Mammals of Illinois

ORDER / Family Common Name Species Status Distribution ASM Slide Library * Mammalian Species # Comments
MARSUPIALIA              
Didelphidae Virginia opossum Didelphis virginiana common statewide 4(W), 630, 828(B), 829(B), 830(B) 40 nocturnal marsupial
INSECTIVORA              
Soricidae Northern Short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda common north 3/4, south-central counties 20, 644(S) 261 venomous; most abundant mammal in forested areas
  Southern short-tailed shrew Blarina carolinensis common south 1/5     smaller than B. brevicauda
  Least shrew Cryptotis parva uncommon statewide 957 43 active day and night
  Pygmy shrew Microsorex hoyi uncommon NE and SE corners   33 smallest mammal in the world
  Masked shrew Sorex cinereus common north 1/3     active day and night
  Southeastern Shrew Sorex longirostris common south 2/3   143 primarily diurnal
Talpidae Eastern mole Scalopus aquaticus common statewide 647(C), 648(S) 105 fossorial
CHIROPTERA              
Molossidae Brazilian free-tailed bat Tadarida baziliensis accidental DeKalb and Jackson Counties 729 331 one specimen from two counties; tail not enclosed by membrane
Vespertilionidae Big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus common statewide 39(C) 356 closely associated with man; roosts in barns, caves, mines, bridges & hollow trees
  Silver-haired bat Lasionycteris noctivagans common statewide 658 172 year-round resident in southern Illinois
  Red bat Lasiurus borealis common statewide 40, 655(C), 815(C) 183 roosts in trees; interfemoral membrane is heavily furred
  Hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus common-uncommon statewide (as migrants) 41, 42, 656 185 roosts in trees; interfemoral membrane is heavily furred; generally present during migratory flights to the N or S.
  Southeastern myotis Myotis austroriparius endangered southern tip   332 hibernating individuals are easily disturbed
  Gray myotis Myotis grisescens endangered southwest 1/4 228   wing membrane attached to ankle
  Keen's myotis Myotis keenii common-uncommon statewide 227 121 hibernates in caves, mines, and occasionally buildings
  Little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus common statewide 224, 225(G), 814(G) 142 hibernates in caves
  Indiana myotis Myotis sodalis endangered statewide 391(P) 163 90% of population occupies five caves in surrounding states
  Evening bat Nycticeius humeralis uncommon statewide 232 23 frequently found in man-made structures; does not hibernate in Illinois
  Eastern pipistrelle Pipistrellus subflavus common statewide, although less common in northeast 38, 654(C) 228 males significantly outnumber females in hibernaculum
  Rafinesque's big-eared bat Plecotus rafinesquii endangered southern 1/4 394(C) 69 form small colonies in summer; smaller groups or solitary in winter
LAGOMORPHA              
Leporidae White-tailed jack rabbit Lepus townsendii uncommon northwesternmost corner 1189, 1349 288 dark summer pelage; white winter pelage (ears black at tip)
  Swamp rabbit Sylvilagus aquaticus rare southern 1/3   151 swamp habitat
  Eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus common statewide 58, 953(Y) 136 female may produce 20 to 25 young per breeding season
RODENTIA              
Castoridae Beaver Castor canadensis common-uncommon statewide 247(H), 248(H), 408, 409(H), 410(H), 1239 120 largest rodent in North America
Muridae Prairie vole Microtus ochrogaster common statewide 1160 355 build and maintain intricate network of runways
  Meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus common northern 1/2 70 159 extending its range southward along habitat created by interstate highways
  Woodland vole Microtus pinetorum common statewide   147 woodland inhabitant
  House mouse Mus musculus common statewide 92, 754   from Europe; frequently associated with man made structures
  Eastern woodrat Neotoma floridana endangered southern tip 1016 139 "pack rat"; inhabits rugged terrain
  Golden mouse Ochrotomys nuttalli threatened southwest 1/4   75 prepare characteristic nests in vines, bushes, and trees
  Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus common statewide 1162 141 tail flattened laterally
  Marsh rice rat Oryzomys palustris threatened southern 1/5 252 176 live in wet, swampy fields and marshes
  Cotton mouse Peromyscus gossypinus extirpated southern tip 677, 678(C) 70 last captured in Illinois in 1909
  White-footed mouse Peromyscus leucopus common statewide 73, 1174 247 all terrestrial habitats in Illinois, but prefer wooded or brushy areas
  Deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus uncommon statewide 251(A), 1175   occur in prairie or grassland habitat in Illinois
  Norway rat Rattus norvegicus common statewide 755(W), 756(G), 757(B), 758   from Europe; possibly the most destructive of all mammals
  Black rat Rattus rattus rare Chicago and Cook Counties 759, 760(B)   from Europe; displaced by the Norway rat
  Eastern harvest mouse Reithrodontomys humulis possible occurrence   685 565 grooved upper incisor; occurs south of Ohio River
  Western harvester mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis common-uncommon northern 1/2 1018 167 increasing their range to the south and east
