List of mammals of Ohio facts for kids
Ohio is home to many amazing animals, and this article will tell you all about the mammals that live here! Mammals are warm-blooded animals with fur or hair, and they feed milk to their babies. In Ohio, you can find 70 different kinds of mammals.
Some of these mammals are very special:
- Three are endangered: This means they are in danger of disappearing forever. These are the American black bear, Indiana bat, and Allegheny woodrat.
- Four are introduced: This means people brought them to Ohio from other places. These include the brown rat, black rat, house mouse, and wild boar.
- Three are accidental: This means they usually don't live in Ohio but sometimes visit by chance. These are the gray bat, Mexican free-tailed bat, and North American porcupine.
- Ten are extirpated: This means they used to live in Ohio but are no longer found here. They still live in other parts of the world. Examples include the American bison and elk.
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Amazing Mammals of Ohio
Ohio's mammals belong to different groups, like opossums, shrews, bats, and more. Let's explore some of them!
Opossums: Unique Pouch Animals
The only marsupial (pouch animal) found in North America is the Virginia opossum. These interesting creatures are about the size of a house cat. They are known for "playing dead" when they feel scared. They have a long, hairless tail that can even help them hang from branches!
- Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana
Tiny Shrews and Moles
Shrews and moles are small mammals that often live underground or in leaf litter. They have excellent senses of smell and touch to help them find food.
Shrews: Busy Little Hunters
Shrews are some of the smallest mammals on Earth. They are very active and eat a lot of insects and worms. The Northern short-tailed shrew is one of the few venomous mammals!
- Northern short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda
- North American least shrew, Cryptotis parva
- Masked shrew, Sorex cinereus
- Smoky shrew, Sorex fumeus
- American pygmy shrew, Sorex hoyi
Moles: Digging Experts
Moles are amazing diggers with strong front paws. They spend most of their lives underground, creating tunnels. The Star-nosed mole has a unique nose with 22 fleshy "fingers" that help it feel its way around.
- Star-nosed mole, Condylura cristata
- Hairy-tailed mole, Parascalops breweri
- Eastern mole, Scalopus aquaticus
Bats: Flying Mammals
Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly! They use echolocation (like sonar) to find insects in the dark. Ohio has many types of bats, and some are very important for controlling insect populations.
Vesper Bats: Nighttime Hunters
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Most bats in Ohio are vesper bats. The Eastern red bat has beautiful reddish fur. The Indiana bat is an endangered species in Ohio, meaning it needs our help to survive.
- Big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus
- Silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans
- Eastern red bat, Lasiurus borealis
- Hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus
- Little brown bat, Myotis lucifugus
- Northern long-eared bat, Myotis septentrionalis
- Indiana bat, Myotis sodalis (Endangered)
- Evening bat, Nycticeius humeralis
- Tricolored bat, Perimyotis subflavus
Free-tailed Bats: Fast Flyers
The Mexican free-tailed bat is known for its fast, high flight. It's an accidental visitor to Ohio, meaning it doesn't usually live here but sometimes makes a rare appearance.
- Mexican free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis (Accidental)
Rabbits and Hares: Hopping Friends
Ohio is home to quick-moving rabbits and hares. The Eastern cottontail is a common sight in fields and backyards. The Snowshoe hare used to live in Ohio but is now extirpated.
- Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus
Rodents: The Largest Mammal Group
Rodents are the largest group of mammals. They are known for their strong, continuously growing front teeth.
Squirrels: Acrobats of the Trees
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Ohio has many types of squirrels, from tree-climbing experts to ground dwellers. The Eastern gray squirrel and Fox squirrel are common in parks and forests. The Eastern chipmunk is a small, striped squirrel that loves to gather nuts.
- Southern flying squirrel, Glaucomys volans
- Thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
- Groundhog, Marmota monax
- Eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis
- Fox squirrel, Sciurus niger
- Eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus
- American red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Beavers: Nature's Engineers
The North American beaver is famous for building dams and lodges in rivers and streams. They are the largest rodents in North America.
- North American beaver, Castor canadensis
Jumping Mice: Long-tailed Leapers
These small mice have very long tails and large hind feet, which help them make impressive jumps.
- Woodland jumping mouse, Napaeozapus insignis
- Meadow jumping mouse, Zapus hudsonius
Mice, Rats, and Voles: Diverse Rodents
This group includes many small rodents. The Muskrat is a semi-aquatic rodent that builds lodges in wetlands. The Allegheny woodrat is an endangered species in Ohio. Some rats and mice, like the House mouse and Brown rat, were introduced to Ohio by humans.
- Prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster
- Meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus
- Pine vole, Microtus pinetorum
- Southern red-backed vole, Myodes gapperi
- Allegheny woodrat, Neotoma magister (Endangered, Extirpated)
- Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus
- White-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus
- Eastern deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus
- Eastern harvest mouse, Reithrodontomys humulis
- Southern bog lemming, Synaptomys cooperi
- House mouse, Mus musculus (Introduced)
- Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus (Introduced)
- Black rat, Rattus rattus (Introduced)
Porcupines: Spiky Defenders
The North American porcupine is known for its sharp quills, which it uses for defense. It's an accidental visitor to Ohio.
- North American porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum (Accidental)
Carnivores: Meat Eaters
Carnivores are mammals that primarily eat meat. This group includes foxes, bears, raccoons, and cats.
Canids: Wolves, Coyotes, and Foxes
Ohio has several members of the dog family. The Coyote is a common wild dog. The Red fox and Gray fox are also found here. The Eastern wolf once lived in Ohio but is now extirpated.
Bears: Large and Powerful
The American black bear is the largest carnivore in Ohio. It is an endangered species in the state, but its numbers are slowly growing.
- American black bear, Ursus americanus (Endangered)
Raccoons: Clever Scavengers
The Raccoon is a very adaptable animal, often found in both wild and urban areas. They are known for their masked faces and clever paws.
- Raccoon, Procyon lotor
Mustelids: Weasels and Otters
This family includes sleek, agile hunters like weasels, mink, and otters. The North American river otter has made a great comeback in Ohio after nearly disappearing.
- North American river otter, Lontra canadensis
- Least weasel, Mustela nivalis
- American ermine, Mustela richardsonii
- Long-tailed weasel, Neogale frenata
- American mink, Neogale vison
- American badger, Taxidea taxus
Skunks: Stinky but Shy
The Striped skunk is famous for its strong-smelling spray, which it uses to defend itself from predators.
- Striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis
Cats: Wild Felines
Ohio's wild cats include the Bobcat, a medium-sized cat with tufted ears. The Cougar (also known as a mountain lion) used to live in Ohio but is now extirpated.
- Bobcat, Lynx rufus
Hoofed Mammals: Artiodactyla
This group includes mammals with hooves, like deer and pigs.
Deer: Graceful Forest Dwellers
The White-tailed deer is the state mammal of Ohio and is very common. The Elk once roamed Ohio but is now extirpated.
- White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus
Pigs: Wild Boars
The Wild boar is an introduced species in Ohio. These animals can be quite large and are known for their tusks.
- Wild boar, Sus scrofa (Introduced)
Images for kids
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The American bison once roamed Ohio's plains.
