Mammals of Wyoming

ORDER / family COMMON NAME GENUS / SPECIES DISTRIBUTION HABITAT (See key below) STATUS (See key below) Slides available from ASM** Slide no. Mammalian Species #
MARSUPIALIA              
Didelphidae Virginia Opossum Didelphis virgiana   variety typically near water   W,B 4, 630; 828, 829, 830 40  
INSECTIVORA                  
Soricidae Masked Shrew Sorex cinereus statewide except ne corner damp coniferous or deciduous areas          
  Dusky or Montane Shrew Sorex monticolus nw 1/3, se 1/4 moist montane deciduous forest          
  Dwarf Shrew Sorex nanus western 2/3 alpine rubble over 4240 m and arid habitats at lower elevations       131  
  Water Shrew Sorex palustris nw 1/3, se 1/4 cold clear streams and wet meadows       296  
  Preble's Shrew Sorex preblei extreme nw, Lamar ranger station, Yellowstone         416  
  Merriam's Shrew Sorex merriami statewide grasslands & mixed woodlands       2  
  Pygmy Shrew Sorex hoyi se corner near Laramie   R        
  Hayden's Shrew Sorex haydeni ne corner montane          
  Vagrant Shrew Sorex vagrans sw edge   R        
Talpidae Eastern mole Scalopus aquaticus se edge     C,S 647; 648 105  
CHIROPTERA                  
Verspertilionidae Little Brown Myotis Myotis lucifugus statewide variety of habitats close to water   X,G 224; 225, 814 142  
  Yuma Myotis Myotis yumanensis central 1/2 riparian communities below coniferous forest life zone          
  Long-legged Myotis Myotis volans statewide mixed deciduous forest above 1300m       224  
  Long-eared Myotis Myotis evotis statewide coniferous forests   X 732 329  
  Fringed Myotis Myotis thysanodes eastern 1/4 mid elevations, grasslands, deserts and woodlands       137  
  California Myotis Myotis californicus bighorn basin low desert to oak juniper woodlands       428  
  Small-footed Myotis Myotis ciliolabrum statewide montane forest to shortgrass prairie   X 226    
  Keen's Myotis Myotis keenii ne corner mixed deciduous forest R        
  Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans statewide variety of habitats C X 658 172  
  Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus statewide frequently around buildings C X,C 39; 223 356  
  Red Bat Lasiurus borealis eastern 1/3   R X,C 40; 655, 815 183  
  Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus statewide grease-wood flats, aspen-pine forest R X 41, 42, 656 185  
  Spotted Bat Euderma maculatum western 1/2 low desert to evergreen forests R X 734 77  
  Townsend's Big-eared Bat Plecotus townsendii statewide desert shrublands to dry coniferous forests   C 229 175  
  Pallid Bat Antrozous pallidus southern and eastern edge desert and grassland   C 230 213  
Molossidae Brazilian Free-tailed Bat Tadarida brasiliensis se corner         331  
LAGOMORPHA                  
Ochotonidae Pika Ochotona princeps northwest mtns, Bighorns, Sierra Madre, Medicine Bow range talus slopes, tundra, subalpine fir, spruce fir   X,B 63; 64 352  
Leporidae Pygmy rabbit Sylvilagus idahoensis sw corner dense tall stands of big sagebrush          
  Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus se corner riprarian, brush       136  
  Nuttall's Cottontail Sylvilagus nutalli statewide except se corner sagebrush, juniper, pine and fir between 1200-2700m       56  
  Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii statewide shrublands, juniper woodlands   X,Y 58; 953 106  
  Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus mountain ranges except for Black Hills high elevation riparian or shrubby habitats   X,P 246; 544    
  White-tailed Jack Rabbit Lepus townsendii statewide wide range of open habitats       288  
  Black-tailed Jack Rabbit Lepus californicus eastern 1/3 short grass prairie below ponderosa pine forest zone   X,Y 60; 246    
RODENTIA                  
Sciuridae Least Chipmunk Tamias minimus statewide arid areas: sagebrush, rocky hillsides   X 108    
  Cliff Chipmunk Tamias dorsalis se edge rocky, steep hillsides       399  
  Yellow-Pine Chipmunk Tamias amoenus nw 1/3 aspen and lodgepole pine forests          
  Uinta Chipmunk Tamias umbrinus nw corner and southern edge lodgepole pine and douglas fir forests          
  yellow-bellied Marmot Marmota flaviventris nw 1/2 south central and ne edge tundra to nearby plains   X 106 135  
  Wyoming Ground Squirrel Spermophilus elegans southern 1/2 open habitats; sage grasslands to alpine meadows   X 99 243  
  Uinta Ground Squirrel Spermophilus armatus western 1/3 grasslands meadows open areas in forests          
  Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel Spermophilus tricemlineatus eastern 3/4 grasslands and desert grasslands   X,C 103; 573 103  
