List of mammals of Maryland facts for kids

Maryland is home to many different kinds of mammals, from tiny mice to huge whales! This list tells you about the mammals that live in Maryland or visit its coast.

Even though Maryland doesn't have one official "state mammal," it does have a few special animal symbols. The Calico cat is its state cat, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is the state dog, and the Thoroughbred is the state horse.

Sadly, some mammals that used to live in Maryland are now gone from the state. This is called being "extirpated." Animals like the eastern wolf, elk, American bison, cougar, snowshoe hare, American marten, and eastern harvest mouse no longer live here. On the other hand, some animals have been "introduced," meaning they were brought to Maryland by people. The coypu, which is an invasive species (meaning it can harm the local environment), was introduced but has since been removed from the state.

Amazing Mammals of Maryland

Opossums: Maryland's Only Marsupial

Did you know that Maryland has its very own marsupial? That's an animal like a kangaroo or a koala that carries its babies in a pouch! The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the only marsupial found in North America. These clever creatures are about the size of a house cat and are known for "playing dead" when they feel threatened. They are very adaptable and can live in many different places, from forests to cities. They are quite common in Maryland.

A Virginia opossum, Maryland's only marsupial.

Bats: Flying Mammals of the Night

Maryland is home to many types of bats, which are the only mammals that can truly fly! Bats are super important because they eat tons of insects, like mosquitoes. Many bat species in Maryland are facing challenges, and some are even endangered, meaning their populations are very low.

• The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) is one of the most common bats, but its numbers have dropped a lot due to a disease called white-nose syndrome.
• The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and the eastern small-footed bat (Myotis leeibi) are also facing serious threats and are considered endangered or near threatened.
• Other bats you might find flying around Maryland at night include the silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), the tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus), the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), the red bat (Lasiurus borealis), the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), and the evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis). Most of these bats are doing okay, but it's important to protect all bat habitats.

A little brown bat.

The Indiana bat is an endangered species.

An eastern small-footed bat.

A northern long-eared bat.

A silver-haired bat.

A tricolored bat.

A big brown bat.

An eastern red bat.

An evening bat.

Shrews and Moles: Tiny Underground Explorers

Maryland's forests and fields are home to many small, busy mammals like shrews and moles. These creatures often live underground or in thick vegetation.

• Shrews are tiny, mouse-like animals with long snouts. They are very active and eat a lot of insects. Some shrews found in Maryland include the cinereus shrew (Sorex cinereus), southeastern shrew (Sorex longirostris), American water shrew (Sorex palustris), smoky shrew (Sorex fumeus), long-tailed shrew (Sorex dispar), American pygmy shrew (Sorex hoyi), northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda), and least shrew (Cryptotis parva).
• Moles are amazing diggers with strong front paws. They spend most of their lives underground, creating tunnels. Maryland has the hairy-tailed mole (Parascalops breweri), the eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus), and the unique star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) with its star-shaped nose. All these shrews and moles are common in Maryland.

A cinereus shrew.

A southeastern shrew.

An American water shrew.

A smoky shrew.

A long-tailed shrew.

A northern short-tailed shrew.

A least shrew.

A hairy-tailed mole.

An eastern mole.

The unique star-nosed mole.

Rabbits and Hares: Hopping Around Maryland

You've probably seen a rabbit hopping in your backyard! Maryland is home to two types of rabbits and one type of hare.

• The eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is the most common rabbit in Maryland. They are often seen in fields, gardens, and woodlands.
• The Appalachian cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus) lives in the higher, forested areas of the state and is considered near threatened.
• The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) used to live in Maryland but is now possibly gone from the state. These hares are special because their fur changes color with the seasons, from brown in summer to white in winter, helping them blend in with the snow.
• The black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) was introduced to Maryland.

An eastern cottontail.

An Appalachian cottontail.

A snowshoe hare.

A black-tailed jackrabbit.

Rodents: The Busy Chewers

Rodents are the largest group of mammals, and Maryland has many different kinds, from tiny mice to large beavers!

• You might spot an eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) scurrying around, stuffing its cheeks with nuts.
• The groundhog (Marmota monax), also known as a woodchuck, is a large rodent that digs burrows and is often seen in open fields.
• Squirrels are very common. The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is seen everywhere, while the Delmarva fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) is a special type of fox squirrel found in Maryland. The red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) is smaller and very vocal.
• The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is amazing because it can glide between trees using a special flap of skin.
• The American beaver (Castor canadensis) is North America's largest rodent and is famous for building dams and lodges in rivers and streams.
• Many types of mice and voles live in Maryland, including the marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris), eastern harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys humulis) (now gone from Maryland), eastern deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), white-footed deer mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister), meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius), and woodland jumping mouse (Napaeozapus insignis).
• Some rodents, like the black rat (Rattus rattus), Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), and house mouse (Mus musculus), were introduced to Maryland by people.
• Voles are small, mouse-like rodents. Maryland has the southern red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi), meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), rock vole (Microtus chrotorrhinus), and woodland vole (Microtus pinetorum).
• The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a semi-aquatic rodent often found in wetlands.
• The southern bog lemming (Synaptomys cooperi) is a small rodent that lives in damp, grassy areas.
• The North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) is known for its sharp quills, which it uses for defense.
• The coypu (Myocastor coypus), also called a nutria, was an introduced species that caused problems for wetlands, but it has been removed from Maryland.

