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No confirmed photo of Allegheny (Eastern) Woodrat
Allegheny (Eastern) Woodrat
Neotoma magister
- Conservation
- State Special Concern; believed extirpated (2015 list: * Believed Extirpated)
Connecticut Mammals: Species List With Pictures
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
On this page
This page lists 37 mammals. 1 is nonnative.
Which mammals can hurt you
Official sources single out these mammals in Connecticut, in their own words:
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Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons Black Bear
Attacks very rare. “Never feed bears. Bears that associate food with people may become bold, aggressive, and dangerous.” Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division
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Photo: Dan Vickers · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Moose
Can be aggressive in rut or after calving. “Moose can present a serious threat to public safety under some circumstances. Although usually shy, moose can feel threatened and become aggressive during the rutting season or after calving.” Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division
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Rabies vector species (bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes)
Disease. “Rabies is a fatal viral disease primarily found in bats and wild carnivores, such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes — also referred to as rabies vector species (RVS).” Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division
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Bats
Bite to protect themselves. “NEVER touch a live bat. Bats will bite to protect themselves!” Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division
All 37 mammals
From A to Z. Do not handle them.
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Beaver
Castor canadensis
No confirmed photo of Big Brown Bat
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
Black Bear
Ursus americanus
- Danger to people
- “Never feed bears. Bears that associate food with people may become bold, aggressive, and dangerous.” Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division
- 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 Connecticut
- Connecticut has a healthy and increasing bear population with the highest concentration in the northwest region of the state. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division
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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
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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)
Eastern Chipmunk
Tamias striatus
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
Eastern Cougar (mountain lion)
Puma concolor couguar
- Conservation
- State Special Concern; believed extirpated; considered extinct by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2015 list)
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
- Conservation
- State Special Concern (2015 list)
Eastern Small-footed Bat
Myotis leibii
- Conservation
- State Endangered (2015 list)
Fisher
Pekania pennanti
- Size
- New York: males 7 to 15 pounds and 35 to 47 inches; females 3 to 7 pounds and 30 to 37 inches. Figures vary by state.
- How to recognize it
- Low to the ground with short legs, small ears and a well-furred tail
- Tail about one-third of total length
- Five toes and sharp semi-retractable claws; bright green eyeshine at night
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Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
- Size
- Adults about 40 to 175 pounds depending on sex and region; on average about five to six feet long (Isle Royale), up to 6 feet including the tail (Washington), and 26 to 34 inches at the shoulder. Twice the size of a coyote.
- How to recognize it
- Longer legs, larger feet, wider head and snout, shorter ears, narrow body and straight tail compared with most coyotes and dogs.
- Tracks about 5 inches long by 4 inches wide, with claws showing.
- Long, drawn-out howls, audible up to five miles.
- Conservation
- State Special Concern; believed extirpated; federally endangered (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Harbor Porpoise
Harbor Porpoise
Phocoena phocoena
- Conservation
- State Special Concern (2015 list)
Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
- Conservation
- State Special Concern (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Indiana Bat
Indiana Bat
Myotis sodalis
- Conservation
- State Endangered; federally endangered (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Least Shrew
Least Shrew
Cryptotis parva
- Conservation
- State Endangered (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Little Brown Bat
Little Brown Bat
Myotis lucifugus
- Conservation
- State Endangered (2015 list)
Moose
Alces alces
- Danger to people
- “Moose can present a serious threat to public safety under some circumstances. Although usually shy, moose can feel threatened and become aggressive during the rutting season or after calving.” Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division
- Size
- Alaska: adults 800 lb (small cow) to 1,600 lb (large bull), up to almost 6 feet tall. Elsewhere, NY DEC: bulls 600-1,200 lb, cows 500-800 lb.
- How to recognize it
- "Bell": flap of skin and hair hanging from the throat (both sexes)
- Antlers on males only; flat and palmate (hand-shaped), up to five feet wide
- Antlers only on males (ADF&G)
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
No confirmed photo of New England Cottontail
New England Cottontail
Sylvilagus transitionalis
No confirmed photo of Northern Flying Squirrel
Northern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys sabrinus
No confirmed photo of Northern Long-eared Bat
Northern Long-eared Bat
Myotis septentrionalis
- Conservation
- State Endangered; federally threatened at the time of the 2015 list
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
River Otter
Lontra canadensis
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
- Conservation
- State Special Concern (2015 list)
Snowshoe Hare
Lepus americanus
No confirmed photo of Southern Bog Lemming
Southern Bog Lemming
Synaptomys cooperi
- Conservation
- State Special Concern (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Southern Flying Squirrel
Southern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys volans
Tri-colored Bat
Perimyotis subflavus
- Conservation
- State Endangered (2015 list)
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
No confirmed photo of White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Woodchuck
Marmota monax
Mammals people confuse
Coyote or Gray wolf?
