List of mammals of Massachusetts facts for kids

This is a list of Massachusetts mammals. It includes all mammals currently living in Massachusetts, whether resident or as migrants. For the most part, it does not include each mammals specific habitat, but instead shows the mammals 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.

The Atlantic right whale is the state marine mammal of Massachusetts

Bats

Name	Species/Authority	Order	Family	Range and status	IUCN Red List
Big brown bat	Eptesicus fuscus Beauvois, 1796	Chiroptera	Vespertilionidae	Common, live statewide	7
Silver-haired bat	Lasionycteris noctivagans Le Conte, 1831	Chiroptera	Vespertilionidae	Migratory, Uncommon, statewide	7
Eastern red bat	Lasiurus borealis Müller, 1776	Chiroptera	Vespertilionidae	Migratory, Common, statewide	7
Hoary bat	Lasiurus cinereus Beauvois, 1796	Chiroptera	Vespertilionidae	Migratory, rarely seen, statewide	7
Eastern small-footed myotis	Myotis leibii Audubon & Bachman, 1842	Chiroptera	Vespertilionidae	Berkshire and Hampden Counties, extremely rare, listed as Special Concern	7
Little brown bat	Myotis lucifugus Le Conte, 1831	Chiroptera	Vespertilionidae	Endangered, distribution spotty	7
Northern long-eared myotis	Myotis septentrionalis Trouessart, 1897	Chiroptera	Vespertilionidae	Endangered, distribution spotty, reportedly breeding in Martha's Vineyard	7
Indiana bat	Myotis sodalis Miller & Allen, 1928	Chiroptera	Vespertilionidae	Very rare, Western Massachusetts only, Listed as Endangered in the state and Federally	7
Tricolored bat	Perimyotis subflavus Cuvier, 1832	Chiroptera	Vespertilionidae	Endangered, Distribution spotty	7

• In 2008, White Nose Syndrome was recorded in Massachusetts. Afterwards, the bat population declined by 98%, and thus, in 2012, the Little Brown myotis, Northern long-eared myotis, and Tricolored bat were listed as endangered in the state.

Carnivora

Name	Species/Authority	Order	Family	Range and status	IUCN Red list
American black bear	Ursus americanus	Carnivora	Ursidae	Locally Common to Uncommon; Found in most of the state, however not common in southeast Massachusetts.	7
Coyote	Canis latrans	Carnivora	Canidae	Common; Statewide except Nantucket; 3 records from Martha's Vineyard, but has yet to be established	7
Gray wolf	Canis lupus lycaon	Carnivora	Canidae	Extirpated; last reported in 1840, although there were 2 sighting in 1918 and 2007 in Franklin County	7
Gray fox	Urocyon cineroargentatus	Carnivora	Canidae	Common; Statewide except Dukes, Nantucket, and Suffolk County	7
Red fox	Vulpes vulpes fulves	Carnivora	Canidae	Common; Statewide except Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket	7
Hooded seal	Cystophora cristata	Carnivora	Phocidae	Uncommon Winter visitor Reported from Essex, Plymouth, Dukes, Nantucket, Barnstable, and Suffolk counties	7
Bearded seal	Erignathus barbatus	Carnivora	Phocidae	One record; Essex County (2002)	7
Grey seal	Halichoerus grypus	Carnivora	Phocidae	Found 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	Carnivora	Phocidae	Common Winter visitor; Reported from Plymouth, Suffolk, Essex, and Barnstable counties. Sightings are increasing, especially in winter	7
Harbor seal	Phoca vitulina	Carnivora	Phocidae	A 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	Carnivora	Phocidae	Uncommon in Massachusetts; are most seen in winter	7
Canada lynx	Lynx canadensis	Carnivora	Felidae	Extirpated; Formerly Central and Western Mass; Reported in Hampshire county (1866) and Worcester county (1884–1885), Questionable reports in the 1930s were probably bobcats, 2 records in 1991	7
Bobcat	Lynx rufus	Carnivora	Felidae	Common in Northeastern, Central and Western Mass, but rare in Southeastern Mass, the Cape, and absent in the islands	7
Cougar	Puma concolor couguar	Carnivora	Felidae	Extirpated; 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	Carnivora	Mustelidae	Extirpated; lasted reported in 1835, Formerly Western Mass	7
North American river otter	Lontra canadensis	Carnivora	Mustelidae	Common; Statewide except Suffolk County; 2 records in Nantucket were in 1984 and 2007	7
American marten	Martes americana	Carnivora	Mustelidae	Extirpated; Formerly Central, Western, and possibly Northeastern Mass; last reported in Worcester County (1880) although 2 records in 1992 and 1993 may have come from Vermont	7
Fisher	Martes pennanti	Carnivora	Mustelidae	Common; Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket Counties	7
Stoat	Mustela erminea	Carnivora	Mustelidae	Common; Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket Counties; Rare in Cape Cod	7
Long-tailed weasel	Mustela frenata	Carnivora	Mustelidae	Common; Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket Counties	7
Sea mink	Neovison macrodon	Carnivora	Mustelidae	(considered here to be a subspecies of American mink. Other experts consider it a separate species) Formerly Coastal Mass; became Extinct from overtrapping	7
American mink	Neovison vison	Carnivora	Mustelidae	Common; Statewide except Nantucket, possibly extirpated from Martha's Vineyard	7
Walrus	Odobenus rosmarus	Carnivora	Odobenidae	Rare vagrant. Reported from Essex (1937) and Plymouth (1734) counties	7
Raccoon	Procyon lotor	Carnivora	Procyonidae	Common, Statewide except Nantucket	7
Striped skunk	Mephitis mephitis	Carnivora	Mephitidae	Common, Statewide except the Elizabeth Islands and Nantucket	7

