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No confirmed photo of Alleghanian Spotted Skunk
Alleghanian Spotted Skunk
Spilogale putorius
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S1 (critically imperiled) (2025 SWAP Table)
Louisiana Mammals: Species List With Pictures
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
On this page
This page lists 48 mammals: 20 from Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries's Common Mammals of Louisiana + 2025 SWAP Table 4.13 and 28 named in other official sources. 8 are nonnative. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries gives a total of 83; the 48 here are the mammals official sources name one by one.
Which mammals can hurt you
Official sources single out these mammals in Louisiana, in their own words:
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Photo: Cullen Hanks · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Feral Hog
Disease. “In addition, feral hogs carry several diseases, some which can infect humans.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
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Photo: Mirko Schoenitz · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist Striped Skunk
Disease. “All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
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Photo: Marco Antonino Ramos Rodríguez · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized Northern Raccoon
Disease. “All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
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Photo: Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized Gray Fox
Disease. “All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
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Photo: David Willingham · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Red Fox
Disease. “All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
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Photo: Gaurav Vaidya from Chapel Hill, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Coyote
Disease. “All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
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Bats
Disease. “All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
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Photo: USGS · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons (U.S. federal work, public domain) Louisiana Black Bear
Can attack. “Running may trigger an attack.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
All 48 mammals
From A to Z. Do not handle them.
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American Beaver
Castor canadensis
American Mink
Neovison vison
Bachman's Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger bachmani
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S3 (vulnerable) (2025 SWAP Table)
No confirmed photo of Big Brown Bat
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S3 (vulnerable) (2025 SWAP Table)
Black Rat
Rattus rattus
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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
Capybara
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Coyote
Canis latrans
- Danger to people
- “All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- 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
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S3 (vulnerable) (2025 SWAP Table)
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
No confirmed photo of Eastern Harvest Mouse
Eastern Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys humulis
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank SU (unrankable) (2025 SWAP Table)
Feral Hog
Sus scrofa
- Danger to people
- “In addition, feral hogs carry several diseases, some which can infect humans.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- 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
- Where in Louisiana
- Feral hogs are found in all 64 parishes in Louisiana, and Louisiana’s feral hog population is currently estimated at 700,000. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Feral/Domestic Cat
Felis catus
No confirmed photo of Feral/Domestic Dog
Feral/Domestic Dog
Canis familiaris
Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
Golden Mouse
Ochrotomys nuttalli
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank SU (unrankable) (2025 SWAP Table)
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
- Danger to people
- “All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
No confirmed photo of Hispid Pocket Mouse
Hispid Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus hispidus
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S2 (imperiled) (2025 SWAP Table)
Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S2M (imperiled; migrant population) (2025 SWAP Table)
House Mouse
Mus musculus
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S2 (imperiled) (2025 SWAP Table)
Louisiana Black Bear
Ursus americanus luteolus
- Danger to people
- “Running may trigger an attack.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S3 (vulnerable) (2025 SWAP Table)
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S4 (apparently secure) (2025 SWAP Table)
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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
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
No confirmed photo of Northern Long-eared Bat
Northern Long-eared Bat
Myotis septentrionalis
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S1 (critically imperiled); federally endangered (2025 SWAP Table)
No confirmed photo of Northern Pygmy Mouse
Northern Pygmy Mouse
Baiomys taylori
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank SU (unrankable) (2025 SWAP Table)
Northern Raccoon
Procyon lotor
- Danger to people
- “All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
No confirmed photo of Northern Yellow Bat
Northern Yellow Bat
Lasiurus intermedius
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S4 (apparently secure) (2025 SWAP Table)
Norway Rat
Rattus norvegicus
Nutria
Myocastor coypus
- Size
- Body 47 to 61 cm (about 1.5 to 2 ft) plus a tail of about 37 to 41 cm (USGS). Males reach about 20 lb and females 18 lb (USGS). CDFW: up to 2.5 ft body length, 12 to 18 inch tail, 20+ lb.
- How to recognize it
- White whiskers and a large, round, sparsely haired tail.
- Large dark-orange front teeth (incisors).
- Hind feet webbed on four of five toes.