Coyote Not stated
Gray wolf Not stated
NY DEC: gray wolves are much larger (females typically 50-100 lb, males 70-145 lb, 5-6 ft nose to tail, 27-33 in at the shoulder); eastern coyotes rarely exceed 50 lb and generally stand under 2 ft at the shoulder. Wolves have small rounded ears and a short blocky snout; coyotes have larger, more pointed ears (can look rounded in winter coat) and a long, narrow, pointed snout. Coyote tracks are typically 3 x 2 in, wolf tracks about 5 x 4 in. NY DEC says most wolf reports in New York were coyotes, dogs or wolf-dog hybrids.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When mammals are active in Connecticut
Records of mammals in Connecticut peak in April to September. They show when people record mammals, not how many there are (about month bars).
- Tree-roosting bats generally migrate south in winter; cave bats hibernate. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division
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 Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division:
What official sources say
Are there black bears in Connecticut?
Yes. Bears were reported from 165 of 169 towns in 2023; highest concentration in the northwest. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division
“In 2023, bears were reported from 165 of the state’s 169 towns and cities.”
Are there moose in Connecticut?
Yes. A resident population is established; DEEP estimates just over 100 animals. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division
“Annual sightings of cows with calves since 2000 confirm the establishment and expansion of a resident population. Moose sighting reports help biologists monitor the presence of this large mammal in our state. The current population is estimated at just over 100 animals.”
Are there mountain lions in Connecticut?
No. DEEP's 2015 list marks the eastern cougar as believed extirpated and considered extinct by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources
Are there coyotes in Connecticut?
Yes. Coyotes were first reported in the mid-1950s and are now found throughout the state. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division
“Coyotes eventually expanded their range throughout the entire state and are now a part of Connecticut’s ecosystem”
About this list
The species list comes from No single DEEP mammal checklist. Compiled from DEEP Wildlife Fact Sheets, the DEEP Bats in Connecticut page (nine bat species) and Connecticut's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species 2015 (Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources, 2015 list; fact sheets various dates). 32 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 Connecticut.
Sources
- Report a Wildlife Sighting. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. Content last updated September 22, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Annual sightings of cows with calves since 2000 confirm the establishment and expansion of a resident population. Moose sighting reports help biologists monitor the presence of this large mammal in our state. The current population is estimated at just over 100 animals.”
- Connecticut's Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species 2015. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources. 2015; checked November 3, 2026.
- Virginia Opossum (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Least Shrew (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Bats in Connecticut. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. Content last updated May 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“NEVER touch a live bat. Bats will bite to protect themselves!”
“Tree-roosting bats generally migrate long distances to more southern latitudes during winter.”
- Chipmunk (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Woodchuck (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Gray Squirrel (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Red Squirrel (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Flying Squirrels (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Beaver (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Muskrat (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Cottontail Rabbits (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. Content last updated April 30, 2019; checked November 3, 2026.
- Snowshoe Hare (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. Content last updated March 2021; checked November 3, 2026.
- Coyote (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. Content last updated March 2023; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Coyotes eventually expanded their range throughout the entire state and are now a part of Connecticut’s ecosystem”
- Red Fox (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Gray Fox (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. Content last updated November 2023; checked November 3, 2026.
- Black Bear (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Never feed bears. Bears that associate food with people may become bold, aggressive, and dangerous.”
- Frequently Asked Questions About Black Bears. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“In 2023, bears were reported from 165 of the state’s 169 towns and cities.”
- Raccoon (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Fisher (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- River Otter (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Bobcat (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- White-tailed Deer (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Moose (Wildlife Fact Sheet). Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Moose can present a serious threat to public safety under some circumstances. Although usually shy, moose can feel threatened and become aggressive during the rutting season or after calving.”
- Rabies and Wildlife. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wildlife Division. Content last updated March 2025; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Rabies is a fatal viral disease primarily found in bats and wild carnivores, such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes — also referred to as rabies vector species (RVS).”
- 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.