List of mammals of Yellowstone National Park

There are at least 67 species of mammals known to live within Yellowstone National Park, a protected area in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Species are listed by common name, scientific name, typical habitat, and relative abundance.

Canids

Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae

Mountain coyote (Canis latrans lestes) valleys, grasslands, forests – common Northwestern wolf (Canis lupus occidentalis) valleys, grasslands, forests – common Wasatch mountain fox (Vulpes vulpes macroura) meadows, forests – common

Bears

Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae

Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) grasslands, forests, alpine tundra – common American black bear (Ursus americanus cinnamomum) forests – common

Raccoons Order: Carnivora Family: Procyonidae

Common raccoon (Procyon lotor) rivers, cottonwoods – rare

Felids Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae

Cougar (Puma concolor) forests, rock outcrops – uncommon Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) coniferous forests – rare Bobcat (Lynx rufus) coniferous forests, rock outcroppings – common

Weasels

Order: Carnivora Family: Mustelidae

Wolverine (Gulo gulo) alpine tundra, coniferous forests – rare North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) rivers – common Pacific marten (Martes caurina) coniferous forests – common American ermine or short-tailed weasel (Mustela richardsonii) willows, spruce forests – common Long-tailed weasel (Neogale frenata) forests, meadows, wetlands – common American mink (Neogale vison) streams, rivers – uncommon Fisher (Pekania pennanti) forests – rare American badger (Taxidea taxus) grasslands, sagebrush – common

Skunks Order: Carnivora Family: Mephitidae

Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) riparian forests – rare

Rabbits and hares

Order: Lagomorpha Family: Leporidae

Mountain cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) shrublands – common Desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) shrublands – common Snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) coniferous forests, willows – common White-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) sagebrush, grasslands – common

Pikas Order: Lagomorpha Family: Ochotonidae

American Pika (Ochotona princeps) alpine tundra, rocky areas – common

Bovids

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae

Plains bison (Bison bison bison) grasslands, sagebrush, shrubland – abundant Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) cliffs, rock outcroppings, alpine tundra – uncommon Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus) cliffs, rock outcroppings, alpine tundra – uncommon (non-native)

Pronghorn

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Antilocapridae

Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) sagebrush, grassland – common

Elk, moose, and deer

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae

Northwestern white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus ochrourus) grasslands, forests – uncommon Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) grasslands, shrubland, forests – common Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) grasslands, shrubland, forest, alpine tundra – abundant Shiras moose (Alces alces shirasi) grasslands, forests, river, lakes – uncommon

Shrews Order: Soricomorpha Family: Soricidae

Dusky shrew (Sorex monticolus) meadows, forests – common Masked shrew (Sorex cinereous) meadows, forests – common American water shrew (Sorex palustris) meadows, riparian areas – common Preble's shrew (Sorex preblei) meadows, forests – rare, if present Dwarf shrew (Sorex nanus) meadows, forests – common.

Beavers Order: Rodentia Family: Castoridae

American beaver (Castor canadensis) riparian areas – fairly common, increasing

Squirrels

Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae

Least chipmunk (Neotamias minimus) meadows, forests – common Uinta chipmunk (Neotamias umbrinus) meadows, forests – common Yellow-pine chipmunk (Neotamias amoenus) meadows, forests – common American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) coniferous forests – common Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) forests – occasional Yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaventris) forests, meadows, rocky areas – common Uinta ground squirrel (Urocitellus armatus) meadows, sagebrush – common Golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) meadows, forests, rocky areas, alpine tundra – common

Voles and Woodrats

Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae

Common muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) riparian – occasional Western heather vole (Phenacomys intermedius) sagebrush, grasslands, forest – occasional Water vole (Microtus richardsoni) riparian – occasional Long-tailed vole (Microtus longicaudus) meadows – common Southern red-backed vole (Myodes gapperi) coniferous forests – common Meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) meadows – common Montane vole (Microtus montanus) meadows, sagebrush, riparian – common Bushy-tailed woodrat (Neotoma cinerea) rocky areas – common

Mice

Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae

Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) grasslands – common

Jumping mice Order: Rodentia Family: Dipodidae

Western jumping mouse (Zapus princeps) riparian – occasional

Porcupines

Order: Rodentia Family: Erethizontidae

North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) forests, sagebrush, riparian – common

Bats

Order: Chiroptera Family: Vespertilionidae

Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) roosts in caves, trees, buildings – common Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) roosts in sheltered areas – common Long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) roosts on cliffs, buildings – uncommon Long-legged myotis (Myotis volans) roosts in cliffs, tree cavities, buildings – common Townsend's big-eared bat (Coryhinus townsendii) roosts in caves – uncommon Fringe-tailed bat (Myotis thysanodes) roosts in cliffs, snags – uncommon Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) roosts in trees – uncommon Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) roosts in trees, snags – common Spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) roosts on cliffs, trees – uncommon Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) roosts on cliffs, caves, buildings – uncommon California myotis (Myotis californicus) roosts in trees, rock crevices, and buildings Western small-footed myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum) roosts in caves, rocky areas – rare Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis) roosts in caves, buildings, trees – rare

See also

Small mammals of Yellowstone National Park Animals of Yellowstone

Further reading

References