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Arkansas Mammals: Species List With Pictures

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. Which mammals can hurt you
  2. All 64 mammals
  3. Lookalikes
  4. When they are active
  5. If you are bitten or stung
  6. What official sources say
  7. About this list
  8. Sources

AGFC: The class Mammalia has 67 species in 9 different orders in Arkansas.

This page lists 64 mammals. 4 are nonnative. AGFC gives a total of 67; the 64 here are the mammals official sources name one by one.

Which mammals can hurt you

Official sources single out these mammals in Arkansas, in their own words:

All 64 mammals

From A to Z. Do not handle them.

No confirmed photo of Badger

Badger

No confirmed photo of Baird's Pocket Gopher

Baird's Pocket Gopher

Geomys breviceps

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
No confirmed photo of Big Brown Bat

Big Brown Bat

Eptesicus fuscus

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Black Bear
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Danger to people
“Once that bear begins to lose its fear of people, it can become more aggressive or damage property seeking more food.” AGFC
Size
Smokies: males average about 6 ft long, 3 ft at the shoulder and 250 lb in summer; females usually just over 100 lb. Missouri: 46 to 78 inches long, 86 to 600 lb.
How to recognize it
  • Straight facial profile, rounded erect ears, very short tail
  • Short curved claws for climbing
Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River AGFC

Full Black Bear guide

No confirmed photo of Black-Tailed Jackrabbit

Black-Tailed Jackrabbit

Lepus californicus

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Bobcat
Photo: National Marine Sanctuaries · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Bobcat

Lynx rufus

Size
Total length 18 to 50 inches, tail 3 to 8 inches, weight 8 to 49 pounds (Missouri). About twice the size of a house cat.
How to recognize it
  • Short 'bobbed' tail, 4 to 8 inches, with a black tip and white underneath (Arizona). New Mexico instead describes black bars on top, white underneath and a white tip.
  • Pointed ears with tufts at the tips, often with cheek tufts
  • Backs of the ears are black with a light central spot
Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service

Full Bobcat guide

Coyote
Photo: Gaurav Vaidya from Chapel Hill, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Coyote

Canis latrans

Size
About 3.5 to 4 feet long including the tail and roughly 2 feet tall at the shoulder; weight varies by region: Arizona 20 to 30 lb, Florida average about 28 lb, Georgia 25 to 45 lb
How to recognize it
  • Large pointed ears, long narrow nose, bushy black-tipped tail
  • Like a slender medium-sized dog, much smaller than a wolf
  • Paw track about 2 inches long (Florida)
Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
45 records by month.

Full Coyote guide

No confirmed photo of Desert Shrew

Desert Shrew

Notiosorex crawfordi

Conservation
Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of Eastern Harvest Mouse

Eastern Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys humulis

Conservation
Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of Eastern Mole

Eastern Mole

Scalopus aquaticus

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
No confirmed photo of Eastern Spotted Skunk

Eastern Spotted Skunk

Spilogale putorius

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
No confirmed photo of Eastern Woodrat

Eastern Woodrat

Neotoma floridana

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
No confirmed photo of Elk

Elk

Cervus canadensis

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
No confirmed photo of Evening Bat

Evening Bat

Nycticeius humeralis

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Feral Hog
Photo: Cullen Hanks · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Feral Hog

Sus scrofa

Invasive

Danger to people
“They also carry up to 45 bacteria, diseases and parasites, including Trichinellosis, Brucellosis and swine herpes virus.” AGFC
Size
Adults average 75 to 250 pounds, but some get twice as large. They can stand up to 3 feet tall and reach 5 feet long, and males (boars) are larger than females (sows). FWC says Florida wild hogs can weigh more than 150 pounds and be 5 to 6 feet long. Ohio State Extension says Ohio adults typically weigh 125 to 200 pounds.
How to recognize it
  • Look much like domestic hogs but are generally thinner, with thicker hides of coarse, bristly hair and longer tusks
  • Four continuously growing tusks, 2 on top and 2 below
  • Russian (Eurasian) boar type: long, straight, narrow snout; dark-colored or camouflage coat; light-tipped bristles

