Mammals of Vermont

ORDER/Family Common name Species Name Status Distribution Slide Library* Mamm. Species # Comments
MARSUPIALIA              
Didelphidae (Opossums) North American Opossum Didelphis virginiana common,S4 statewide       3, 4(W), 630, 828(B), 829(B), 830(B) 40 Most teeth of any North American mammal (50), nocturnal, solitary, can be found near people's houses, omnivorous.
INSECTIVORA              
Soricidae (Shrews) Masked Shrew Sorex cinereus common,S5 statewide     Likes moist areas in fields, brushlands and forests.
  Water Shrew Sorex palustris rare, S3 statewide   296 Lives in aquatic habitats, particularly in mountainous areas.  Eats aquatic insects.  Likely underdetected.
  Smoky Shrew Sorex fumeus common, S4 statewide   215 Prefers damp, shaded forests.
  Long-tailed Shrew Sorex dispar rare, S2 statewide,   155 Generally found in rocky areas.
  Pygmy shrew Sorex hoyi rare, S2 statewide 495 33 Makes burrows in loose soil.
  Northern Short-tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda common, S5 statewide 20, 644(S) 261 Not habitat specific, very venomous saliva.
Talpidae (Moles) Hairy-tailed Mole Parascalops breweri common, S4, statewide 646(S), 852 98 Likes sandy, drier soils; as name implies, has fur on tail.
  Star-nosed Mole Condylura cristata common, S4 statewide 649(C), 650 (B) 129 Likes wet soils, even eats aquatic insects.
CHIROPTERA (Bats)            
Vespertilionidae Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus common, S5 statewide  224, 225(G), 814(G) 142 Lives in hollow trees, buildings , caves and mines.
  Long-eared  Bat Myotis septentrionalis rare, S3 statewide 226 121 Resembles Little Brown in appearance and habits, silky fur.
  Indiana Bat Myotis sodalis endangered, S1 not in NE VT 391 163 Grayish-brown; often hibernates in  isolated colonies.
  Small-footed Bat Myotis leibii (subulatus - delete) threatened, S1 statewide 226   Small feet, golden brown, black ears and face mask.
  Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans rare, S3 statewide 658 172 Brown, silvery throat, neck and head.  Likes conifers, water.
  Eastern Pipistrelle Pipistrellus subflavus rare, S3 statewide 38, 654(C) 228 Reddish brown back, yellowish belly. Very small
  Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus common, S3,4 statewide 39(C), 223 356 Large.  Eats largely beetles.
  Red Bat Lasiurus borealis common, S3,4 statewide 40, 655(C), 815 183 Brick-red to buffy orange.  Catch insects around electric lights.
  Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus common, S3,4 statewide 41, 42, 656 185 Vermont's largest bat.  Eats a variety of insects.
LAGOMORPHA (Hares and Rabbits)            
Leporidae Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus Common, S5 statewide 58, 953Y 136 Introduced, widespread. Uses wider range of habitats than New England cottontail.
  New England Cottontail Sylvilagus transitionalis rare,  Su uncertain   55 Live in northern forests and brushy habitat.
  Varying or Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus common, S5 statewide 246, 544(P)   Color varies with seasons.  Large hind feet keep it on top of snow.
RODENTIA              
Sciuridae (Squirrels) Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus common, S5 statewide 110, 259(AB) 168 Can climb trees, may be seen for short periods in winter.
  Woodchuck Marmota monax common, S5 statewide 107   Can climb trees, agricultural pests. Not seen in winter.
  Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis common, S5 statewide                      94,95P 480 Can be black or white (albino) or vary brown spots yearly.
  Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus common, S5 statewide 111,260,  826,  827(H)   Prefer to feed on seeds in cones.  Readily "scolds" people.
  Southern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys volans common, S4 statewide 1021,F101, 1022(B) 78 Common but seldom seen because it is nocturnal.
  Northern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus common, S4 statewide 1020 229 Similar to Southern Flying Squirrel but larger.
Castoridae Beaver Castor canadensis common, S5 statewide 247(H), 248(H), 408, 409(H), 410(H), 1239 120  Beaver activity creates habitat for other species.  Populations increasing after near extirpation and reintroduction in 1932.
Muridae (rats, mice, voles, lemmings) Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus common, S5 statewide 74, 1175   Difficult to distinguish from white-footed mouse. The bottom of the tail is white, the overall color often grayish.
  White-footed mouse Peromyscus leucopus common , S5 statewide 73, 251(A), 1174 247 Fur is often brownish rather than grayish, tail indistinctly bicolored. Both Peromyscus species may invade people's homes during late fall and early winter, especially if these are in forested areas.
  Southern Red-backed Vole Clethrionomys gapperi common, S5 statewide 69 146 Chestnut colored back on gray body.  Climbs, runs, jumps and swims well. Also known as Gapper's vole.
  Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus common, S5 statewide 70 159 The common "field mouse."  Usually brown, round face, short ears and short tail.
  Rock or Yellow-Nosed Vole Microtus chrotorrhinus rare, S2 statewide     250(C) 180 As name implies, lives in rocky areas.
