List of mammals of Massachusetts


This is a list of mammals of Massachusetts. It includes all mammals currently living in Massachusetts, whether resident or as migrants. For the most part, it does not include each mammal's specific habitat, but instead shows the mammal's range in the state and its abundance. For a look at these mammals' habitats, see List of mammals of Connecticut. This list does not include the American bison and caribou, which have been reported archaeologically, but disappeared after European settlers came to the state. It also does not include the fox squirrel, which only occurs accidentally.

Bats

NameSpecies/authorityOrderFamilyRange and statusIUCN Red List
Big brown bat
Eptesicus fuscus
Beauvois, 1796
ChiropteraVespertilionidaeCommon, live statewide
7
Silver-haired bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
Le Conte, 1831
ChiropteraVespertilionidaeMigratory, uncommon, statewide
7
Eastern red bat
Lasiurus borealis
Müller, 1776
ChiropteraVespertilionidaeMigratory, common, statewide
7
Hoary bat
Lasiurus cinereus
Beauvois, 1796
ChiropteraVespertilionidaeMigratory, rarely seen, statewide
7
Eastern small-footed myotis
Myotis leibii
Audubon & Bachman, 1842
ChiropteraVespertilionidaeBerkshire and Hampden counties, extremely rare, listed as special concern
7
Little brown bat
Myotis lucifugus
Le Conte, 1831
ChiropteraVespertilionidaeEndangered, distribution spotty
7
Northern long-eared myotis
Myotis septentrionalis
Trouessart, 1897
ChiropteraVespertilionidaeEndangered, distribution spotty, reportedly breeding in Martha's Vineyard
7
Indiana bat
Myotis sodalis
Miller & Allen, 1928
ChiropteraVespertilionidaeVery rare, Western Massachusetts only, listed as endangered in the state and federally
7
Tricolored bat
Perimyotis subflavus
Cuvier, 1832
ChiropteraVespertilionidaeEndangered, distribution spotty
7

NameSpecies/authorityOrderFamilyRange and statusIUCN Red List
American black bear
Ursus americanus
CarnivoraUrsidaeLocally common to uncommon; found in most of the state, however not common in southeast Massachusetts.
7
Coyote
Canis latrans
CarnivoraCanidaeCommon; statewide except Nantucket; three records from Martha's Vineyard, but has yet to be established
7
Eastern wolf
Canis lupus lycaon
CarnivoraCanidaeExtirpated; last reported in 1840, although there were two sighting in 1918 and 2007 in Franklin County
7
Gray fox
Urocyon cineroargentatus
CarnivoraCanidaeCommon; statewide except Dukes, Nantucket, and Suffolk counties
7
Red fox
Vulpes vulpes fulves
CarnivoraCanidaeCommon; statewide except Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
7
Hooded seal
Cystophora cristata
CarnivoraPhocidaeUncommon winter visitor reported from Essex, Plymouth, Dukes, Nantucket, Barnstable, and Suffolk counties
7
Bearded seal
Erignathus barbatus
CarnivoraPhocidaeOne record; Essex County
7
Grey seal
Halichoerus grypus
CarnivoraPhocidaeFound in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties; Population has increased after seal hunting became illegal in 1962, known pupping sights are in Monomoy and Muskeget islands
7
Harp seal
Pagophilus groenlandicus
CarnivoraPhocidaeCommon winter visitor; reported from Plymouth, Suffolk, Essex, and Barnstable counties. Sightings are increasing, especially in winter
7
Harbor seal
Phoca vitulina
CarnivoraPhocidaeA common seal in Massachusetts. Found in coastal areas, including Barnstable, Suffolk, Essex, and Plymouth counties. Regular winter visitor in Cape Cod and the islands. Originally bred in the state but no known breeding areas. However, pups have been reported in Plymouth
7
Ringed seal
Pusa hispida
CarnivoraPhocidaeUncommon in Massachusetts; most seen in winter
7
Canada lynx
Lynx canadensis
CarnivoraFelidaeExtirpated; formerly Central and Western Massachusetts; reported in Hampshire and Worcester counties, questionable reports in the 1930s were probably bobcats, two records in 1991
7
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
CarnivoraFelidaeCommon in Northeastern, Central and Western Massachusetts, but rare in Southeastern Massachusetts, the Cape, and absent in the islands
7
Eastern cougar
Puma concolor couguar
CarnivoraFelidaeExtirpated; last known record was in 1858. However, In 1997, a DNA testing of feces found in the Quabbin Reservoir in Franklin County was that of a cougar, although it could have been an escaped captive
7
Wolverine
Gulo gulo
CarnivoraMustelidaeExtirpated; lasted reported in 1835, formerly Western Massachusetts
7
North American river otter
Lontra canadensis
CarnivoraMustelidaeCommon; statewide except Suffolk County; records in Nantucket in 1984 and 2007
7
American marten
Martes americana
CarnivoraMustelidaeExtirpated; formerly Central, Western, and possibly northeastern Massachusetts; last reported in Worcester County although two records in 1992 and 1993 may have come from Vermont
7
Fisher
Martes pennanti
CarnivoraMustelidaeCommon; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Stoat
Mustela erminea
CarnivoraMustelidaeCommon; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties; rare in Cape Cod
7
Long-tailed weasel
Mustela frenata
CarnivoraMustelidaeCommon; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Sea mink
Neovison macrodon
CarnivoraMustelidae Formerly Coastal Massachusetts; became extinct from overtrapping
7
American mink
Neovison vison
CarnivoraMustelidaeCommon; statewide except Nantucket, possibly extirpated from Martha's Vineyard
7
Walrus
Odobenus rosmarus
CarnivoraOdobenidaeRare vagrant. Reported from Essex and Plymouth counties
7
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
CarnivoraProcyonidaeCommon, statewide except Nantucket
7
Striped skunk
Mephitis mephitis
CarnivoraMephitidaeCommon, statewide except the Elizabeth Islands and Nantucket
7

