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Mammals of Minnesota

The mammals most often spotted in Minnesota, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

73,881
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals

Naturalists have logged 73,881 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Minnesota. The most frequently seen is the White-tailed Deer, with 14,186 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Minnesota include Gray Wolf, Fisher, Bobcat and Canada Lynx - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Gray WolfFisherBobcatCanada Lynx

Most-observed mammals in Minnesota

White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
14,186 observations
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
9,791 observations
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
6,273 observations
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
6,097 observations
Eastern Chipmunk
Tamias striatus
4,833 observations
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
3,116 observations
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
2,829 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
2,659 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
2,294 observations
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
1,996 observations
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
1,737 observations
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
1,642 observations
Groundhog
Marmota monax
1,438 observations
Snowshoe Hare
Lepus americanus
1,360 observations
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
1,359 observations
North American Porcupine
Erethizon dorsatum
1,150 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
1,040 observations
Moose
Alces alces
894 observations
Franklin's Ground Squirrel
Poliocitellus franklinii
881 observations
American Mink
Neogale vison
847 observations
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
757 observations
Northern Short-tailed Shrew
Blarina brevicauda
641 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
598 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
445 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
408 observations
Fisher
Pekania pennanti
373 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
369 observations
American Marten
Martes americana
343 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
302 observations
Plains Pocket Gopher
Geomys bursarius
293 observations
Western Meadow Vole
Microtus drummondii
265 observations
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
248 observations
American Ermine
Mustela richardsonii
242 observations
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
216 observations
Canada Lynx
Lynx canadensis
214 observations
Eastern Mole
Scalopus aquaticus
204 observations
Southern Red-backed Vole
Clethrionomys gapperi
187 observations · iNaturalist
Star-nosed Mole
Condylura cristata
162 observations
Southern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys volans
136 observations
Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse
Zapus hudsonius
135 observations
Richardson's Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus richardsonii
120 observations
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
112 observations
Northern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys sabrinus
110 observations
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus townsendii
108 observations
Masked Shrew
Sorex cinereus
103 observations
Wapiti
Cervus canadensis
95 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
85 observations
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
74 observations
Little Brown Bat
Myotis lucifugus
73 observations
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
41 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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