List of mammals of Massachusetts facts for kids

This is a list of amazing mammals that live in Massachusetts! It includes all the furry creatures you can find here, whether they live here all the time, visit during certain seasons, or used to live here but are now gone. We'll tell you where they usually live in the state and how common they are.

The Atlantic right whale is the official marine mammal of Massachusetts.

Bats (Chiroptera)

Bats are flying mammals that are super important for our environment. Sadly, in 2008, a disease called white nose syndrome hit Massachusetts. This disease caused the bat population to drop by a huge 98%! Because of this, some bats, like the little brown myotis, northern long-eared myotis, and tricolored bat, are now considered endangered in the state.

Common Bats You Might See

• Big brown bat: These bats are very common and live all over Massachusetts. They are often seen flying around at dusk.
• Silver-haired bat: These bats travel a lot, like birds. They are not super common but can be found statewide.
• Eastern red bat: Another common bat that travels. You can find them across the whole state.
• Hoary bat: These bats also travel, but they are rarely seen in Massachusetts. They live statewide.

Rare and Endangered Bats

• Eastern small-footed myotis: These bats are extremely rare. They are mostly found in Berkshire and Hampden counties and are a "special concern" species.
• Little brown bat: Once common, these bats are now endangered. You might find them in scattered places across the state.
• Northern long-eared myotis: This bat is also endangered. They are found in scattered areas, and some have even been seen breeding on Martha's Vineyard.
• Indiana bat: This is a very rare bat, found only in Western Massachusetts. It's endangered both in the state and across the country.
• Tricolored bat: These bats are considered threatened, meaning they could become endangered soon. They are found in scattered locations.

Meat-Eating Mammals (Carnivora)

Massachusetts is home to many cool carnivores, from sneaky foxes to big bears!

Wild Dogs and Foxes

• Eastern coyote: Coyotes are very common and live all over Massachusetts, except on Nantucket island.
• Eastern wolf: Sadly, wolves no longer live in Massachusetts. The last one was seen in 1840, though there were a couple of possible sightings much later.
• Gray fox: These foxes are common and live statewide, except on the islands of Dukes, Nantucket, and Suffolk counties.
• Red fox: Red foxes are also common and can be found statewide, except on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Other Carnivores

• Raccoon: Raccoons are very common and live all over the state, except Nantucket. They are known for their masked faces and clever hands.
• American black bear: Black bears live in most parts of Massachusetts, but they are not as common in the southeastern areas. Their numbers can change depending on the location.
• Canada lynx: These beautiful cats no longer live in Massachusetts. They used to be found in central and western parts of the state.
• Bobcat: Bobcats are common in northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts. They are rarer in the southeast and not found on the islands.
• Eastern cougar: Cougars, also known as mountain lions, are no longer found in Massachusetts. The last official record was in 1858.
• Wolverine: Wolverines are also gone from Massachusetts. The last one was seen in 1835 in western Massachusetts.

Weasels and Skunks

• North American river otter: Otters are common and live statewide, except in Suffolk County. They have even been seen on Nantucket.
• American marten: These animals no longer live in Massachusetts. They used to be found in central, western, and possibly northeastern parts of the state.
• American ermine: Ermines are common and live statewide, except on Dukes and Nantucket islands. They are rare on Cape Cod.
• Long-tailed weasel: These weasels are common and live statewide, except on Dukes and Nantucket islands.
• Sea mink: The sea mink used to live along the coast of Massachusetts but is now extinct because too many were trapped.
• American mink: Minks are common and live statewide, except on Nantucket. They might also be gone from Martha's Vineyard.
• Fisher: Fishers are common and live statewide, except on Dukes and Nantucket islands.
• Striped skunk: Skunks are common and live all over the state, except on the Elizabeth Islands and Nantucket.

Seals and Walruses

• Bearded seal: Only one bearded seal has ever been recorded in Massachusetts, in Essex County in 2002.
• Grey seal: Grey seals are found in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties. Their population has grown since seal hunting became illegal in 1962. They even have special places to have their pups on Monomoy and Muskeget islands.
• Harp seal: These seals are common winter visitors. You can see them in Plymouth, Suffolk, Essex, and Barnstable counties, and sightings are increasing, especially in winter.
• Harbor seal: The harbor seal is a common seal in Massachusetts. They live in coastal areas like Barnstable, Suffolk, Essex, and Plymouth counties. They visit Cape Cod and the islands regularly in winter. While they used to breed here, there are no known breeding areas now, but pups have been seen in Plymouth.
• Ringed seal: Ringed seals are not common in Massachusetts, but they are most often seen in winter.
• Walrus: Walruses are very rare visitors. There have only been a couple of reports, one in Essex County in 1937 and another in Plymouth County way back in 1734.

