A sizable knowledge gap exists regarding ecological interactions of the Buena Vista Lake shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus), a federally endangered small mammal endemic to the San Joaquin Valley of California. No studies have examined the effect of abiotic factors on S. o. relictus activity patterns. To deepen our knowledge of S. o. relictus and identify potential challenges to their persistence, I used camera trap data collected at four sites in the southern San Joaquin Valley between 2016 and 2020 to associate the occurrence of S. o. relictus at bait stations with corresponding abiotic conditions. I determined that ambient air temperature was the most supported variable to predict the presence or absence of S. o. relictus at bait stations. An inverse association exists between S. o. relictus presence and ambient air temperature, where the predicted probability of shrew presence increased as air temperature decreased. My results can potentially inform a reevaluation of the air temperature parameters in the current survey protocol for detecting S. o. relictus presence. Doing so may increase the probability of detecting S. o. relictus, a critical component of conservation efforts, and aid the well-being of an endemic, endangered subspecies.