Mammals of Chicago, Illinois
The mammals most often spotted near Chicago, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
26,713
recent observations
46
species listed
46
mammals
Naturalists have logged 26,713 research-grade observations across the 46 most-recorded species near Chicago. The most frequently seen is the Eastern Gray Squirrel, with 7,366 recorded sightings.
Rarer finds confirmed near Chicago include Bobcat - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.
Most-observed mammals near Chicago
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
7,366 observations
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
4,516 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
4,202 observations
Eastern Chipmunk
Tamias striatus
2,251 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
1,425 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
1,087 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
827 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
821 observations
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
744 observations
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
691 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
588 observations
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
340 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
294 observations
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
238 observations
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
231 observations
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
172 observations
American Mink
Neogale vison
165 observations
Northern Short-tailed Shrew
Blarina brevicauda
154 observations
Groundhog
Marmota monax
143 observations
Southern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys volans
101 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
71 observations
White-footed Mouse
Peromyscus leucopus
51 observations
Western Meadow Vole
Microtus drummondii
45 observations
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
32 observations
Eastern Mole
Scalopus aquaticus
32 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
27 observations
Eastern Deermouse
Peromyscus maniculatus
24 observations
Masked Shrew
Sorex cinereus
22 observations
Northern Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
12 observations
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
10 observations
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
4 observations
European Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
4 observations · iNaturalist
Domestic Dog
Canis familiaris
4 observations · iNaturalist
Prairie Vole
Microtus ochrogaster
3 observations
American Ermine
Mustela richardsonii
3 observations
Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse
Zapus hudsonius
2 observations
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
2 observations · iNaturalist
Evening Bat
Nycticeius humeralis
1 observation
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
1 observation
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
1 observation
European Fallow Deer
Dama dama
1 observation
Four-toed Hedgehog
Atelerix albiventris
1 observation
Mongolian Jird
Meriones unguiculatus
1 observation · iNaturalist
Franklin's Ground Squirrel
Poliocitellus franklinii
1 observation
Wapiti
Cervus canadensis
1 observation
Least Weasel
Mustela nivalis
1 observation
Mammals in nearby places
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