State Mammal List
Unlike birds, mammals have received comparatively scant attention in
Massachusetts. Except for those of sporting or economic interest and
a few highly adaptable species such as the gray squirrel, most mammals
were traditionally ignored or overlooked. Misconceptions and difficulties
in identification have contributed to a general lack of interest, but
a growing environmental awareness has awakened a new realization of
the diversity, abundance, and values of the state's mammalian fauna.
This list is intended to broaden that awareness. Keep in mind that many
species are nocturnal, reclusive, or localized in distribution. Specific
identification may also require the examination of teeth or other characters
which are difficult to observe. Those species appearing on the current
list of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern species in Massachusetts
are indicated with an asterisk (*) .
James E. Cardoza, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries
& Wildlife
Gwilym S. Jones, Center for Vertebrate Studies, Dept.
Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Thomas W. French, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries
& Wildlife
DIDELPHIMORPHIA: Didelphidae (New World Opossums)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Virginia Opossum |
Didelphis virginiana |
Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties. |
SIRENIA: Trichechidae (Manatees and Dugongs)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| West Indian Manatee |
Trichechus manatus |
Accidental vagrant. Sightings in Barnstable & Bristol
counties, 2006 & 2008 (photographed). |
RODENTIA: Sciuridae (Tree Squirrels and Marmots)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Eastern
Gray Squirrel |
Sciurus carolinensis |
Statewide. Recently introduced to Nantucket. |
| Red
Squirrel |
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus |
Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties. |
| Northern Flying Squirrel |
Glaucomys sabrinus |
Northeastern, central and western Massachusetts. No
recent records. |
| Southern Flying Squirrel |
Glaucomys volans |
Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties. |
| Woodchuck |
Marmota monax |
Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties. |
| Eastern Chipmunk |
Tamias striatus |
Statewide except Nantucket County. |
RODENTIA: Castoridae (American Beaver)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| American
Beaver |
Castor canadensis |
Northeastern, central & western Mass. Occasional in
southeastern Mass. |
RODENTIA: Dipodidae (Jumping Mice)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Woodland Jumping Mouse |
Napaeozapus insignis |
Central and western Massachusetts. |
| Meadow Jumping Mouse |
Zapus hudsonius |
Statewide. |
RODENTIA: Cricetidae (Mice, Voles, and Lemmings)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Meadow Vole |
Microtus pennsylvanicus |
Statewide. The vole of Muskeget Is., Nantucket County, is sometimes
considered a separate species, M. breweri. |
| Woodland Vole |
Microtus pinetorum |
Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties. |
| Southern Red-backed Vole |
Myodes gapperi |
Statewide except Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. |
| Common Muskrat |
Ondatra zibethicus |
Statewide except Nantucket County. |
| Southern
Bog Lemming* |
Synaptomys cooperi |
Reported from Franklin, Hampshire, Plymouth & Worcester counties.
May occur elsewhere in areas of suitable habitat. Listed as “Special
Concern”. |
| White-footed Deermouse |
Peromyscus leucopus |
Statewide. |
| North American Deermouse |
Peromyscus maniculatus |
Central and western Massachusetts. |
RODENTIA: Muridae (Old World Rats and Mice)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| House Mouse |
Mus musculus |
Introduced. Nearly statewide; distribution spotty. Apparently
absent from Martha’s Vineyard. |
| Brown Rat |
Rattus norvegicus |
Introduced. Statewide. |
| Roof (Black) Rat |
Rattus rattus |
Introduced. Formerly occurred in vicinity of large cities & seaports.
Now eradicated. |
RODENTIA: Erethizontidae (New World Porcupines)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| North American Porcupine |
Erethizon dorsatum |
Northeastern, central and western Massachusetts. Recent
reports from Barnstable & Plymouth counties. |
LAGOMORPHA: Leporidae (Hares and Rabbits)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Black-tailed Jackrabbit |
Lepus californicus |
Introduced. Now found only on Nantucket Island. May
be extirpated. |
| Snowshoe Hare |
Lepus americanus |
Statewide except Dukes & possibly Nantucket counties.
