

[3] The fall molt occurs between September and October, beginning firstly on the rump and progressing forwards, and then, separately, on the snout, and moving backwards.

They are generally solitary outside the spring breeding season, defending home ranges of around 1,000 m2 (11,000 sq ft), by squeaking and making short charges at intruders, although actual fighting is rare.

[citation needed] Vagrant shrews primarily breed between April and June, although births may occur as early as February, or as late as September.