Mammals of Iowa
The mammals most often spotted in Iowa, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
16,644
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals
Naturalists have logged 16,644 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Iowa. The most frequently seen is the White-tailed Deer, with 3,686 recorded sightings.
Rarer finds confirmed in Iowa include Bobcat - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.
Most-observed mammals in Iowa
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
3,686 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
2,347 observations
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
2,031 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
1,252 observations
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
1,194 observations
Eastern Chipmunk
Tamias striatus
936 observations
Groundhog
Marmota monax
741 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
586 observations
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
490 observations
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
482 observations
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
435 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
335 observations
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
267 observations
American Mink
Neogale vison
203 observations
Franklin's Ground Squirrel
Poliocitellus franklinii
186 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
172 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
171 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
165 observations
Northern Short-tailed Shrew
Blarina brevicauda
165 observations
Eastern Mole
Scalopus aquaticus
109 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
83 observations
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
69 observations
American Bison
Bos bison
57 observations · iNaturalist
Western Meadow Vole
Microtus drummondii
52 observations
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
50 observations
White-footed Mouse
Peromyscus leucopus
44 observations
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
40 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
38 observations
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
38 observations
Masked Shrew
Sorex cinereus
34 observations
Plains Pocket Gopher
Geomys bursarius
22 observations
Tri-coloured Bat
Perimyotis subflavus
19 observations
Little Brown Bat
Myotis lucifugus
15 observations
Eastern Deermouse
Peromyscus maniculatus
13 observations
Prairie Vole
Microtus ochrogaster
11 observations
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
11 observations
Northern Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
10 observations
Least Weasel
Mustela nivalis
10 observations
Western Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys megalotis
9 observations
American Ermine
Mustela richardsonii
9 observations
Domestic Dog
Canis familiaris
8 observations · iNaturalist
Western Deer Mouse
Peromyscus sonoriensis
8 observations
Evening Bat
Nycticeius humeralis
7 observations
European Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
7 observations · iNaturalist
Southern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys volans
7 observations
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
5 observations
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus townsendii
5 observations
Wapiti
Cervus canadensis
4 observations
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
3 observations
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
3 observations
Mammals in nearby places
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