Cetacea

Name	Species/Authority	Order	Family	Range and status	IUCN Red list
Bowhead whale	Balaena mysticetus	Cetacea	Balaenidae	Occasionally seen in Winter;Probably Uncommon	7
North Atlantic right whale	Eubalaena glacialis	Cetacea	Balaenidae	Uncommon, Winter and Spring visitor in Cape Cod Bay	7
Northern bottlenose whale	Hyperoodon ampullatus	Cetacea	Ziphiidae	Rare, Pelagic, Stranded in Barnstable and Essex counties	7
Sowerby's beaked whale	Mesoplodon bidens	Cetacea	Ziphiidae	Only two records in Nantucket	7
Blainville's beaked whale	Mesoplodon densirostris	Cetacea	Ziphiidae	One record in Essex County	7
Gervais' beaked whale	Mesoplodon europaeus	Cetacea	Ziphiidae	One record in Cape Cod	7
True's beaked whale	Mesoplodon mirus	Cetacea	Ziphiidae	One record in Nantucket	7
Cuvier's beaked whale	Ziphius cavirostris	Cetacea	Ziphiidae	Pelagic, Stranded in Barnstable, Norfolk, and Dukes counties	7
Beluga whale	Delphinapterus leucas	Cetacea	Monodontidae	Vagrant, Observed in the waters of Essex, Barnstable, Dukes, and Bristol counties	7
Short-beaked common dolphin	Delphinus delphis	Cetacea	Delphinidae	Uncommon, Found in Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, and Nantucket counties	7
Long-finned pilot whale	Globicephala melas	Cetacea	Delphinidae	Uncommon, Occurs in schools and is frequently stranded	7
Short-finned pilot whale	Globicephala macrorhynchus	Cetacea	Delphinidae	Uncommon, Occurs in schools, primarily found in warmer waters offshore	7
Risso's dolphin	Grampus griseus	Cetacea	Delphinidae	Uncommon, Offshore waters, Stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, and Norfolk counties	7
Atlantic white-sided dolphin	Lagenorhynchus acutus	Cetacea	Delphinidae	Common, Found in coastal waters, Stranded in Norfolk, Essex, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket	7
White-beaked dolphin	Lagenorhynchus albirostris	Cetacea	Delphinidae	Rare, Found in coastal waters, Reported from Barnstable and Essex counties	7
Killer whale	Orcinus orca	Cetacea	Delphinidae	Rare, Offshore waters, Stranded in Barnstable and Dukes county, Observed in Plymouth and Suffolk counties	7
Pantropical spotted dolphin	Stenella attenuata	Cetacea	Delphinidae	Uncommon, found in Offshore waters	7
Striped dolphin	Stenella coeruleoalba	Cetacea	Delphinidae	Rare, Pelagic, Reported from Dukes, Nantucket, Plymouth, Barnstable, and Essex counties	7
Atlantic spotted dolphin	Stenella frontalis	Cetacea	Delphinidae	Rare, Reported from Nantucket and Dukes counties	7
Common bottlenose dolphin	Tursiops truncatus	Cetacea	Delphinidae	Rare, Found in inshore waters, Stranded in Barnstable and Plymouth counties	7
Pygmy sperm whale	Kogia breviceps	Cetacea	Physeteroidea	Rare, Found in offshore waters, Stranded in Barnstable, Plymouth, Essex, Norfolk, and Dukes counties, Recorded in Bristol County waters	7
Dwarf sperm whale	Kogia sima	Cetacea	Physeteroidea	Rarely 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	Cetacea	Physeteroidea	Rare, 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	Cetacea	Phocoenidae	Common, Found entirely in coastal waters	7
Common minke whale	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	Cetacea	Rorqual	Common, Found in the inshore waters, Stranded in Norfolk, Essex, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties	7
Sei whale	Balaenoptera borealis	Cetacea	Rorqual	Found in Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay, Stranded in Cape Cod (1910 and 1974), Essex (2007), and Plymouth (1948) counties, Endangered and rare in Massachusetts	7
Blue whale	Balaenoptera musculus	Cetacea	Rorqual	One questionable stranding in Essex County reported in 1755, Recent near-shore records, Endangered and rare in Massachusetts	7
Fin whale	Balaenoptera physalus	Cetacea	Rorqual	Common but Endangered, Stranded in Barnstable, Essex, Dukes, and Plymouth counties	7
Humpback whale	Megaptera novaeangliae	Cetacea	Rorqual	Common but Endangered, Stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties	7