Also introduced, principally L. a. americanus. |
| European Hare |
Lepus europaeus |
Unsuccessfully introduced in Berkshire County and
elsewhere prior to the 1930s. Now absent. |
| European Rabbit |
Oryctolagus cuniculus |
Widely introduced in the 1920s and 1930. Feral populations
may still exist on some Boston Harbor islands. |
| Eastern
Cottontail |
Sylvilagus floridanus |
Statewide. Introduced; principally S. f. mallurus
& S. f. alacer (mearnsi). |
| New
England Cottontail |
Sylvilagus transitionalis |
Formerly occurred statewide. Distribution now spotty;
extirpated from Dukes & Nantucket counties. |
SORICOMORPHA: Soricidae (Shrews)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Northern Short-tailed Shrew |
Blarina brevicauda |
Statewide. |
| Cinereus Shrew |
Sorex cinereus |
Statewide. |
| Long-tailed
Shrew* |
Sorex dispar |
Berkshire County only. Listed as “Special Concern”. |
| Smoky Shrew |
Sorex fumeus |
Central and western Massachusetts. |
| American Pygmy Shrew |
Sorex hoyi |
One record, Berkshire County, 1991. |
| American
Water Shrew* |
Sorex palustris |
Reported from Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire
& Worcester counties. Listed as “Special Concern”. |
SORICOMORPHA: Talpidae (Moles and Shrew-Moles)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Star-nosed Mole |
Condylura cristata |
Statewide except Dukes & Nantucket counties. |
| Hairy-tailed Mole |
Parascalops breweri |
Northeastern, central and western Massachusetts. The
putative type locality of “Martha’s Vineyard” is undoubtedly erroneous. |
| Eastern Mole |
Scalopus aquaticus |
Southern Connecticut River valley, southern Plymouth
County, and Barnstable, Dukes & Nantucket counties. |
CHIROPTERA: Vespertilionidae (Vesper Bats)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Big Brown Bat |
Eptesicus fuscus |
Statewide. Status hypothetical in Dukes & Nantucket
counties. |
| Eastern Red Bat |
Lasiurus borealis |
Migratory. May occur statewide. |
| Hoary Bat |
Lasiurus cinereus |
Migratory. May occur statewide. |
| Eastern Pipistrelle |
Pipistrellus subflavus |
Statewide. Status hypothetical in Dukes & Nantucket
counties. |
| Silver-haired Bat |
Lasionycteris noctivagans |
Migratory. May occur statewide. |
| Eastern
Small-footed Bat* |
Myotis leibii |
Reported from Berkshire & Hampden counties. Listed
as “Special Concern”. |
| Little Brown Myotis |
Myotis lucifugus |
Statewide. |
| Northern Myotis |
Myotis septentrionalis |
Probably statewide. Hypothetical on Nantucket. |
| Indiana
Bat* |
Myotis sodalis |
Probably extirpated; last recorded in 1939. Reported
from Berkshire, Hampden & Worcester counties. Listed as “Endangered”. |
CARNIVORA: Felidae (Cats)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Domestic
Cat |
Felis catus |
Statewide; feral. |
| Canadian Lynx |
Lynx canadensis |
Extirpated. Recorded Hampshire County (1866) & Worcester
County (1884-85). Questionable reports from 1930s may be misidentified
bobcats. At least 2 records in 1991 were wandering lynx from a New
York release. U.S. Threatened. |
| Bobcat |
Lynx rufus |
Northeastern, central & western Mass. Occasional records
in southeastern Mass. |
Cougar (Mountain
Lion)
(external link)
|
Puma concolor |
Extirpated; last known record ~1858. Recent sight
records are unverified. One confirmed scat, Franklin County (Quabbin
Res.), in 1997. U.S. Endangered as Felis concolor couguar. |
CARNIVORA: Canidae (Dogs, Foxes, and Wolves)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Coyote |
Canis latrans |
Nearly statewide, including Elizabeth Is. Absent from
Martha’s Vineyard & Nantucket. The taxonomy of coyotes and wolves
is contentious and other classifications have been proposed. |
| Wolf |
Canis lupus |
Extirpated from Mass. by ~1840. One later record (1918)
probably an escaped captive. One record in Franklin County, 2007.