Cetacea

NameSpecies/authorityOrderFamilyRange and statusIUCN Red List
Bowhead whale
Balaena mysticetus
CetaceaBalaenidaeOccasionally seen in winter; probably uncommon
7
North Atlantic right whale
Eubalaena glacialis
CetaceaBalaenidaeUncommon, winter and spring visitor in Cape Cod Bay
7
Northern bottlenose whale
Hyperoodon ampullatus
CetaceaZiphiidaeRare, pelagic, stranded in Barnstable and Essex counties
7
Sowerby's beaked whale
Mesoplodon bidens
CetaceaZiphiidaeOnly two records in Nantucket
7
Blainville's beaked whale
Mesoplodon densirostris
CetaceaZiphiidaeOne record in Essex County
7
Gervais' beaked whale
Mesoplodon europaeus
CetaceaZiphiidaeOne record in Cape Cod
7
True's beaked whale
Mesoplodon mirus
CetaceaZiphiidaeOne record in Nantucket
7
Cuvier's beaked whale
Ziphius cavirostris
CetaceaZiphiidaePelagic, stranded in Barnstable, Norfolk, and Dukes counties
7
Beluga whale
Delphinapterus leucas
CetaceaMonodontidaeVagrant, observed in the waters of Essex, Barnstable, Dukes, and Bristol counties
7
Short-beaked common dolphin
Delphinus delphis
CetaceaDelphinidaeUncommon, found in Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Nantucket counties
7
Long-finned pilot whale
Globicephala melas
CetaceaDelphinidaeUncommon, occurs in schools and is frequently stranded
7
Short-finned pilot whale
Globicephala macrorhynchus
CetaceaDelphinidaeUncommon, occurs in schools, primarily found in warmer waters offshore
7
Risso's dolphin
Grampus griseus
CetaceaDelphinidaeUncommon, offshore waters, stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, and Norfolk counties
7
Atlantic white-sided dolphin
Lagenorhynchus acutus
CetaceaDelphinidaeCommon, found in coastal waters, stranded in Norfolk, Essex, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket
7
White-beaked dolphin
Lagenorhynchus albirostris
CetaceaDelphinidaeRare, found in coastal waters, reported from Barnstable and Essex counties
7
Killer whale
Orcinus orca
CetaceaDelphinidaeRare, offshore waters, stranded in Barnstable and Dukes counties, observed in Plymouth and Suffolk counties
7
Pantropical spotted dolphin
Stenella attenuata
CetaceaDelphinidaeUncommon, found in offshore waters
7
Striped dolphin
Stenella coeruleoalba
CetaceaDelphinidaeRare, pelagic, reported from Dukes, Nantucket, Plymouth, Barnstable, and Essex counties
7
Atlantic spotted dolphin
Stenella frontalis
CetaceaDelphinidaeRare, reported from Nantucket and Dukes counties
7
Common bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
CetaceaDelphinidaeRare, found in inshore waters, stranded in Barnstable and Plymouth counties
7
Pygmy sperm whale
Kogia breviceps
CetaceaPhyseteroideaRare, found in offshore waters, stranded in Barnstable, Plymouth, Essex, Norfolk, and Dukes counties, recorded in Bristol County waters
7
Dwarf sperm whale
Kogia sima
CetaceaPhyseteroideaRarely seen, stranded in Nantucket and Plymouth counties, distinguished from the pygmy sperm whale by being smaller and having a larger dorsal fin
7
Sperm whale
Physeter macrocephalus
CetaceaPhyseteroideaRare, formerly abundant offshore, stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, and Plymouth counties. The largest toothed whale. Dives deep to hunt for food
7
Harbour porpoise
Phocoena phocoena
CetaceaPhocoenidaeCommon, found entirely in coastal waters
7
Common minke whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
CetaceaRorqualCommon, found in the inshore waters, stranded in Norfolk, Essex, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties
7
Sei whale
Balaenoptera borealis
CetaceaRorqualFound in Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay, stranded in Cape Cod, Essex, and Plymouth counties, endangered and rare in Massachusetts
7
Blue whale
Balaenoptera musculus
CetaceaRorqualOne questionable stranding in Essex County reported in 1755, Recent near-shore records, endangered and rare in Massachusetts
7
Fin whale
Balaenoptera physalus
CetaceaRorqualCommon but endangered, stranded in Barnstable, Essex, Dukes, and Plymouth counties
7
Humpback whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
CetaceaRorqualCommon but endangered, stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties
7

