Mammals of Minnesota

DIDELPHIMORPHIA

Didelphidae

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

Common

Southern 3/4 of the state

003, 004(W), 630, 828(B), 829(B,C), 830(C)

40

The only North American marsupial

LAGOMORPHA

Leporidae

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

Common

Through most of the state, except the extreme north

058, 953(Y)

136

Snowshoe Hare

Lepus americanus

Common

Northeastern 1/2 of the state

246, 544(P)

Changes color seasonally

White-tailed Jackrabbit

Lepus townsendii

Common

Absent from the northeast 1/4 of the state

1189, 1349

288

Changes color seasonally

SORICOMORPHA

Soricidae

Northern Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina brevicauda

Common

Statewide

020, 644(S)

261

Venomous

Least Shrew

Cryptotis parva

Species of special concern

Extreme southeastern corner of the state

957

43

Arctic Shrew

Sorex arcticus

Common

Northeastern 2/3 of the state

1391

524

Masked Shrew

Sorex cinereus

Common

Statewide

1392

743

Hayden's Shrew

Sorex haydeni

Not well documented for Minnesota

Western and southern  edge of the state

It is very difficult to differentiate this species from Sorex cinereus

Water Shrew

Sorex palustris

Common

North-northeast 2/3 of the state

1287

33

Good swimmer; good indicator of water quality

Pygmy Shrew

Sorex hoyi

Uncommon

Statewide

296

Talpidae

Star-nosed Mole

Condylura cristata

Common

Northern 1/2 of the state except it is absent in the western edge of the state

649(A,C), 650

129

Good swimmer and digger

Eastern Mole

Scalopus aquaticus

Common

Southern 1/2 of the state, except it is absent in the west, north of Pipestone county

647(A,C), 648(S)

105

Good digger

CHIROPTERA

Vespertilionidae

Big Brown Bat

Eptesicus fuscus

Common

Statewide

020(C), 223

356

Red Bat

Lasiurus borealis

Common

Statewide

040, 655, 815

183

Hoary Bat

Lasiurus cinereus

Common

Statewide

656, 041, 042

185

Eastern Pipistrelle

Perimyotis subflavus

Species of special concern

Southwestern 1/4 of the state

038, 654(C)

228

Silver-haired Bat

Lasionycteris noctivagans

Common

Statewide

658

172

Little Brown Bat

Myotis lucifugus

Common

Statewide

224, 225(G), 814

142

Northern Myotis

Myotis septentrionalis

Species of special concern

Statewide

634

CARNIVORA

Felidae

Lynx, Canada Lynx

Lynx canadensis

Rare

Northeastern 1/4 of the state

587

Bobcat

Lynx rufus

Common

Statewide

819, 1293

563

Mountain Lion

Puma concolor

Accidental

Reports are scattered across the state

275, 276, 586

200

Canidae

Coyote

Canis latrans

Common

Statewide

265(C), 1126, 1127, 1267

79

Wolf, Timber Wolf, Grey Wolf

Canis lupus

Species of special concern

Northeastern 1/3 of the state

581, 1038, 1128

37

Grey Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Common

Statewide

584

189

Only member of the dog family that can climb trees

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

Common

Statewide

435(W), 436(Y), 582

537

Ursidae

Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Common

Northeastern 1/4 of the state

142, 1132(S)

647

Mustelidae

River Otter

Lontra canadensis

Common

Statewide, except the prairie in the west and southwest, especially near rivers

802(C), 859(G)

587

Wolverine

Gulo gulo

Accidental

Last specimen taken in 1899 in Itasca County; occasional scattered reports

442, 807(S), 1295(S), 1296(S), 1297(S)

499

Pine Martin

Martes americana

Common

North-northeastern 1/4 of the state

289

Fisher

Martes pennanti

Common

Northeastern 1/3 of the state

590

156

One of the few animals that can kill porcupines

Short-tailed Weasel, Ermine

Mustela erminea

Common

Statewide

588(P), 1051

195

Changes color seasonally

Long-tailed Weasel

Mustela frenata

Uncommon

Statewide

1348

570

Changes color seasonally

Least Weasel

Mustela nivalis

Species of special concern

Statewide

440, 1214, 1350

454

Changes color seasonally

Mink

Neovison vison

Common

Statewide

1129

608

Good swimmer

Badger

Taxidea taxus

Common

Statewide

701(C), 702(A), 703(H)

26

Mephitidae

Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis

Common

Statewide

280

173

Eastern Spotted Skunk

Spilogale putorius

Threatened

Statewide, except for the northeast 1/4

511

Procyonidae

Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Common

Statewide

140, 709(S)

119

PERISSODACTYLA

Equidae

Horse

Equus caballus

Domesticated

NA

150(G), 294, 1063(C)

628

ARTIODACTYLA

Cervidae

Moose

Alces americanus

Uncommon

Northern 1/2 of the state

192(M), 618(C)

154

This species might be more abundant, but they are often found in rugged, boggy areas