Even-toed ungulates

Name	Species/Authority	Order	Family	Range and status	IUCN Red list
Moose	Alces alces	Artiodactyla	Cervidae	Common; found in North, central Western, and northeast Massachusetts, but can be found in Eastern. Total population is over 1000	7
Elk	Cervus canadensis	Artiodactyla	Cervidae	Extirpated; Formerly Western Mass; last record in Worcester County in 1732	7
Fallow deer	Dama dama	Artiodactyla	Cervidae	Introduced in Dukes County; last reported in 1980	7
White-tailed deer	Odocoileus virginianus	Artiodactyla	Cervidae	Common; Statewide	7

Lagomorpha

Name	Species/Authority	Order	Family	Range and status	IUCN Red list
Snowshoe hare	Lepus americanus	Lagomorpha	Leporidae	Common; Statewide except Dukes County; introduced to Nantucket	7
Black-tailed jackrabbit	Lepus californicus	Lagomorpha	Leporidae	Introduced, Uncommon; found only in Nantucket	7
European hare	Lepus europaeus	Lagomorpha	Leporidae	Introduced; Found in Berkshire County	7
European rabbit	Oryctolagus cuniculus	Lagomorpha	Leporidae	Introduced; found in Lovells Island and Gallops Island	7
Eastern cottontail	Sylvilagus floridanus	Lagomorpha	Leporidae	Introduced, Common, Statewide	7
New England cottontail	Sylvilagus transitionalis	Lagomorpha	Leporidae	Rare, Formerly Common and found Statewide, now found only in Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Southwestern Mass	7

Opossums

Name	Species/Authority	Order	Family	Range and status	IUCN Red List
Virginia opossum	Didelphis virginiana	Didelphimorphia	Didelphinae	Common; Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket county	7