No confirmed photo of Plains Spotted Skunk
Plains Spotted Skunk
Spilogale interrupta
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank SH (possibly extirpated) (2025 SWAP Table)
No confirmed photo of Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat
Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat
Corynorhinus rafinesquii
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S3 (vulnerable) (2025 SWAP Table)
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
- Danger to people
- “All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Red Wolf
Canis rufus
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank SX (presumed extirpated); federally endangered (2025 SWAP Table)
No confirmed photo of Rice's Whale
Rice's Whale
Balaenoptera ricei
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S1 (critically imperiled); federally endangered (2025 SWAP Table)
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S2M (imperiled; migrant population) (2025 SWAP Table)
No confirmed photo of Southeastern Myotis
Southeastern Myotis
Myotis austroriparius
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S3 (vulnerable) (2025 SWAP Table)
No confirmed photo of Southeastern Shrew
Southeastern Shrew
Sorex longirostris
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S1 (critically imperiled) (2025 SWAP Table)
Sperm Whale
Physeter macrocephalus
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank SNA; federally endangered (2025 SWAP Table)
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
- Danger to people
- “All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.” Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
No confirmed photo of Swamp Rabbit
Swamp Rabbit
Sylvilagus aquaticus
Tricolored Bat
Perimyotis subflavus
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S3 (vulnerable) (2025 SWAP Table)
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
West Indian Manatee
Trichechus manatus
- Size
- Adults typically 9-10 ft long and about 1,000 lb; can exceed 13 ft and 3,500 lb. Calves weigh about 60-70 lb at birth.
- How to recognize it
- Two front flippers and a large, round, flattened paddle-shaped tail
- Often only the snout breaks the surface when it breathes
- Signs on the water: a swirl, or a back, snout, tail or flipper breaking the surface
- Conservation
- Louisiana SGCN, state rank S2 (imperiled); federally threatened (2025 SWAP Table)
No confirmed photo of White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Mammals people confuse
Bobcat or Domestic cat?
Bobcat Not stated
Domestic cat Not stated
TWRA says the domestic cat is smaller, usually has a longer tail and is not spotted with black. NCWRC says a bobcat is about twice as large, and South Carolina DNR says its legs are longer. Tracks of young bobcats are easily confused with house cat tracks (Missouri).
Nutria or American beaver?
Nutria Not stated
American beaver Not stated
Beavers have a wide, flat tail and dark whiskers and reach up to 60 pounds; nutria have a round, sparsely haired tail and white whiskers.
Nutria or Muskrat?
Nutria Not stated
Muskrat Not stated
Muskrats have dark whiskers, a nearly triangular (side-flattened) tail and weigh at most 5 pounds. CDFW says most nutria reports it receives are actually muskrats.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When mammals are active in Louisiana
Records of mammals in Louisiana peak in January, March to June and December. 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 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries:
- Bears: never feed or approach bears. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
What official sources say
Are there black bears in Louisiana?
Yes. The Louisiana Black Bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) is on LDWF's Common Mammals poster and is a state SGCN (S3). Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
“Ursus americanus luteolus Louisiana Black Bear G5T2 S3”
Are there armadillos in Louisiana?
Yes. Nine-banded Armadillo is on LDWF's Common Mammals poster; LDWF classes armadillos as outlaw quadrupeds. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
“Outlaw quadrupeds include the feral hog, an invasive species which has caused severe crop and land damage throughout the state, as well coyotes and armadillos.”
About this list
The species list comes from Common Mammals of Louisiana (LDWF poster, 2018) + 2025 SWAP Table 4.13 (Mammal SGCN) (Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, poster 2018; SWAP 2025). 28 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 Louisiana.
Sources
- About Us. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Common Mammals of Louisiana (poster). Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Injured and Orphaned Wildlife. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“All species of mammals are susceptible to classical rabies, but only a few species are considered important reservoirs, such as bats, skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.”
- Louisiana BearWise. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“Running may trigger an attack.”
“Never feed or approach bears.”
- 2025 Louisiana State Wildlife Action Plan. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. 2025 plan; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Ursus americanus luteolus Louisiana Black Bear G5T2 S3”
- Feral Hogs. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“In addition, feral hogs carry several diseases, some which can infect humans.”
- Outlaw Quadrupeds. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Outlaw quadrupeds include the feral hog, an invasive species which has caused severe crop and land damage throughout the state, as well coyotes and armadillos.”
- 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.