  Woodland or Pine Vole Microtus pinetorum uncommon, S3 statewide   147 Scattered throughout its range. Lives in leaf litter.
  Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus common, S5 statewide     1162, 1163(H) 141 Can be confused with beaver.  Smaller than beaver, long tail "snakes" behind the animal as it swims.
  Southern Bog Lemming Synaptomys cooperi uncommon, S3 statewide 682 210 Like many other small rodents, it builds runways.  These it litters with green droppings.  Eats sedges and grasses.
  Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus common, introduced statewide 755(W), 756(B),  757(B), 758   Burrows, frequents cities, eats anything edible.  Albino strain used in biological and medical laboratories.
  House Mouse Mus musculus common, introduced statewide  F23, 92, 754   Usually around buildings.  Though generally detrimental, an albino strain is used in laboratories.
Zapodidae (Jumping Mice) Meadow Jumping Mouse Zapus hudsonius common, S5 statewide   11 Can jump almost a meter, changing direction abruptly and remaining still to confuse predators. Hibernates. Likes  meadows
  Woodland Jumping Mouse   Napaeozapus insignis     common, S5 statewide 113 14 Lives in coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests. Hibernates.
Erethizontidae (Porcupines) Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum common, S5 statewide 83, 870(Y) 29 Slow moving.  Do not shoot their quills, drive them into tormentors with a flick of their tail.  Cause damage by gnawing.
CARNIVORA              
Canidae (dogs) Eastern Coyote Canis latrans common statewide   265(C), 1126, 1127, 1267 79 Larger than western coyote.  Increasingly said to form packs. First detected in Vermont in 1948.
  Gray Wolf Canis lupus SX extirpated 581, 1038(P), 1128 37 Ancestor of domestic dog, social. Hunts animals larger than itself.  Record of wolf killed in 1830 in Vermont.  Poorly documented records of wolves occasionally present.
  Red Fox Vulpes vulpes common, S5 statewide  435(W), 436(Y), 582   White tip on tail, eats rodents.
  Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus common, S5 statewide 584 189 Black stripe on upper tail, climbs trees!
Ursidae (Bears) American Black Bear Ursus americanus common, S5 statewide   142(C),  1132(S)   Usually not aggressive, adults climb trees.
Procyonidae (Raccoons) Raccoon Procyon lotor common, S5 statewide 140,  709(S) 119 Nocturnal, omnivorous.  Uses hand-like paws to catch aquatic animals. Preys on eggs and young birds.
Mustelidae (weasels) Marten Martes americana likely extirpated     289 Found in isolated pockets of habitat.  Attempted reintroduction in 1989 appears to have failed.
  Fisher Martes pennanti common, S5  statewide    590(C), 156 Successfully preys on porcupines. Was reintroduced in Vermont 1959-1967.
  Ermine Mustela ermina common, S5 statewide     588(P) 195 Varies color seasonally.
  Long-tail weasel Mustela frenata common, S3,4 statewide     Like all weasels, beneficial.  Kills rodents.
  Mink Mustela vison common, S5 statewide 1129   Lives near water, eats other vertebrates.
  Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis common, S5 statewide 280 173 Nocturnal, omnivorous, beneficial
  River Otter Lontra canadensis common, S5 statewide 802(AC), 859(G)   Playful, eats fish
Felidae (cats) Mountain Lion Felis concolor SX extirpated  275, 276,  586© 200 Unofficial reports of tracks or sightings. Last official report is of one killed in 1881.
  Lynx Lynx canadensis endangered N tip of VT 587   Last specimen killed in 1968, likely accidental.
  Bobcat Lynx rufus common, S4 statewide 819       Does well in Champlain Valley and foothills.
ARTIODACTYLA (Even-toed ungulates)          
Cervidae (deer) White-Tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus common, S5 statewide 185(F), 186(A), 803(M), 1279(M) 388 Abandoned farms providing much habitat.
  Moose Alces alces rare statewide 192(M), 618(CM) 154 Largest North American deer.  In summer eat aquatic plants, in winter more woody ones.  Water helps cool them.
  Elk Cervus elaphus extirpated   189-91, 318, 804, 863, 4, 1077, 1278   Not likely to reappear.  Large, appears to have no tail.  Males make whistling sounds called "bugling." 
  Woodland Caribou Rangifer caribou extirpated       Not likely to reappear.  Caribou are actually North American versions of reindeer.
*A=Anatomical Specialization, B=Behavioral, C=Close-up of Head, F=Female, FM=Female&Male, G=Group, H=Habitat, M=Male,   P=Phase of Color, S=Skull, W=female With young,
       Y=Young, CP=Comparison of species or subspecies
This list was authored by Andrew Joachim with assistance from Steve Parren of Vermont Fish and Wildlife, Waterbury, VT.
References used in preparing this list:
Burt, W. H. and R.P. Grossenheider, A Field Guide to the Mammals, (1976) (Peterson's Field Guide Series) R.M. Novak.  Walker's Mammals of the World, (1991)
D.A. Saunders Adirondack Mammals
Please send comments to Pam Vaughan at:
pjv47@yahoo.com