Mammals of North Carolina
The mammals most often spotted in North Carolina, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
108,644
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals
Naturalists have logged 108,644 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in North Carolina. The most frequently seen is the Eastern Gray Squirrel, with 28,427 recorded sightings.
Rarer finds confirmed in North Carolina include Bobcat and Red Wolf - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.
Most-observed mammals in North Carolina
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
28,427 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
22,250 observations
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
7,810 observations
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
7,710 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
6,000 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
3,896 observations
Eastern Chipmunk
Tamias striatus
3,722 observations
Groundhog
Marmota monax
3,713 observations
Wapiti
Cervus canadensis
3,088 observations
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
2,382 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
2,143 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
1,333 observations
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
1,271 observations
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
1,106 observations
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
1,095 observations
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
1,087 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
1,019 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
858 observations
Mexican Long-nosed Armadillo
Dasypus mexicanus
822 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
729 observations
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
621 observations
Domestic Horse
Equus caballus
586 observations · iNaturalist
Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops erebennus
573 observations
Coypu
Myocastor coypus
556 observations
Hispid Cotton Rat
Sigmodon hispidus
523 observations
Marsh Rabbit
Sylvilagus palustris
522 observations
Eastern Mole
Scalopus aquaticus
522 observations
Southern Short-tailed Shrew
Blarina carolinensis
446 observations
Southern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys volans
425 observations
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
395 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
366 observations
Northern Short-tailed Shrew
Blarina brevicauda
346 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
342 observations
White-footed Mouse
Peromyscus leucopus
285 observations
American Mink
Neogale vison
270 observations
Tri-coloured Bat
Perimyotis subflavus
239 observations
Red Wolf
Canis rufus
121 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
118 observations
Woodland Vole
Microtus pinetorum
116 observations
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
113 observations
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
106 observations
Domestic Dog
Canis familiaris
86 observations · iNaturalist
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
85 observations
Appalachian Cottontail
Sylvilagus obscurus
80 observations
Hairy-tailed Mole
Parascalops breweri
79 observations
Alleghanian Spotted Skunk
Spilogale putorius
62 observations
North American Least Shrew
Cryptotis parvus
60 observations · iNaturalist
Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat
Corynorhinus rafinesquii
49 observations
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
49 observations · iNaturalist
European Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
42 observations · iNaturalist
Mammals in nearby places
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