  Hispid cotton rat Sigmodon hispidus possible occurrence   76, 1177 158 occurs south of Ohio River
  Southern bog lemming Synaptomys cooperi common-uncommon statewide 682 210 occur sporadically in Illinois; good swimmers
Erethizontidae Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum extirpated   83, 870(Y) 29 barbed quills; may have been extirpated before 1850
Geomyidae Plains pocket gopher Geomys bursarius   St. Clair and Madison Co., e. and s. of Illinois River to Junction with Kankakee river, s. to Indiana 690   unique among mid-west populations, most individuals are black
Myocastoridae Nutria Myocastor coypus possible occurrence   1019 398 this introduced animal has a round tail; may cause damage to agriculture and wildlife
Sciuridae Southern flying squirrel Glacomys volans common statewide 1021, 1022(B) 78 nocturnal; great gliders; common in hardwood forests
  Woodchuck Marmota monax common statewide 107   populations has been increasing since mid-1800's
  Gray squirrel Sciurus carolinensis common statewide 94, 95(P) 480 populations have decreased in numbers with the reduction of forest
  Fox squirrel Sciurus niger common statewide 96, 880 479 woodland dweller, occupying forest edge habitat; largest tree squirrel in U.S.
  Franklin's ground squirrel Spermophilus franklinii common-uncommon northern 2/3 104   may feed on bird eggs and small ground-dwelling birds
  Thirteen-lined ground squirrel Spermophilus tridecemlineatus common northern 4/5 103, 573(C), 103 nearly half the year may be spent in hibernation
  Eastern chipmunk Tamias striatus common statewide 110, 259(AB) 168 live in wooded areas or those with much underbrush; internal cheek pouches
  Red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus uncommon Kankakee River eastward, north to E. Will Co., south along Iroquois River 111, 260, 826, 827(H) 586 range reduced with destruction of forest land
Zapodidae Meadow jumping mouse Zapus hudsonius common-uncommon statewide   11 routinely leaps up to one meter
CARNIVORA              
Canidae Coyote Canis latrans common statewide 256(C), 1126, 1267 79 population has been increasing rapidly since 1970's
  Gray wolf Canis lupus extirpated   581, 1038(P), 1128 37 federally endangered; was once widespread in Illinois
  Gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus common-uncommon statewide 584 189 commonly climbs trees
  Red fox Vulpes vulpes common statewide 435(W), 436(Y), 582 537 may have been introduced from Europe
Felidae Mountain lion Felis concolor extirpated   275, 276, 586(C) 200 largest range of any mammal in North America; extirpated by end of 1800's
  Bobcat Lynx rufus threatened southern 1/3 819, 1293 563 short tufts of hair on ears; once occurred statewide
Mustelidae River otter Lontra canadensis endangered statewide 802(AC), 859(G) 587 was once widely distributed, now it is rarely encountered
  Marten Martes americana extirpated     289 extirpated after 1859; occupied north 1/4
  Fisher Martes pennanti extirpated   590(C) 156 extirpated after 1859
  Striped skunk Mephitis mephitis common statewide 280 173 predominately feeds on insects (also known to eat other invertebrates, fruits, vegetables, small mammals, birds, grasses, amphibians, reptiles and carrion)
  Ermine Mustela erminea possible occurrence   588(P), 1051 195 may occasionally wander in from southern Wisconsin
  Long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata uncommon statewide 1348 570 this is the most likely encountered of the weasels
  Least weasel Mustela nivalis uncommon northern 1/2 440(Y), 1214, 1350 454 smallest carnivore in the world
  Mink Mustela vison common statewide 1129   semi-aquatic
  Eastern spotted skunk Spilogale putorius possible occurrence       occur in eastern Iowa
  Badger Taxidea taxus common-uncommon northern 4/5 701(C), 702(A), 703(H) 26 tree removal has increased badger distribution throughout state
Procyonidae Raccoon Procyon lotor common statewide 140, 709(S) 119 does not wash food
Ursidae Black bear Ursus americanus extirpated   142(C)   occasionally wanders in from neighboring states
ARTIODACTYLA              
Bovidae Bison Bos bison extirpated   167(M), 304(CM), 305(Y), 306(H), 719(W), 720, 1311(B) 266 were once common-uncommon on Illinois prairies
Cervidae American elk (or wapiti) Cervus elaphus extirpated   189(W), 190(G), 318(Y), 809(FM), 863(M), 864(F), 1077(F), 1278   ranged widely throughout state in early 1800's
  White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus common statewide 185(F), 186(A), 803(M), 1279 388 Illinois population was practically exterminated by late 1800's; they have since rebounded
               
Reference              
Hoffmeister, D. F. 1989. Mammals of Illinois. University of Illinois Press, Urbana, IL.    
               
               
* Slide symbols              
No symbol -- portrait     H -- habitat or sign of animals activity        
A -- anatomical specialization     M -- male, when sexes differ        
B -- specialized behavior     P -- unusual color phase        
C -- close-up of head region     S -- skull        
F -- female, when sexes differ     W -- female with young        
FM -- female(s) and male(s) shown when differences obvious     Y -- young, may be newborn        
G -- group