  Spotted Ground Squirrel Spermophilus spilosoma se corner deep sandy soils with little vegetation       101  
  Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel Spermophilus lateralis southern and western parts rocky outcrops, open areas   X,P 100; 1108 440  
  Black-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys ludovicianus eastern 1/2 over grazed short grass prairie   X 105    
  White-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys leucurus western 1/2 shrub grass and desert grass communities       7  
  Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger cities of Larimie & Cheyenne and Black Hills deciduous trees in cities   X 96, 880 479  
  Abert's squirrel Sciurus aberti se edge rocky ponderosa pine grassland          
  Red Squirrel (Pine Squirrel, Chickaree) Tamiasciurus hudsonicus throughout conifer covered mountains conifer forests   X,H 111, 260, 826; 827    
  Northern Flying Squirrel Flaucomys sabrinus conifer covered mtns in northwest and in Sweetwater county and Black hills conifer forests          
Geomyidae Wyoming pocket gopher Thomomys clusius south central edge upland species, gravelly soil and greasewood          
  Northern Pocket Gopher Thomomys talpoides statewide all vegetation types with loose soil   X,A 688; 689    
  Plains Pocket Gopher Geomys lutescens eastern 1/4 deep sandy soils in treeless prairie   X 690    
  Idaho pocket gopher Thomomys idhoensis sw corner shallow stony soils          
Heteromyidae Olive-backed Mouse Perognathus faciatus eastern 3/4 sandy areas, shortgrass prairie          
  Plains Pocket Mouse Perognathus flavescens se corner sand dunes, sage grassland, yucca grassland   X 694    
  Silky Pocket Mouse Perognathus flavus se corner and edge grassland, desert and junifper woodland   X 562, 1182 471  
  Great Basin Pocket Mouse Perognathus parvus sw corner low basin shrub grassland   X 752 318  
  Hispid Pocket Mouse Perognathus hispidus easterb 1.4 sand dunes, sage-grass and prairies          
  Ord's Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys ordii arid basins throughout state restricted to pen sand dunes   X,S 560, 693, 1099 353  
Castoridae Beaver Castor canadensis statewide wetlands   X,H 408, 409, 1239; 248, 410, 1316, 1317 120  
Muridae Plains Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys montanus eastern 1/2 grassland with little bare soil       257  
  Western Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis eastern 2/3 grassy areas, shrub-steppe   X 1018 167  
  Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus statewide most all habitats   X 74, 1175    
  White-footed Mouse Peromyscus leucopus ne corner and edge woodlands, gallery forests   X,A 73, 1174;251 247  
  Canyon Mouse Peromyscus crinitus sw edge sandstone outcrops sandy soils and limber pine or lodgepole       287  
  Pinon Mouse Peromyscus truei sw edge less dense shrubsteppe areas          
  Northern Grasshopper Mouse Onychomys leucogaster statewide except nw corner semiarid grasslands with silty or sandy soils   X 253, 1017, 1169 87  
  Bushy tailed woodrat Neotoma cinerea statewide rocky outcrops       310  
Arvicolinae (subfamily) Southern Red-backed Vole Clethrionomys gapperi lodgepole pine, spruce-fir and mixed deciduous forests often near marshy areas, leaf litter, willow communities   X 69 146  
  Heather Vole Phenacomys intermedius mtns in nw, Uintas, Sierra Madre and Medicine Bow mtns grassy streamsides, spruce-fir forests fell fields,alpine meadows       305  
  Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus western and ne moist grasslands, sedge meadows   X 70 159  
  Montane Vole Microtus montanus western 2/3 grassy openings from boreal coniferous forests to juniper-sage communities          
  Long-tailed Vole Microtus longicaudus statewide variable habitat including grassland, alpine and wet meadows       271  
  Prairie Vole Microtus ochrogaster eastern 2/3 drier prairies with non-codominant shrubs   X 1160 355  
  Sagebrush Vole Lemmiscus curtatus statewide dense sage, greasewood or rabbit brush          
  Water Vole Microtus richardsoni nw corner, edge subalpine and alpine meadow streams of low gradient   X 947    
  Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus statewide aquatic habitats   X,H 1162; 1163 141  
Murinae (subfamily) Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus statewide     X,W,G,B 758; 755; 756; 757    
  House Mouse Mus musculus statewide     X 92, 754    
Dipodidae Meadow Jumping Mouse Zapus hudsonius eastern edge moist streamside vegetation in open prairie       11  
  Western Jumping Mouse Zapus princeps western parts streamsides marshes and ponds   X 1110    
