Mammals of San Diego, California
The mammals most often spotted near San Diego, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
42,211
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals
Naturalists have logged 42,211 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Diego. The most frequently seen is the California Sea Lion, with 10,051 recorded sightings.
Rarer finds confirmed near San Diego include Bobcat, Blue Whale and Canyon Bat - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.
Most-observed mammals near San Diego
California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianus
10,051 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
7,146 observations
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
5,452 observations
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
3,982 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
2,299 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
2,081 observations
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
1,610 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
1,464 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
1,271 observations
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
961 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
871 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
823 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
700 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
460 observations
Grey Whale
Eschrichtius robustus
336 observations
Brush Rabbit
Sylvilagus bachmani
300 observations
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
277 observations
Black Rat
Rattus rattus
232 observations
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
216 observations
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
200 observations
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
138 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
111 observations
Big-eared Woodrat
Neotoma macrotis
106 observations · iNaturalist
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus
95 observations
Risso's Dolphin
Grampus griseus
93 observations
Pacific White-sided Dolphin
Aethalodelphis obliquidens
75 observations · iNaturalist
California Vole
Microtus californicus
66 observations
Northern Elephant Seal
Mirounga angustirostris
60 observations
Botta's Pocket Gopher
Megascapheus bottae
53 observations · iNaturalist
Western Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys megalotis
45 observations
Northern Baja Deer Mouse
Peromyscus fraterculus
45 observations · iNaturalist
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
43 observations
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
42 observations · iNaturalist
San Diego Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus fallax
41 observations · iNaturalist
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
40 observations
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
37 observations
Canyon Bat
Parastrellus hesperus
37 observations
Guadalupe Fur Seal
Arctocephalus townsendi
36 observations · iNaturalist
Gambel's Deer Mouse
Peromyscus gambelii
35 observations · iNaturalist
Southern California Pocket Gopher
Megascapheus nigricans
35 observations · iNaturalist
Bryant's Woodrat
Neotoma bryanti
34 observations · iNaturalist
Common Minke Whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
32 observations
Dulzura Kangaroo Rat
Dipodomys simulans
30 observations · iNaturalist
Western Spotted Skunk
Spilogale gracilis
30 observations
Western red bat
Lasiurus frantzii
25 observations
Domestic Dog
Canis familiaris
22 observations · iNaturalist
Orca
Orcinus orca
20 observations
Yuma Myotis
Myotis yumanensis
19 observations
Merriam's Chipmunk
Neotamias merriami
18 observations · iNaturalist
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
16 observations
Mammals in nearby places
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