Whales and Dolphins (Cetacea)

The waters off Massachusetts are home to many amazing whales and dolphins!

Baleen Whales (Filter Feeders)

• Bowhead whale: These large whales are sometimes seen in winter but are probably uncommon.
• North Atlantic right whale: These whales are uncommon and visit Cape Cod Bay in winter and spring. They are an endangered species.
• Common minke whale: Minke whales are common and live in the inshore waters. They have been found stranded in many coastal counties.
• Sei whale: Sei whales are found in Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay. They are endangered and rare in Massachusetts.
• Blue whale: Blue whales are the largest animals on Earth! They are endangered and rare in Massachusetts. There was one questionable report in 1755, and some recent sightings closer to shore.
• Fin whale: Fin whales are common but endangered. They have been found stranded in several coastal counties.
• Humpback whale: Humpback whales are common but also endangered. They are known for their amazing jumps and songs and have been found stranded in many coastal areas.

Toothed Whales and Dolphins

• Northern bottlenose whale: These whales are rare and live in the open ocean. Some have been found stranded in Barnstable and Essex counties.
• Sowerby's beaked whale: Only two of these whales have ever been recorded in Nantucket.
• Blainville's beaked whale: Only one of these whales has been recorded in Essex County.
• Gervais' beaked whale: There's only one record of this whale in Cape Cod.
• True's beaked whale: Only one of these whales has been recorded in Nantucket.
• Cuvier's beaked whale: These whales live in the open ocean and have been found stranded in Barnstable, Norfolk, and Dukes counties.
• Beluga whale: Beluga whales are rare visitors. They have been seen in the waters of Essex, Barnstable, Dukes, and Bristol counties.
• Short-beaked common dolphin: These dolphins are uncommon and found in Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Nantucket counties.
• Short-finned pilot whale: These dolphins are uncommon and usually travel in groups. They prefer warmer waters further from shore.
• Long-finned pilot whale: These dolphins are also uncommon and travel in groups. They are often found stranded on beaches.
• Risso's dolphin: These dolphins are uncommon and live in offshore waters. They have been found stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, and Norfolk counties.
• White-beaked dolphin: These dolphins are rare and live in coastal waters. They have been reported from Barnstable and Essex counties.
• Atlantic white-sided dolphin: These dolphins are common and live in coastal waters. They have been found stranded in many coastal counties.
• Killer whale: Killer whales, also known as orcas, are rare visitors to Massachusetts waters. They live in offshore areas and have been seen in Plymouth and Suffolk counties, and stranded in Barnstable and Dukes counties.
• Pantropical spotted dolphin: These dolphins are uncommon and live in offshore waters.
• Striped dolphin: These dolphins are rare and live in the open ocean. They have been reported from several coastal counties.
• Atlantic spotted dolphin: These dolphins are rare and have been reported from Nantucket and Dukes counties.
• Common bottlenose dolphin: These dolphins are rare and live in waters closer to shore. They have been found stranded in Barnstable and Plymouth counties.
• Pygmy sperm whale: These whales are rare and live in offshore waters. They have been found stranded in many coastal counties.
• Dwarf sperm whale: These whales are rarely seen and have been found stranded in Nantucket and Plymouth counties. They are smaller than pygmy sperm whales and have a larger fin on their back.
• Sperm whale: Sperm whales are rare now, but they used to be very common offshore. They are the largest toothed whales and can dive very deep to hunt for food. They have been found stranded in many coastal counties.
• Harbour porpoise: These porpoises are common and live entirely in coastal waters.

Hoofed Mammals (Artiodactyla)

These mammals have hooves and usually eat plants.

• American bison: Bison no longer live in Massachusetts. They used to roam here a long time ago.
• Moose: Moose are common in northern, western, and eastern Massachusetts. There are over 1,000 moose living in the state!
• Eastern elk: Elk no longer live in Massachusetts. The last record was in Worcester County in 1732.
• Fallow deer: These deer were brought to Dukes County but were last reported in 1980.
• White-tailed deer: White-tailed deer are very common and live all over Massachusetts. You've probably seen one!
• Boreal woodland caribou: Caribou no longer live in Massachusetts.

