This list of mammals in Pennsylvania consists of 66 species currently believed to occur wild in the state. This excludes feral domesticated species such as feral cats and dogs.
Several species recently lived wild in Pennsylvania, but are now extirpated (locally, but not globally, extinct). They are the marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris), eastern wolf (Canis lycaon), American marten (Martes americana), wolverine (Gulo gulo), cougar (Puma concolor), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), moose (Alces alces), and bison (Bison bison).
Opossums Order: Didelphimorphia
Family: Didelphidae
One species of opossum occurs in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name StatusExcept where noted otherwise, status and distribution come from Notes Distribution Virginia opossum
Didelphis virginiana Common D. virginiana virginiana Statewide
Shrews and moles Order: Eulipotyphla
Family: Soricidae
Seven species of shrews live in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Northern short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda Common
Statewide Least shrew Cryptotis parva Endangeredlocally
South central Masked shrew Sorex cinereus Common
Statewide Maryland shrew Sorex cinereus fontinalis Common The Maryland shrew is now considered a subspecies of masked shrew. Piedmont and Valley and Ridge Long-tailed shrew Sorex dispar Rare
Appalachian Uplands Smoky shrew Sorex fumeus Common
Statewide Pygmy shrew Sorex hoyi Uncommon
Presumed statewide Water shrew Sorex palustris Uncommon
Mountain streams
Family: Talpidae
Three species of moles occur in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Star-nosed mole Condylura cristata Uncommon
Statewide Hairy-tailed mole Parascalops breweri Uncommon
Statewide Eastern mole Scalopus aquaticus Uncommon
Piedmont and Valley and Ridge
Bats Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae
Eleven species of evening bats occur in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Tri-colored bat Perimyotis subflavus Uncommon
Statewide Big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus Common
Statewide Evening bat Nycticeius humeralis Rare
Southeastern Red bat Lasiurus borealis Uncommon
Statewide Seminole bat Lasiurus seminolus Rare
Piedmont Hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus Uncommon
Statewide Small-footed myotis Myotis leibii Threatenedlocally
Statewide Northern long-eared bat Myotis septentrionalis
Statewide Little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus Common
Statewide Indiana bat Myotis sodalis Endangered
Central Silver-haired bat Lasionycteris noctivagans Uncommon
Statewide
Rabbits and hares Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Three species of rabbits and hares occur in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Eastern cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus Common
Statewide Appalachian cottontail Sylvilagus obscurus Uncommon
Eastern mountains Snowshoe hare Lepus americanus Rare
Appalachian UplandsEuropean hareLepus europaeusCommonIntroducedNortheastern area
Rodents
Order: Rodentia
Family: Castoridae
One species of beaver occurs in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution North American beaver Castor canadensis Reintroduced
Statewide
Family: Myocastoridae
One species of porcupine occurs in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution North American porcupine Erethizon doratum Uncommon
Northern and central
Family: Zapodidae
Two species of jumping mice occur in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Woodland jumping mouse Napaeozapus insignis Common
Northern and western Meadow jumping mouse Zapus hudsonius Common
Statewide
Family: Cricetidae
Nine species of voles and New World rats and mice occur in Pennsylvania.
Subfamily Arvicolinae (lemmings, voles, and muskrats)
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Rock vole Microtus chrotorrhinus Rare
Northeast Meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus Common
Statewide Woodland vole Microtus pinetorum Common
Statewide Southern bog lemming Synaptomys cooperi Uncommon
Statewide Southern red-backed vole Clethrionomys gapperi Common
Statewide Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus Common
Statewide
Subfamily Neotominae (North American rats and mice)
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Allegheny woodrat Neotoma magister Threatened
Mountain ridges Eastern deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus Common
Statewide White-footed mouse Peromyscus leucopus Common
Statewide
Family: Muridae
Three species of Old World rats and mice occur in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution House mouse Mus musculus Introduced
Statewide Brown rat Rattus norvegicus Introduced
Statewide Black rat Rattus rattus Introduced
Statewide
Family: Sciuridae
Eight species of squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots occur in Pennsylvania.
Subfamily Sciurinae (tree squirrels and flying squirrels)
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Eastern gray squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis Common
Statewide Fox squirrel Sciurus niger Uncommon
Southern and western American red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Common
Statewide Northern flying squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus Rare
Northern Southern flying squirrel Glaucomys volans Common
Statewide
Subfamily Xerinae (chipmunks and ground squirrels)
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Groundhog Marmota monax Common
Statewide Thirteen-lined ground squirrel Ictidomys tridecemlineatus Introduced
Mercer and Venango Counties Eastern chipmunk Tamias striatus Common
Statewide
Carnivorans Order: Carnivora
Family: Felidae
One species of cat occurs in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Bobcat Lynx rufus Rare L. rufus rufus Appalachian Uplands
Family: Canidae
Three species of canids occur in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Coyote Canis latrans Common Eastern coyote, C. latrans ssp. Statewide Gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus Common Statewide Red fox Vulpes vulpes Common Eastern American red fox, V. vulpes fulvus Statewide
Family: Ursidae
One species of bear occurs in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Black bear Ursus americanus Common U. americanus americanus Appalachian Mountains in Central Pennsylvania
Family: Mephitidae
Two species of skunks occur in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Striped skunk Mephitis mephitis Common
Statewide Eastern spotted skunk Spilogale putorius Rare
South central
Family: Mustelidae
Seven species of mustelids occur in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution River otter Lontra canadensis Rare L. canadensis canadensis Northern Least weasel Mustela nivalis Uncommon M. nivalis allegheniensis Western two-thirdsAmerican ermineMustela richardsoniiUncommonStatewide except southwest Long-tailed weasel Neogale frenata Common Statewide Mink Neogale vison Common N. vison mink Statewide Fisher Pekania pennanti Reintroduced
North centralBadgerTaxidea taxusRareonly four confirmed records since 1946Southwest Pennsylvania
Family: Procyonidae
One species of raccoon occurs in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Raccoon Procyon lotor Common Eastern raccoon, P. lotor lotor Statewide
Hoofed mammals
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Two species of deer occur in Pennsylvania.
Common name Scientific name Status Notes Distribution Elk Cervus canadensis Reintroduced Eastern elk once inhabited the state, but were driven to extinction. Rocky Mountain elk were introduced in their place in the early 20th century, and the population has risen steadily since then. North central White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus Common Northern white-tailed deer, O. virginianus borealis Statewide
References