Full Feral Hog guide

No confirmed photo of Fulvous Harvest Mouse

Fulvous Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys fulvescens

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
No confirmed photo of Gray Myotis

Gray Myotis

Myotis grisescens

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Conservation
On AGFC Endangered Species List (Code Addendum P1.01); Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of Hispid Cotton Rat

Hispid Cotton Rat

Sigmodon hispidus

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
No confirmed photo of Indiana Myotis

Indiana Myotis

Myotis sodalis

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Conservation
On AGFC Endangered Species List (Code Addendum P1.01); Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of Least Shrew

Least Shrew

Cryptotis parva

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
No confirmed photo of Little Brown Myotis

Little Brown Myotis

Myotis lucifugus

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Conservation
On AGFC Endangered Species List (Code Addendum P1.01); Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
Long-Tailed Weasel
Photo: benjchristensen · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Long-Tailed Weasel

Mustela frenata

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Conservation
Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan (listed as Neogale frenata)
Mountain Lion
Photo: ArgentinaTurismo · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Mountain Lion

Puma concolor

Danger to people
“They are typically shy and reclusive, and they rarely attack humans.” AGFC
Size
Total length 5 to 8.5 feet including a 21 to 37.5 inch tail; males 79 to 265 lb, females 64 to 141 lb (Missouri Department of Conservation).
How to recognize it
  • Very large, slender cat with a small head, small rounded ears without tufts and a long, heavy tail.
  • The tail may be one-third of the total length; much larger than a bobcat or lynx.
  • Tracks: 2.75 to 3.75 inches wide, three lobes at the bottom of the heel pad, claw marks usually absent.
Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River AGFC

Full Mountain Lion guide

Nine-Banded Armadillo
Photo: MartinKlippel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

Nine-Banded Armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus

Danger to people
“Hansen’s Disease (leprosy)- armadillos” University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service
Size
Cat-sized: 15-17 in long not counting the tail, 8-17 lb (FWC); 24-32 in including a 9.5-14.5 in tail (UGA).
How to recognize it
  • Bony skin plates that form a shell, which make it easy to identify
  • Long scaly tail, deer-like ears, long pig-like snout
  • Tail encased in 12 bony rings; no canine or incisor teeth
Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service

Full Nine-Banded Armadillo guide

No confirmed photo of Northern Long-Eared Bat

Northern Long-Eared Bat

Myotis septentrionalis

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Conservation
On AGFC Endangered Species List (Code Addendum P1.01); Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of Ozark Big-Eared Bat

Ozark Big-Eared Bat

Corynorhinus townsendii ingens

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Conservation
On AGFC Endangered Species List (Code Addendum P1.01); Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of Ozark Pocket Gopher

Ozark Pocket Gopher

Geomys bursarius ozarkensis

Conservation
Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of Plains Harvest Mouse

Plains Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys montanus

Conservation
Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of Plains Spotted Skunk

Plains Spotted Skunk

Spilogale interrupta

Conservation
Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
Small-Footed Myotis
Photo: Kate Kruesi · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Small-Footed Myotis

Myotis leibii

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Conservation
Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of Southeastern Shrew

Southeastern Shrew

Sorex longirostris

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Conservation
Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of Southern Bog Lemming

Southern Bog Lemming

Synaptomys cooperi

Conservation
Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of Southern Flying Squirrel

Southern Flying Squirrel

Glaucomys volans

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
No confirmed photo of Swamp Rabbit

Swamp Rabbit

Sylvilagus aquaticus

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
No confirmed photo of Texas Mouse

Texas Mouse

Peromyscus attwateri

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Tri-Colored Bat
Photo: Felix Zareie-Vaux · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist

Tri-Colored Bat

Perimyotis subflavus

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
Conservation
Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
Virginia Opossum
Photo: Shirley Zundell · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

Size
Weighs 4 to 7 lb and stands 6 to 8 inches high at the shoulder (South Carolina DNR); about the size of a house cat
How to recognize it
  • Long pointed nose, black hairless ears, dark eyes, nearly hairless grasping (prehensile) tail
  • Long scaly tail and a pointed snout ending in a pink nose
  • Opposable thumb-like big toe (hallux) on each hind foot
Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
34 records by month.