Erethizontidae Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum statewide forests or vegetated riparian areas   X,Y 83; 870 29  
CARNIVORA                  
Canidae Coyote Canis latrans statewide variety plains, mountains and deserts   X,C 1126, 1127, 1267; 265 79  
  Grey Wolf Canis lupus statewide variety, grasslands, sagebrush steppes, mixed forests   X,P 581, 1128; 1038 37  
  Red Fox Vulpes vulpes statewide streamside communities open areas, brush etc.   X,W,Y 582; 435; 436    
  Swift Fox Vulpes velox eastern 1/4 shortgrass prairie   X,Y 583, 1208; 269 122  
  Grey Fox Urocyon cinereo- argenteus ne corner deciduous forest, stream courses and shrublands   X 584 189  
Ursidae Black Bear Ursus americanus western 2/3 roadless areas with thick understory vegetation   C,S 142;1132    
  Grizzly Bear Ursus arctos nw corner non-forested valley and plateau grasslands forested areas with wet to medium conditions   X,C,CB,B 455, 1008; 821, 1271 439  
Procyonidae Ringtail Bassariscus astutus southern edge variety, dense riparian, mountain evergreen forests oak lowlands   X 858 327  
  Raccoon Procyon lotor statewide except nw corner anywhere with water   X,S 140; 709 119  
Mustelidae American Marten Martes americana mtns of south central, western, and northern parts mature spruce-fir forests       289  
  Fisher Martes pennanti nw corner coniferous forests          
  Ermine (Short-tailed Weasel) Mustela erminea statewide coniferous forests   X,P 1051; 588 195  
  Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata statewide open fields, desert shrubs, grasslands          
  Least Weasel Mustela nivalis north central edge 1280-1580m, sagebrush and grass divided by riparian habitats   X,Y 1214; 440 454  
  Black-footed Ferret Mustela nigripes single location Big Horn Basin associated with prairie dog colonies   X 128 126  
  Mink Mustela vison statewide near open water   X 1129    
  Wolverine Gulo gulo nw edge mountain ranges   C,S 442; 807 499  
  Badger Taxidea taxus statewide grassland and sagebrush   C,A,H 701; 702; 703 26  
  Western Spotted Skunk Spilogale gracilis western 1/2 dry grass and shrublands          
  Eastern Spotted Skunk Spilogale putorius eastern 1/3 near streams and rivers          
  Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis statewide mixed woodlands, open fields, rocky outcrops   X      
  Northern River Otter Lutra canadensis northern parts most river drainages   AC, G 802;859    
Felidae Mountain Lion Felis concolor statewide dense cover, rocky terrain       200  
  Lynx Lynx lynx nw corner dense coniferous forests, rocky outcrops   X 1046 269  
  Bobcat Lynx rufus statewide brushy country, rocky areas   X 819    
ARTIODACTYLA                  
Cervidae Elk (Wapiti) Cervus elaphus statewide deserts, timbered areas shrubland high mountain meadows   M,G,F,Y,FM,M 186,863; 190;191, 864, 1077;318; 809; 189, 863    
  Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus statewide variety, deserts riparian areas forests tundra   M,Y,F 187; 475; 476 219  
  White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virgianus statewide dense deciduous riparian communities   F,A,M 185; 186; 803, 1279 388  
  Moose Alces alces nw 1/2 high spruce-fir zone to willow and riparian communities   M,CM 192; 618 154  
  Pronghorn Antilocarpa americana statewide open plains, shrub grasslands mountain basins   M,F,B 166, 717; 718; 823 90  
Bovidae Bison (American Buffalo) Bison bison nw corner grasslands and meadow communities   X, M,CM,Y,H,W 720, 1273; 167; 304; 305; 306; 719; 1224 266  
  Mountain Goat Oreamnos americanus Absaroka and Teton mtns (not native) high rocky mountains   X, W,C 1274; 170, 171 63  
  Mountain Sheep (Bighorn Sheep) Ovis canadensis mtns nw part high mountain terrain, sagebrush country   G,CM,FM 168, 169; 307, 941 230  
Information from:   1) Mammals in Wyoming, Clark, T.W. and M.R. Stromberg, 1987, University of Kansas Museum of Natural History              
Status Abbreviations:   Ab = Abundant   U = Unusual          
    C=Common   R = Rare          
    FC = Fairly Common   Und = Undetermined          
    Irr = Irregular              
**Letters & no.s describe the slide available:   A = anatomical specialization   H = habitat or sign of animal's activity          
    B = specialized behaviour   S = Skull          
    C = close-up of head region   Y = young          
    F = female, when sexes differ   G = group          
    FM = female(s) & male(s) shown when differences obvious   (no letter) = standard portrait          
HABITAT:   1 Grassland   5 Montane Forest          
    2 Semidesert Shrubland   6 Subalpine Forest          
    3 Pinon-Juniper Woodland   7 Alpine Tundra          
    4 Montane Shrubland   8 Riparian Systems