An eastern chipmunk.

A groundhog.

An eastern gray squirrel.

A Delmarva fox squirrel.

An American red squirrel.

A southern flying squirrel.

A North American beaver.

A marsh rice rat.

An eastern harvest mouse.

An eastern deer mouse.

A white-footed deer mouse.

An Allegheny woodrat.

A meadow jumping mouse.

A woodland jumping mouse.

A black rat.

A Norway rat.

A house mouse.

A southern red-backed vole.

A meadow vole.

A woodland vole.

A muskrat.

A southern bog lemming.

A North American porcupine.

A coypu (nutria).

Whales and Dolphins: Ocean Giants

The waters off Maryland's coast are home to many amazing marine mammals, including different kinds of whales and dolphins. Some of these are very rare and need our protection.

• Smaller whales like the pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) and dwarf sperm whale (Kogia simus) can be found.
• The massive sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), known for its huge head, is a vulnerable species.
• Beaked whales, like Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) and True's beaked whale (Mesoplodon mirus), are deep-diving whales.
• Many types of dolphins swim in Maryland's waters, including the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Leucopleurus acutus), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), and the powerful killer whale (Orcinus orca), also known as an orca.
• Pilot whales, like the long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) and short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus), are also seen.
• The melon-headed whale (Peponocephala electra) is another type of dolphin.
• The harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) is a smaller marine mammal.
• Maryland's coast is also visited by some of the largest animals on Earth, the baleen whales. These include the enormous blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus), which is endangered, the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), the endangered sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis), the common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), and the acrobatic humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).
• The North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) is one of the most endangered large whales in the world, and it's critically important to protect them.

A pygmy sperm whale.

A dwarf sperm whale.

A sperm whale mother with her calf.

Cuvier's beaked whale.

True's beaked whale.

A short-beaked common dolphin with its calf.

A common bottlenose dolphin.

An Atlantic spotted dolphin.

A striped dolphin.

An Atlantic white-sided dolphin.

A Risso's dolphin.

A killer whale (orca).

A long-finned pilot whale.

A short-finned pilot whale.

A melon-headed whale.

A harbour porpoise.

A blue whale.

A fin whale.

A sei whale mother and calf.

A common minke whale.

A humpback whale.

A North Atlantic right whale.

Manatees: Gentle Giants of the Water

Occasionally, a very special visitor comes to Maryland's waters: the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). These gentle, slow-moving marine mammals are sometimes called "sea cows" because they graze on underwater plants. They usually live in warmer waters further south, but sometimes they travel north to Maryland during the warmer months.

Two West Indian manatees.

Carnivores: Maryland's Hunters

Maryland is home to several types of carnivores, which are mammals that primarily eat meat.

• The coyote (Canis latrans) is a clever and adaptable canine that has become more common in Maryland.
• The red wolf (Canis rufus) used to live here but is now gone from the state.
• You might see a gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) or a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Maryland's forests and fields.
• The black bear (Ursus americanus) is the largest land carnivore in Maryland, mostly found in the western parts of the state.
• The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a common and recognizable mammal, known for its masked face and nimble paws.
• Skunks are known for their strong-smelling spray! Maryland has the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and the eastern spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius), which is a vulnerable species.
• The American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a playful mammal that lives in Maryland's waterways.
• The American marten (Martes americana) used to live in Maryland but is now extirpated.
• Smaller weasels found in Maryland include the least weasel (Mustela nivalis), American ermine (Mustela richardsonii), long-tailed weasel (Neogale frenata), and American mink (Neogale vison).
• The fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a quick and agile hunter.
• Seals sometimes visit Maryland's coast, including the hooded seal (Cystophora cristata), grey seal (Halichoerus grypus), harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), and harbor seal (Phoca vitulina).
• The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a wild cat that lives in Maryland's forests.
• The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as a mountain lion or puma, used to roam Maryland but is now gone from the state.

A coyote.

A red wolf.

A gray fox.

A red fox.

An American black bear.

A raccoon.

A striped skunk.

An eastern spotted skunk.

A North American river otter.

An American marten.

A least weasel.

An American ermine.

A long-tailed weasel.

An American mink.

A fisher.

A hooded seal.

A grey seal.

A harp seal.

A harbor seal.

A bobcat.

A cougar (mountain lion).

Hoofed Mammals: Deer and More

Maryland's landscape is home to several hoofed mammals, known as ungulates.

• The American bison (Bison bison) and elk (Cervus canadensis) once roamed Maryland but are now gone from the state.
• The sika deer (Cervus nippon) is an introduced species that can be found in some areas of Maryland.
• The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is the most common large mammal in Maryland and is often seen in forests, fields, and even suburban areas.

An American bison.

An elk.

A sika deer.

A white-tailed deer.