Full Virginia Opossum guide

No confirmed photo of Western Harvest Mouse

Western Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys megalotis

Conservation
Species of Greatest Conservation Need, 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan
No confirmed photo of White-Footed Mouse

White-Footed Mouse

Peromyscus leucopus

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
No confirmed photo of White-Tailed Deer

White-Tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service
225 records by month.
No confirmed photo of Woodland Vole

Woodland Vole

Microtus pinetorum

Where in Arkansas
Buffalo National River National Park Service

Mammals people confuse

Mountain lion or Bobcat?

Mountain lion
Photo: Jeff Bartlett · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Mountain lion Not stated

Bobcat
Photo: National Marine Sanctuaries · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Bobcat Not stated

Bobcats are smaller with short tails and are streaked and spotted with black; mountain lions are uniformly colored with a long tail. Bobcat tracks are under 2 inches wide.

Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.

When mammals are active in Arkansas

Records of mammals in Arkansas peak in January to June and November. They show when people record mammals, not how many there are (about month bars).

806 records of mammals in Arkansas by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).

If you are bitten or stung

Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.

Official advice from AGFC:

  • Bears: remove attractants such as trash, pet food and bird feeders. AGFC
  • Rabies: keep pets vaccinated and enjoy wildlife from a distance. AGFC

What official sources say

Are there bears in Arkansas?

Yes. The American black bear is the only bear species living in the state; AGFC says there are over 5,000. AGFC

“Arkansas is home to the American black bear, the only bear species that lives in the state.”

Are there mountain lions in Arkansas?

Rarely. AGFC says they lived throughout Arkansas until about 1920 and reports 23 confirmed sightings since 2010, as of February 2024. AGFC

“There have been 23 confirmed mountain lion sightings in Arkansas since 2010.”

About this list

The species list comes from No AGFC mammal checklist found. Names come from NPS Buffalo National River Mammals Checklist, 2025 Wildlife Action Plan Table 2.2, and AGFC Code definitions (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC), 2025 plan; PDF created 2026-06-26). 55 more entries come from other official sources named on each card.

Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.

"Nonnative" and "Invasive" follow the wording of the source list. See invasive species in Arkansas.

Sources

  1. Nuisance Wildlife. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  2. 2025 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan, Chapter 2: Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). 2025 plan; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “The class Mammalia has 67 species in 9 different orders in Arkansas.”
  3. Mammals - Buffalo National River. National Park Service. updated August 13, 2021; checked November 3, 2026.
  4. Health & Safety with Wildlife. University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Hansen’s Disease (leprosy)- armadillos”
  5. Bears back on the move, AGFC offers advice to be bearwise. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). May 11, 2021; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (2)
    “Once that bear begins to lose its fear of people, it can become more aggressive or damage property seeking more food.”
    “…unsecured trash cans, loose pet food and bird feeders”
  6. Bear. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Arkansas is home to the American black bear, the only bear species that lives in the state.”
  7. Mountain lion carcass found on Sylamore WMA. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). February 9, 2024; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (2)
    “They are typically shy and reclusive, and they rarely attack humans.”
    “There have been 23 confirmed mountain lion sightings in Arkansas since 2010.”
  8. Code of Regulations 01.00-C Definition Of Terms. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). version effective 2026-07-01; checked November 3, 2026.
  9. FSA9106 (Extension fact sheet on feral hogs). University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  10. Feral Hogs. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “They also carry up to 45 bacteria, diseases and parasites, including Trichinellosis, Brucellosis and swine herpes virus.”
  11. World Rabies Day reminds Arkansans about prevention, control. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). September 28, 2022; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (2)
    “Skunks made up the largest component of animal carriers reported, with 13 animals testing positive.”
    “The best practice is to always keep your domestic animals vaccinated and enjoy wildlife from a distance.”
  12. Mammals - Hot Springs National Park. National Park Service. updated September 26, 2022; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Bats can carry rabies, so they should not be handled by people.”
  13. GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.