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American badger
Taxidea taxus
Illinois Mammals: Species List With Pictures
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
On this page
This page lists 62 mammals: 13 from IDNR's Wild About Illinois Wild Mammals! galleries: Bats, Carnivores, Furbearers, Insectivores, Lagomorphs, Rodents, Armadillo, White-tailed Deer and 49 named in other official sources. 3 are nonnative.
Which mammals can hurt you
Official sources single out these mammals in Illinois, in their own words:
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Bats (all Illinois species)
Rabies. “Bats are the primary carriers of rabies in Illinois” University of Illinois Extension
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Photo: Cullen Hanks · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist feral swine
Disease. “Feral swine may carry more than 30+ parasites and 30+ diseases, many of which are transmissible to people, pets, wildlife, and livestock.” IDNR
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Photo: Mirko Schoenitz · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist striped skunk
Rabies and other diseases (Illinois Extension). “Skunks can carry rabies and other diseases, so avoiding contact is crucial.” University of Illinois Extension
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foxes
Rabies and other diseases, though rare (Illinois Extension). “Though rare, foxes can be carriers of rabies and other diseases.” University of Illinois Extension
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Photo: Gaurav Vaidya from Chapel Hill, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons coyote
Concern about attacks on pets and children (Illinois Extension). “Even though they’re relatively small animals, their predatory habits raise concerns about attacks on pets and children.” University of Illinois Extension
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Photo: Emily Langdon-Lassagne · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist house mouse
Carrier of disease (Illinois Extension). “…the house mouse (Mus musculus) and brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) are both non-native species that are carriers of disease and cause for concern.” University of Illinois Extension
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Photo: Biswarup Ganguly · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons brown rat
Carrier of disease (Illinois Extension). “…the house mouse (Mus musculus) and brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) are both non-native species that are carriers of disease and cause for concern.” University of Illinois Extension
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black bears, wolves and cougars
Rare large predators. “If you live in an area with a confirmed sighting, keep children and pets indoors or under supervision.” University of Illinois Extension
All 62 mammals
From A to Z. Do not handle them.
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American beaver
Castor canadensis
American mink
Mustela vison
No confirmed photo of American pygmy shrew
American pygmy shrew
Sorex hoyi
No confirmed photo of big brown bat
big brown bat
Eptesicus fuscus
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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
brown rat
Rattus norvegicus
- Danger to people
- “…the house mouse (Mus musculus) and brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) are both non-native species that are carriers of disease and cause for concern.” University of Illinois Extension
No confirmed photo of cotton mouse
cotton mouse
Peromyscus gossypinus
coyote
Canis latrans
- Danger to people
- “Even though they’re relatively small animals, their predatory habits raise concerns about attacks on pets and children.” University of Illinois Extension
- 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)
deer mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus
eastern chipmunk
Tamias striatus
eastern cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
eastern fox squirrel
Sciurus niger
eastern gray squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
No confirmed photo of eastern mole
eastern mole
Scalopus aquaticus
eastern red bat
Lasiurus borealis
eastern small-footed bat
Myotis leibii
- Conservation
- Illinois threatened (Illinois E&T checklist, effective Oct 31, 2025: "Eastern Small-footed Bat Myotis leibii")
No confirmed photo of eastern woodrat
eastern woodrat
Neotoma floridana
No confirmed photo of evening bat
evening bat
Nycticeius humeralis
No confirmed photo of Franklin's ground squirrel
Franklin's ground squirrel
Poliocitellus franklinii
- Conservation
- Illinois threatened (Illinois E&T checklist, effective Oct 31, 2025: "Franklin's Ground Squirrel Poliocitellus franklinii")
golden mouse
Ochrotomys nuttalli
No confirmed photo of gray bat
gray bat
Myotis grisescens
- Conservation
- Illinois endangered; federally endangered (**) (Illinois E&T checklist, effective Oct 31, 2025: "Gray Bat** Myotis grisescens")
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gray fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
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
- Illinois endangered; federally endangered (**) (Illinois E&T checklist, effective Oct 31, 2025: "Gray/Timber Wolf** Canis lupus")
hoary bat
Aeorestes cinereus
house mouse
Mus musculus
- Danger to people
- “…the house mouse (Mus musculus) and brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) are both non-native species that are carriers of disease and cause for concern.” University of Illinois Extension
No confirmed photo of Indiana bat
Indiana bat
Myotis sodalis
- Conservation
- Illinois endangered; federally endangered (**) (Illinois E&T checklist, effective Oct 31, 2025: "Indiana Bat** Myotis sodalis")
No confirmed photo of least weasel
least weasel
Mustela nivalis
No confirmed photo of little brown bat
little brown bat
Myotis lucifugus
long-tailed weasel
Mustela frenata
No confirmed photo of marsh rice rat
marsh rice rat
Oryzomys palustris
No confirmed photo of masked or cinereus shrew
masked or cinereus shrew
Sorex cinereus
No confirmed photo of meadow jumping mouse
meadow jumping mouse
Zapus hudsonius
No confirmed photo of meadow vole
meadow vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus
muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
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nine-banded armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctus
- 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 Illinois
- In Illinois, it has been found throughout the state, but it probably cannot survive the winter conditions in the northern half of the state. IDNR