U.S. Endangered as C. l. lycaon. |
| Domestic Dog |
Canis lupus familiaris |
Statewide; occasionally feral. |
| Gray
Fox |
Urocyon cinereoargenteus |
Statewide except Dukes, Nantucket & possibly Suffolk
counties. |
| Red
Fox |
Vulpes vulpes |
Distribution in presettlement period not well known.
Widely introduced from Europe in the 1700s. Now statewide except
Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. |
CARNIVORA: Ursidae (Bears)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| American
Black Bear |
Ursus americanus |
Northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts. |
CARNIVORA: Odobenidae (Walruses)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Walrus |
Odobenus rosmarus |
Accidental vagrant. Recorded in Essex (1937) and Plymouth
(1734) counties. |
CARNIVORA: Phocidae (Earless or Hair Seals)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Hooded Seal |
Cystophora cristata |
Annual vagrant; recorded from Dukes, Essex, Nantucket
& Plymouth counties. |
| Bearded Seal |
Erignathus barbatus |
One record, Essex County, 2002. |
| Gray Seal |
Halichoerus grypus |
Resident in Barnstable, Dukes & Nantucket county waters.
Also recorded elsewhere in Mass. as a northern vagrant. |
| Harp Seal |
Pagophilus groenlandica |
Annual vagrant; recorded Barnstable, Dukes, Essex,
Nantucket, Plymouth & Suffolk counties. |
| Harbor Seal |
Phoca vitulina |
Coastal Massachusetts. |
| Ringed Seal |
Pusa hispida |
Rare vagrant along north coastal areas of Massachusetts. |
CARNIVORA: Mustelidae (Weasels, Minks, Martens, and Otters)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| North American River Otter |
Lontra canadensis |
Statewide except Nantucket and possibly Suffolk counties.
Two records on Nantucket (beached carcass, 1984; tracks and tail
drag mark, 2007). |
| Wolverine |
Gulo gulo |
Extirpated. Reported to occur in western Massachusetts
prior to 1835. |
| American Marten |
Martes americana |
Extirpated. Formerly central and western Mass. Last
known record, Worcester County, 1880. One vagrant from a Vermont
release was taken in Worcester County in 1992. A 1993 Worcester
County record is believed to be an escape from a fur farm. |
| Fisher |
Martes pennanti |
Statewide except Dukes & Nantucket counties. Range
expansion into Barnstable County first confirmed in 2006. |
| Ermine |
Mustela erminea |
Statewide except Dukes & Nantucket counties. |
| Long-tailed Weasel |
Mustela frenata |
Statewide except Dukes & Nantucket counties. |
| American Mink |
Neovison vison |
Statewide except Nantucket County. The extinct sea
mink (N. macrodon) formerly occurred in coastal Massachusetts. |
CARNIVORA: Mephitidae (Skunks)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Striped
Skunk |
Mephitis mephitis |
Statewide except Nantucket County. |
CARNIVORA: Procyonidae (Raccoons, Coatis, and Ringtails)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Raccoon |
Procyon lotor |
Statewide except Nantucket County. |
ARTIODACTYLA: Cervidae (Deer, Elk, and Moose)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Moose |
Alces americanus |
Resident in northeastern, central & western Mass.
Vagrants may occur in southeastern Massachusetts. |
| White-tailed
Deer |
Odocoileus virginianus |
Statewide. |
| Wapiti (Elk) |
Cervus elaphus |
Extirpated. Occurred infrequently in western Mass.