Rabbits and Hares (Lagomorpha)

These are the hopping mammals with long ears!

• Snowshoe hare: Snowshoe hares are common and live statewide, except on Dukes County. They were brought to Nantucket.
• Black-tailed jackrabbit: These rabbits were brought to Nantucket and are uncommon there.
• European hare: These hares were brought to Berkshire County, where they are now found.
• European rabbit: These rabbits were brought to Lovells Island and Gallops Island.
• Eastern cottontail: These common rabbits were brought to Massachusetts and now live statewide.
• New England cottontail: These rabbits are rare now. They used to be common everywhere but are now only found on Cape Cod, Nantucket, and in southwestern Massachusetts.

Opossums (Didelphimorphia)

The only marsupial (pouched mammal) native to North America!

• Virginia opossum: Opossums are common and live statewide, except on Dukes and Nantucket islands. They are known for "playing dead" when scared.

Rodents (Rodentia)

Rodents are the largest group of mammals, known for their constantly growing front teeth.

• North American beaver: Beavers are common in northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts. They are famous for building dams.
• Meadow vole: These small rodents are common and live all over Massachusetts.
• Beach vole: This special type of vole lives only on Muskeget Island.
• Woodland vole: These voles are common in some areas and live statewide, except on Dukes and Nantucket islands.
• Southern red-backed vole: These voles are common and live statewide, except on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
• Allegheny woodrat: Woodrats no longer live in Massachusetts. They might have been in southwestern Berkshire County.
• Muskrat: Muskrats are common and live statewide, except on Nantucket.
• White-footed mouse: These mice are very common and live all over Massachusetts.
• Eastern deer mouse: These mice are common in central and western Massachusetts.
• Southern bog lemming: These lemmings are very rare and are a "special concern" species. They are known from a few towns like Plymouth and Wareham.
• Woodland jumping mouse: These mice are common in central and western Massachusetts. They can jump surprisingly far!
• Meadow jumping mouse: These mice are common and live all over Massachusetts.
• House mouse: These mice were brought to Massachusetts and are now found statewide, except on Martha's Vineyard.
• Brown rat: These rats were brought to Massachusetts and are now found statewide.
• Black rat: These rats were also brought to Massachusetts and are now found statewide.
• North American porcupine: Porcupines are common in northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts. Be careful, they have sharp quills!
• Northern flying squirrel: These squirrels are uncommon and live in northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts. They don't truly fly, but glide between trees.
• Southern flying squirrel: These squirrels are common and live statewide, except on Dukes and Nantucket islands.
• Groundhog: Groundhogs, also called woodchucks, are common and live statewide, except on Dukes and Nantucket islands.
• Eastern gray squirrel: Gray squirrels are very common and live all over Massachusetts. They were even brought to Nantucket in 1989.
• Eastern chipmunk: Chipmunks are common and live statewide, except on Nantucket.
• American red squirrel: Red squirrels are common and live statewide, except on Dukes and Nantucket islands.

Shrews and Moles (Eulipotyphla)

These small, often unseen mammals live mostly underground or in leaf litter.

• Northern short-tailed shrew: These shrews are common and live all over Massachusetts.
• Cinereus shrew: These shrews are also common and live statewide.
• Long-tailed shrew: These shrews are rare and a "special concern" species, found only in Berkshire County.
• Smoky shrew: These shrews are uncommon and live in central and western Massachusetts.
• American pygmy shrew: Only one of these tiny shrews has ever been recorded in Massachusetts, in Berkshire County in 1991.
• American water shrew: These shrews are uncommon and a "special concern" species, found in central and western Massachusetts.
• Star-nosed mole: These moles are common and live statewide, except on Dukes and Nantucket islands. They have a unique star-shaped nose!
• Hairy-tailed mole: These moles are uncommon and live in northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts.
• Eastern mole: These moles are common and found in southern Plymouth County, the southern Connecticut River Valley, Cape Cod, and Dukes and Nantucket counties.

See also

• Mammals of New England
• List of Massachusetts birds
• List of reptiles of Massachusetts