No confirmed photo of North American least shrew
North American least shrew
Cryptotis parva
North American river otter
Lontra canadensis
No confirmed photo of northern long-eared bat
northern long-eared bat
Myotis septentrionalis
- Conservation
- Illinois endangered; federally endangered (**) (Illinois E&T checklist, effective Oct 31, 2025: "Northern Long-eared Bat** Myotis septentrionalis")
No confirmed photo of northern short-tailed shrew
northern short-tailed shrew
Blarina brevicauda
No confirmed photo of plains pocket gopher
plains pocket gopher
Geomys bursarius
No confirmed photo of prairie vole
prairie vole
Microtus ochrogaster
raccoon
Procyon lotor
No confirmed photo of Rafinesque's big-eared bat
Rafinesque's big-eared bat
Corynorhinus rafinesquii
- Conservation
- Illinois endangered (Illinois E&T checklist, effective Oct 31, 2025: "Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat Corynorhinus rafinesquii")
red fox
Vulpes vulpes
red squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
silver-haired bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
No confirmed photo of southeastern bat
southeastern bat
Myotis austroriparius
- Conservation
- Illinois endangered (Illinois E&T checklist, effective Oct 31, 2025: "Southeastern Myotis Myotis austroriparius")
No confirmed photo of southeastern shrew
southeastern shrew
Sorex longirostris
No confirmed photo of southern bog lemming
southern bog lemming
Synaptomys cooperi
No confirmed photo of southern flying squirrel
southern flying squirrel
Glaucomys volans
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southern short-tailed shrew
Blarina carolinensis
striped skunk
Mephitis mephitis
- Danger to people
- “Skunks can carry rabies and other diseases, so avoiding contact is crucial.” University of Illinois Extension
No confirmed photo of swamp rabbit
swamp rabbit
Sylvilagus aquaticus
thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
tri-colored bat
Perimyotis subflavus
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 western harvest mouse
western harvest mouse
Reithrodontomys megalotis
No confirmed photo of white-footed mouse
white-footed mouse
Peromyscus leucopus
No confirmed photo of white-tailed deer
white-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
- Where in Illinois
- Statewide IDNR
woodchuck
Marmota monax
No confirmed photo of woodland vole
woodland vole
Microtus pinetorum
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 Illinois
Records of mammals in Illinois peak in March to August. They show when people record mammals, not how many there are (about month bars).
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 University of Illinois Extension:
- Possible bat bite (including anyone who cannot report a bite): seek medical attention immediately. University of Illinois Extension
Common questions
What official sources say
Are there black bears in Illinois?
Rarely. Wildlife Illinois (IDNR): no known breeding populations; confirmed sightings of black bears, mountain lions and wolves, all very rare visitors. Wildlife Illinois, website authorized by IDNR
“Today, there are no known breeding populations of these large predators in Illinois, though occasionally individual animals will move through looking for new territory.”
Are there mountain lions in Illinois?
Rarely. Wildlife Illinois (IDNR): multiple confirmed sightings of mountain lions, but still very rare visitors; no known breeding population. Wildlife Illinois, website authorized by IDNR
“In recent years, there have been multiple confirmed sightings of mountain lions, black bears, and wolves in Illinois. However, these species are all still very rare visitors in the state.”
About this list
The species list comes from Wild About Illinois Wild Mammals! galleries (IDNR): Bats, Carnivores, Furbearers, Insectivores, Lagomorphs, Rodents, Armadillo, White-tailed Deer (Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), undated pages; as retrieved 2026-11-03). 49 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 Illinois.
Sources
- IDNR Mission Statement. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Wild About Illinois Wild Mammals: Bats. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Wild About Illinois Wild Mammals: Carnivores. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Risky Encounters (Wildlife). University of Illinois Extension. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (5)
“Even though they’re relatively small animals, their predatory habits raise concerns about attacks on pets and children.”
“Skunks can carry rabies and other diseases, so avoiding contact is crucial.”
“…the house mouse (Mus musculus) and brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) are both non-native species that are carriers of disease and cause for concern.”
“Though rare, foxes can be carriers of rabies and other diseases.”
“If you live in an area with a confirmed sighting, keep children and pets indoors or under supervision.”
- Wild About Illinois Wild Mammals: Furbearers. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Wild About Illinois Wild Mammals: Insectivores. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Wild About Illinois Wild Mammals: Lagomorphs. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Wild About Illinois Wild Mammals: Rodents. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Wild About Illinois Wild Mammals: Nine-banded Armadillo. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Wild About Illinois Wild Mammals: White-tailed Deer. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Dangerous Encounters (Wildlife). University of Illinois Extension. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“Bats are the primary carriers of rabies in Illinois”
“If you think anyone in your house could have been bitten by a bat, seek medical attention immediately. For people or pets unable to report a bite, act as though they were bitten.”
- Feral Swine. Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Feral swine may carry more than 30+ parasites and 30+ diseases, many of which are transmissible to people, pets, wildlife, and livestock.”
- Report Large Carnivore Sightings (Wildlife Illinois). Wildlife Illinois, website authorized by IDNR (project W-147-T). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“Today, there are no known breeding populations of these large predators in Illinois, though occasionally individual animals will move through looking for new territory.”
“In recent years, there have been multiple confirmed sightings of mountain lions, black bears, and wolves in Illinois. However, these species are all still very rare visitors in the state.”
- 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.