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Mammals

NOTES:

Species. Species that are not native to the area are designated with an asterisk (*).

Photos. Links labeled ‘BFS’ are Bernard Field Station photos. Photos on the BFS pages may be used for any personal or academic purposes as long as notification of use is sent to the BFS Director and the image is clearly credited with ©[Name of photographer]. For higher-resolution images, please contact the BFS Director. Note that no photos taken at the BFS may be used for commercial purposes without the express permission of the BFS Director.

‘CP’ links will return all photographs of the listed taxon in the CalPhotos, Digital Library Project database. Note that you must check the stipulations with each photograph for permissible uses of the CalPhotos images.


Common name Species name Photos* Conservation
Status*
Notes

Opossums (Didelphidae):

Virginia Opossum* Didelphis virginiana* CP The Virginia opossum was not originally native to California. It was intentionally introduced into the West during the Great Depression, probably as a source of food.

Free-tailed Bats (Molossidae):

Mexican Free-tailed Bat Tadarida brasiliensis CP

Evening Bats (Vespertilionidae):

Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus CP
Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans
Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus CP
Yuma Myotis Myotis yumanensis
Canyon Bat Parastrellus hesperus CP Formerly Pipistrellus hesperus. Previously observed at the BFS but not confirmed since 2001.

Hares & Rabbits (Leporidae):

San Diego Black-tailed Hare Lepus californicus CP SSC Observed historically on the BFS, but has not been confirmed since 1990.
Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii BFS, CP

Squirrels (Sciuridae):

Merriam's Chipmunk Neotamias merriami BFS, CP Probably accidental. The only record is of one captured by a trail cam. There is no evidence that they are established on the BFS.
California Ground Squirrel Otospermophilus beecheyi BFS, CP
Western Gray Squirrel Sciurus griseus BFS, CP
Fox squirrel* Sciurus niger* BFS, CP Eastern fox squirrels were introduced to Los Angeles around 1904 and have since spread. The first documented sighting at BFS was in 2009, and although they have been seen occasionally since, they have not established at the BFS.

Pocket Gophers (Geomyidae):

Botta’s Pocket Gopher Thomomys bottae CP

Pocket Mice & Kangaroo Rats (Heteromyidae):

Pacific Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys agilis BFS

New World Rats, Mice, Voles, & Relatives (Cricetidae):

California Mouse Peromyscus californicus Observed historically on the BFS, but has not been confirmed since 1990.
Cactus Mouse Peromyscus eremicus CP Observed historically on the BFS, but has not been confirmed since 1990.
Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus BFS, CP
San Diego Desert Woodrat Neotoma bryanti intermedia BFS, CP SSC Formerly Neotoma lepida intermedia.
Big-Eared Woodrat Neotoma macrotis BFS Formerly Neotoma fuscipes macrotis, now elevated to a separate species.
California Vole Microtus californicus BFS, CP
Western Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis BFS, CP

Old World Rats & Mice (Muridae):

Norway Rat* Rattus norvegicus* CP
Roof Rat, Black Rat* Rattus rattus* CP
House Mouse* Mus musculus* CP

Dogs & Foxes (Canidae):

Coyote Canis latrans BFS, CP
Domestic Dog* Canis familiaris*
California Grey Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus BFS, CP

Raccoons & Coatis (Procyonidae):

Raccoon Procyon lotor BFS, CP

Weasels (Mustelidae):

Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata BFS, CP Observed historically on the BFS, but has not been confirmed since 1980.

Skunks (Mephitidae):

Western Spotted Skunk Spilogale gracilis CP
Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis CP

Cats (Felidae):

Bobcat Lynx rufus BFS, CP
Domestic Cat* Felis catus* BFS

*Key:

Conservation Status:
SSC = Species of Special Concern according to California Department of Fish & Wildlife Special Animals List [pdf] - July 2020
Links to Photos and Descriptions:
BFS = Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station. Most of the mammals were photographed at the BFS. Additional photographs taken elsewhere have been generously provided to the BFS by Claremont Colleges faculty, students, staff, and additional photographers.
CP = CalPhotos, Digital Library Project, UC Berkeley. Clicking the CalPhotos link for a listing will return a display of all photos for that taxon. If you want to use any of these photos, be sure to check the guidelines for Using the Photos in CalPhotos

© 2001-2020 Bernard Field Station
Page last updated 1 February 2021 by Nancy Hamlett.