Mammals of San Diego, California
The mammals most often spotted near San Diego, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
42,945
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals
Naturalists have logged 42,945 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Diego. The most frequently seen is the California Sea Lion, with 10,260 recorded sightings.
Rarer finds confirmed near San Diego include Bobcat, Blue Whale, Guadalupe Fur Seal and Bryant's Woodrat - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.
Most-observed mammals near San Diego
California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianus
10,260 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
7,242 observations
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
5,524 observations
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
4,048 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
2,358 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
2,123 observations
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
1,616 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
1,487 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
1,300 observations
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
988 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
891 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
834 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
705 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
468 observations
Grey Whale
Eschrichtius robustus
336 observations
Brush Rabbit
Sylvilagus bachmani
301 observations
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
279 observations
Black Rat
Rattus rattus
237 observations
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
218 observations
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
201 observations
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
149 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
115 observations
Big-eared Woodrat
Neotoma macrotis
107 observations
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus
96 observations
Risso's Dolphin
Grampus griseus
95 observations
Pacific White-sided Dolphin
Aethalodelphis obliquidens
75 observations · iNaturalist
California Vole
Microtus californicus
65 observations
Botta's Pocket Gopher
Megascapheus bottae
64 observations · iNaturalist
Northern Elephant Seal
Mirounga angustirostris
61 observations
Northern Baja Deer Mouse
Peromyscus fraterculus
47 observations · iNaturalist
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
46 observations
Western Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys megalotis
45 observations
San Diego Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus fallax
42 observations
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
42 observations · iNaturalist
Guadalupe Fur Seal
Arctocephalus townsendi
41 observations
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
40 observations
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
37 observations
Canyon Bat
Parastrellus hesperus
37 observations
Gambel's Deer Mouse
Peromyscus gambelii
35 observations
Southern California Pocket Gopher
Megascapheus nigricans
35 observations
Bryant's Woodrat
Neotoma bryanti
34 observations
Common Minke Whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
32 observations
Dulzura Kangaroo Rat
Dipodomys simulans
31 observations
Western Spotted Skunk
Spilogale gracilis
29 observations
Orca
Orcinus orca
28 observations
Western red bat
Lasiurus frantzii
25 observations
Domestic Dog
Canis familiaris
22 observations · iNaturalist
Yuma Myotis
Myotis yumanensis
19 observations
Merriam's Chipmunk
Neotamias merriami
18 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
17 observations
Mammals in nearby places
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