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Uncommon

Southwestern 2/3 of the state

187(M), 475(Y), 476(F)

219

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Common

Statewide

185(F), 186, 803(M), 1279(M), 1313

388

Caribou

Rangifer tarandus

Accidental

NA

193(G, M), 477(G), 1280(M), 1314

Males and females have antlers; reintroductions attempts have been unsuccessful

Elk

Cervis elaphus

Reintroduced/Species of special concern

NA

189(M), 190(G,M), 191(F), 318(Y), 809(FM), 863(M), 864(F), 1077(G), 1278(M)

Antilocapridae

Pronghorn

Antilocapra americana

Accidental

Lac Qui Parle County record in 1978; occasional reports near South Dakota

166(M), 717(M), 718(F), 823(M), 1310(C,M)

90

Fastest North American mammal

Bovidae

Bison

Bison bison

Reintroduced

Rock County only

167(M), 304(C,M), 305(Y), 306(H), 719(W), 720(F), 1224, 1273, 1311

266

RODENTIA

Sciuridae

Grey Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

Common

Statewide, but absent from the southwestern corner

094, 095(P)

480

Fox Squirrel

Sciurus niger

Common

Statewide, but absent from the northern 1/4

096, 880(P)

479

Red Squirrel

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

Common

Statewide, but absent form the west-southwest sliver bordering South Dakota

111, 260, 826, 827H

586

Northern Flying Squirrel

Glaucomys sabrinus

Common

Northern 1/2 of the state

1020

229

Southern Flying Squirrel

Glaucomys volans

Common

Southeastern 1/4 of the state

1021, 1022(A,B)

78

Woodchuck, Ground Hog

Marmota monax

Common

Statewide

107

591

Franklin's Ground Squirrel

Spermophilus franklinii

Common

Statewide, but absent from much of the north east

104

724

Richardson's Ground Squirrel

Spermophilus richardsonii

Common

Along the western edge of the state

243

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel

Spermophilus tridecemlineatus

Common

Statewide, but absent from much of the north east

103, 573

103

Least Chipmunk

Tamias minimus

Common

Northeastern 1/3 of the state

108

653

Eastern Chipmunk

Tamias striatus

Common

Statewide except the extreme southwestern corner

110, 259(A)

168

Castoridae

Beaver

Castor canadensis

Common

Statewide

247(H), 248(H), 408, 409(H), 410(H), 1239, 1316(H), 1317(H)

120

Heteromyidae

Plains Pocket Mouse

Perognathus subflavus

Species of special concern

Much of the southern 1/2 of the state, but absent from the eastern border.  Range also extends up the western edge of the state

694, 1337

525

Geomyidae

Plains Pocket Gopher

Geomys bursarius

Common

Southwestern 2/3 of the state

690

Northern Pocket Gopher

Thomomys talpiodes

Species of special concern

Extreme northwestern corner of the state

688, 689

618

Dipodidae

Woodland Jumping Mouse

Napaeozapus insignis

Uncommon

Northeastern 1/4 of the state

113

14

Meadow Jumping Mouse

Zapus hudsonius

Common

Statewide

11

Cricetidae

Rock Vole, Yellownosed Vole

Microtus chrotorrhinus

Rare

Northeast 1/4 of the state

250

180

Prairie Vole

Microtus ochrogaster

Species of special concern

Southwest 1/2 of the state

1160

355

Meadow Vole

Microtus pennsylvanicus

Common

Statewide

70

159

Woodland Vole

Microtus pinetorum

Species of special concern

Extreme southeast corner of the state

147

Southern Red-backed Vole

Myodes gapperi

Common

Statewide except the southwestern 1/4 and the extreme southeast

69

146

Muskrat

Ondatra zibethicus

Common

Statewide

1162, 1163(H)

141

Heather Vole

Phenacomys intermedius

Species of special concern

One specimen taken in 1940 near Ely, county unknown

Northern Bog Lemming

Synaptomys borealis

Species of special concern

Extreme northcentral part of the state

Southern Bog Lemming

Synaptomys cooperi

Uncommon

Statewide, except the prairie in the west and southwest

682

210

This species might be more abundant, but they're more difficult to trap than other small mammals.

Northern Grasshopper Mouse

Onychomys leucogaster

Common

Western 1/4 of the state, extending to the western 1/2 of the state in the south

253, 1017, 1169

87

White-footed Mouse

Peromyscus leucopus

Common

Statewide, but absent from the northern 1/4

073, 251, 1174

247

Deer Mouse

Peromyscus maniculatus

Common

Statewide

074, 1175

Western Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys megalotis

Common

Southern 1/3 of the state

1018

167

Muridae

Brown Rat

Rattus norvegicus

Common

Statewide

755(W), 756, 757, 758

House Mouse

Mus musculus

Common

Statewide

092, 754

Erethizontidae

Porcupine

Erethizon dorsatum

Common

Northeast 1/2 of the state

083, 870(Y) 29