Even-toed ungulates

NameSpecies/authorityOrderFamilyRange and statusIUCN Red List
Moose
Alces alces
ArtiodactylaCervidaeCommon; found in north, central Western, and northeast Massachusetts, but can be found in Eastern. Total population is over 1000
7
Elk
Cervus canadensis
ArtiodactylaCervidaeExtirpated; formerly Western Massachusetts; last record in Worcester County in 1732
7
Fallow deer
Dama dama
ArtiodactylaCervidaeIntroduced in Dukes County; last reported in 1980
7
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
ArtiodactylaCervidaeCommon; statewide
7

Lagomorpha

NameSpecies/authorityOrderFamilyRange and statusIUCN Red List
Snowshoe hare
Lepus americanus
LagomorphaLeporidaeCommon; statewide except Dukes County; introduced to Nantucket
7
Black-tailed jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
LagomorphaLeporidaeIntroduced, uncommon; found only in Nantucket
7
European hare
Lepus europaeus
LagomorphaLeporidaeIntroduced; found in Berkshire County
7
European rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
LagomorphaLeporidaeIntroduced; found in Lovells Island and Gallops Island
7
Eastern cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
LagomorphaLeporidaeIntroduced, common, statewide
7
New England cottontail
Sylvilagus transitionalis
LagomorphaLeporidaeRare, formerly common and found statewide, now found only in Cape Cod, Nantucket, and southwestern Massachusetts
7

Opossums

NameSpecies/authorityOrderFamilyRange and statusIUCN Red List
Virginia opossum
Didelphis virginiana
DidelphimorphiaDidelphinaeCommon; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7

Rodents

NameSpecies/authorityOrderFamilyRange and statusIUCN Red List
North American beaver
Castor canadensis
RodentiaCastoridaeCommon; northeastern, Central, and Western Massachusetts
7
Beach vole
Microtus breweri
RodentiaCricetidaeMuskeget Island
7
Meadow vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus
RodentiaCricetidaeCommon; statewide
7
Woodland vole
Microtus pinetorum
RodentiaCricetidaeLocally common; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Southern red-backed vole
Myodes gapperi
RodentiaCricetidaeCommon; statewide except Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
7
Allegheny woodrat
Neotoma magister
RodentiaCricetidaeExtirpated; May have occurred in southwestern Berkshire County but if so is now undoubtedly extirpated
7
Muskrat
Ondantra zibethicus
RodentiaCricetidaeCommon; statewide except Nantucket
7
White-footed mouse
Peromyscus leucopus
RodentiaCricetidaeCommon; statewide
7
Deer mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus
RodentiaCricetidaeCommon; Central and Western Massachusetts
7
Southern bog lemming
Synaptomys cooperi
RodentiaCricetidaeVery rare; listed as special concern. Known from the towns of Plymouth, Wareham, New Salem, Ware, and Belchertown
7
Woodland jumping mouse
Napaeozapus insignis
RodentiaDipodidaeCommon; Central and Western Massachusetts
7
Meadow jumping mouse
Zapus hudsonius
RodentiaDipodidaeCommon; statewide
7
House mouse
Mus musculus
RodentiaMuridaeIntroduced; statewide except Martha's Vineyard
7
Brown rat
Rattus norvegicus
RodentiaMuridaeIntroduced; statewide
7
Black rat
Rattus rattus
RodentiaMuridaeIntroduced; eradicated
7
North American porcupine
Erethizon dorsatum
RodentiaNew World porcupineCommon; northeastern, Central, and Western Massachusetts
7
Northern flying squirrel
Glaucomys sabrinus
RodentiaSciuridaeUncommon; northeastern, Central, and Western Massachusetts
7
Southern flying squirrel
Glaucomys volans
RodentiaSciuridaeCommon; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Groundhog
Marmota monax
RodentiaSciuridaeCommon; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Eastern gray squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
RodentiaSciuridaeCommon; statewide, introduced in Nantucket
There is also a subgroup of melanistic eastern gray squirrel that was introduced into western Massachusetts known as a black squirrel
7
American red squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
RodentiaSciuridaeCommon; statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties
7
Eastern chipmunk
Tamias striatus
RodentiaSciuridaeCommon; statewide except Nantucket
7

Eulipotyphla

Sorcidae

Talpidae