in colonial times. Last known record, Worcester County, ~1732. |
| Fallow Deer |
Dama dama |
Introduced, Dukes County. None reported since the
early 1980s. |
CETACEA: Balaenidae (Right and Bowhead Whales)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Northern Right Whale* |
Eubalaena glacialis |
Formerly stranded frequently. Recorded from waters
of Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket & Plymouth counties. Listed
as “Endangered”. |
CETACEA: Balaenopteridae (Rorqual Whales)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Common Minke Whale |
Balaenoptera acutorostrata |
Inshore waters; stranded Barnstable, Dukes, Essex,
Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth & Suffolk counties. |
| Sei Whale* |
Balaenoptera borealis |
Stranded in Barnstable (1910 & 1974), Essex (2007),
and Plymouth (1948) counties. Listed as “Endangered”. |
| Blue Whale* |
Balaenoptera musculus |
One questionable stranding, Essex County, 1755. Recent
near-shore records. Listed as “Endangered”. |
| Fin Whale* |
Balaenoptera physalus |
Formerly common offshore. Stranded in Barnstable,
Dukes, Essex, and Plymouth counties. Listed as “Endangered”. |
| Humpback
Whale* |
Megaptera novaeangliae |
Stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, Norfolk,
Plymouth, and Suffolk counties. Listed as “Endangered”. |
CETACEA: Delphinidae (Dolphins and Pilot Whales)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Short-beaked Common Dolphin |
Delphinus delphis |
Reported from Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes & Nantucket
counties. |
| Short-finned Pilot Whale |
Globicephala macrorhynchus |
One record, Dukes County, 1980. |
| Long-finned Pilot Whale |
Globicephala melas |
Occurs in schools, frequently stranded. Reported from
Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, and Nantucket counties. |
| Risso’s Dolphin |
Grampus griseus |
Offshore; stranded in Barnstable, Dukes & Norfolk
counties. |
| Atlantic White-sided Dolphin |
Lagenorhynchus acutus |
Coastal waters; stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex,
Nantucket & Norfolk counties. |
| White-beaked Dolphin |
Lagenorhynchus albirostris |
Coastal waters; reported from Barnstable and Essex
counties. |
| Killer Whale |
Orcinus orca |
Offshore waters; stranded in Barnstable & Dukes counties;
observed in Plymouth & Suffolk County waters. |
| Pantropical Spotted Dolphin |
Stenella attenuata |
Four records; coastal Massachusetts. |
| Striped Dolphin |
Stenella coeruleoalba |
Pelagic; reported from Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket
& Plymouth counties. |
| Bottle-nose Dolphin |
Tursiops truncatus |
Inshore waters; stranded in Barnstable & Plymouth
counties. |
CETACEA: Monodontidae (Belugas and Narwhals)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Beluga |
Delphinapterus leucas |
Observed in waters of Barnstable, Dukes & Essex counties;
killed in Barnstable County (prior to 1904) and stranded in Dukes
County (1983). |
CETACEA: Phocoenidae (Porpoises)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Harbor Porpoise |
Phocoena phocoena |
Coastal waters; reported from Barnstable, Bristol,
Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, Plymouth & Suffolk counties. |
CETACEA: Physeteridae (Sperm and Pygmy Sperm Whales)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Pygmy Sperm Whale |
Kogia breviceps |
Offshore waters. Stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex,
Norfolk & Plymouth counties and recorded in Bristol County waters. |
| Dwarf Sperm Whale |
Kogia sima |
Stranded in Nantucket (2009) and Plymouth (1991) counties |
| Sperm Whale* |
Physeter catodon |
Formerly abundant offshore. Strandings in Barnstable,
Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, and Plymouth counties. Listed as “Endangered” |
CETACEA: Ziphiidae (Beaked Whales)
| Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Distribution |
| Northern Bottle-nose Whale |
Hyperoodon ampullatus |
Pelagic; stranded in Barnstable (1869) and Essex (1923)
counties. |
| Sowerby’s Beaked Whale |
Mesoplodon bidens |
Two records, Nantucket County (1867 & 1973). |
| Blainville’s Beaked Whale |
Mesoplodon densirostris |
One record, Essex County, 1898. |
| Gervais’ Beaked Whale |
Mesoplodon europaeus |
One record, Barnstable County, 1997. |
| True’s Beaked Whale |
Mesoplodon mirus |
One record, Nantucket County, 1982. |
| Cuvier’s Beaked Whale |
Ziphius cavirostris |
Pelagic; strandings in Barnstable (1958 & 1961); Norfolk
(2007) & Dukes (1963) counties. |
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Last Updated: February 20, 2009
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