Rodents

Name	Species/Authority	Order	Family	Range and status	IUCN Red List
North American beaver	Castor canadensis	Rodentia	Castoridae	Common; Northeastern, Central, and Western Mass	7
Beach vole	Microtus breweri	Rodentia	Cricetidae	Muskeget Island	7
Meadow vole	Microtus pennsylvanicus	Rodentia	Cricetidae	Common; Statewide	7
Woodland vole	Microtus pinetorum	Rodentia	Cricetidae	Locally Common; Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties	7
Southern red-backed vole	Myodes gapperi	Rodentia	Cricetidae	Common; Statewide except Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket	7
Allegheny woodrat	Neotoma magister	Rodentia	Cricetidae	Extirpated; May have occurred in Southwestern Berkshire County but if so is now undoubtedly extirpated	7
Muskrat	Ondantra zibethicus	Rodentia	Cricetidae	Common; Statewide except Nantucket	7
White-footed mouse	Peromyscus leucopus	Rodentia	Cricetidae	Common; Statewide	7
Deer mouse	Peromyscus maniculatus	Rodentia	Cricetidae	Common; Central and Western Mass	7
Southern bog lemming	Synaptomys cooperi	Rodentia	Cricetidae	Very Rare; listed as Special Concern. Known from the towns of Plymouth, Wareham, New Salem, Ware, and Belchertown	7
Woodland jumping mouse	Napaeozapus insignis	Rodentia	Dipodidae	Common; Central and Western Mass	7
Meadow jumping mouse	Zapus hudsonius	Rodentia	Dipodidae	Common; Statewide	7
House mouse	Mus musculus	Rodentia	Muridae	Introduced; Statewide except Martha's Vineyard	7
Brown rat	Rattus norvegicus	Rodentia	Muridae	Introduced; Statewide	7
Black rat	Rattus rattus	Rodentia	Muridae	Introduced; Eradicated	7
North American porcupine	Erethizon dorsatum	Rodentia	New World porcupine	Common; Northeastern, Central, and Western Mass	7
Northern flying squirrel	Glaucomys sabrinus	Rodentia	Sciuridae	Uncommon; Northeastern, Central, and Western Mass	7
Southern flying squirrel	Glaucomys volans	Rodentia	Sciuridae	Common; Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties	7
Groundhog	Marmota monax	Rodentia	Sciuridae	Common; Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties	7
Eastern gray squirrel	Sciurus carolinensis	Rodentia	Sciuridae	Common; Statewide, introduced in Nantucket (1989)	7
American red squirrel	Tamiasciurus hudsonicus	Rodentia	Sciuridae	Common; Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties	7
Eastern chipmunk	Tamias striatus	Rodentia	Sciuridae	Common; Statewide except Nantucket	7

Soricomorpha

Talpidae

Name	Species/Authority	Order	Family	Range and status	IUCN Red list
Northern short-tailed shrew	Blarina brevicauda	Soricomorpha	Soricidae	Common; Statewide	7
Cinereus shrew	Sorex cinereus	Soricomorpha	Soricidae	Common; Statewide	7
Long-tailed shrew	Sorex dispar	Soricomorpha	Soricidae	Rare; Special concern; Found only in Berkshire County	7
Smoky shrew	Sorex fumeus	Soricomorpha	Soricidae	Uncommon; Central and Western Mass	7
American pygmy shrew	Sorex hoyi	Soricomorpha	Soricidae	One record; Berkshire County (1991)	7
American water shrew	Sorex palustris	Soricomorpha	Soricidae	Uncommon; Special concern, Found in Central and Western Mass	7
Star-nosed mole	Condylura cristata	Soricomorpha	Talpidae	Common; Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties	7
Hairy-tailed mole	Parascalops breweri	Soricomorpha	Talpidae	Uncommon; Northeastern, Central, and Western Mass	7
Eastern mole	Scalopus aquaticus	Soricomorpha	Talpidae	Common; Found in southern Plymouth county, southern Connecticut river valley, Cape Cod, and Dukes and Nantucket counties	7

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