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American (Pine) Marten
Martes americana
Minnesota Mammals: Species List With Pictures
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
On this page
This page lists 82 mammals: all from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources's Mammals in Minnesota.
Which mammals can hurt you
Official sources single out these mammals in Minnesota, in their own words:
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Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons Black bear
Large, powerful and fast. “Black bears, by nature, are wary of people and not normally aggressive. They are, however, large, powerful and surprisingly fast-moving animals.” Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
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Photo: ArgentinaTurismo · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Cougar (mountain lion)
Attacks possible but encounters extremely rare. “Human encounters with cougars are extremely rare.” Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
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Bats, skunks and other mammals (rabies)
Disease. “Species of concern for rabies:” Minnesota Department of Health
All 82 mammals
From A to Z. Do not handle them.
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
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American Beaver
Castor canadensis
American Bison
Bison bison
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
- Danger to people
- “Black bears, by nature, are wary of people and not normally aggressive. They are, however, large, powerful and surprisingly fast-moving animals.” Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- 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 Minnesota
- Mainly the northern third of Minnesota, ranging as far south as the interface between the forest and agricultural zones Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
What the sources say
Habitat: Forests, swamps, and other areas with dense cover (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
American Mink
Mustela vison
No confirmed photo of American Water Shrew
American Water Shrew
Sorex palustris
No confirmed photo of Arctic Shrew
Arctic Shrew
Sorex arcticus
No confirmed photo of Big Brown Bat
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
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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
Canada Lynx
Lynx canadensis
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
No confirmed photo of Cinereus Shrew or Masked Shrew
Cinereus Shrew or Masked Shrew
Sorex cinereus
Common Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
Cougar
Felis concolor
- Danger to people
- “Human encounters with cougars are extremely rare.” Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- 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.
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
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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 Gray (Timber) 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.
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
No confirmed photo of Eastern Mole
Eastern Mole
Scalopus aquaticus
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
No confirmed photo of Eastern Spotted Skunk
Eastern Spotted Skunk
Spilogale putorius
- Conservation
- Minnesota threatened
No confirmed photo of Elk
Elk
Cervus elaphaus
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
No confirmed photo of Evening Bat
Evening Bat
Nycticeius humeralis
Fisher
Martes pennanti
Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
No confirmed photo of Franklin’s Ground Squirrel
Franklin’s Ground Squirrel
Poliocitellus franklinii
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Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
No confirmed photo of Heather Vole
Heather Vole
Phenacomys ungava
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
House Mouse
Mus musculus
No confirmed photo of Least Chipmunk
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
No confirmed photo of Least Weasel
Least Weasel
Mustela nivalis
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
No confirmed photo of Little Brown Bat
Little Brown Bat
Myotis lucifugus
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
Long-tailed Weasel
Mustela frenata
No confirmed photo of Meadow Jumping Mouse
Meadow Jumping Mouse
Zapus hudsonicus
No confirmed photo of Meadow Vole
Meadow Vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus
Moose
Alces americanus
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
No confirmed photo of North American Deermouse
North American Deermouse
Peromyscus manticulatus
No confirmed photo of North American Least Shrew
North American Least Shrew
Cryptotis parva
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
North American Porcupine
Erethizon dorsatum
- Size
- Adults about 30 inches including a 6- to 10-inch tail, 9 to 15 pounds, older adults up to 20 pounds (Pennsylvania). Massachusetts: 25-31 inches, averaging 12 pounds in early spring to 20 in fall. Minnesota: 24 to 40 inches, 18 to 35 pounds.
- How to recognize it
- Coat of quills; up to 30,000
- Only North American mammal with coat hairs modified as quills
- Short legs, long claws, high-arching back
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
No confirmed photo of Northern Bog Lemming
Northern Bog Lemming
Synaptomys borealis
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
No confirmed photo of Northern Flying Squirrel
Northern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys sabrinus
No confirmed photo of Northern Grasshopper Mouse
Northern Grasshopper Mouse
Onchomys leucogaster
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
No confirmed photo of Northern Long-eared Bat
Northern Long-eared Bat
Myotis septentrionalis
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
No confirmed photo of Northern Pocket Gopher
Northern Pocket Gopher
Thomomys talpoides
- Conservation
- Minnesota threatened
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 Plains Pocket Mouse
Plains Pocket Mouse
Perognathus flavescens
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
No confirmed photo of Prairie Shrew
Prairie Shrew
Sorex haydeni
No confirmed photo of Prairie Vole
Prairie Vole
Microtus ochrogaster
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
No confirmed photo of Pygmy Shrew
Pygmy Shrew
Sorex hoyi
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
No confirmed photo of Richardson’s Ground Squirrel
Richardson’s Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus richardsonii
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
No confirmed photo of Rock Vole
Rock Vole
Microtus chrotorrhinus
No confirmed photo of Short-tailed Weasel or Ermine
Short-tailed Weasel or Ermine
Mustela erminea
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
No confirmed photo of Smoky Shrew
Smoky Shrew
Sorex fumeus
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
Snowshoe Hare
Lepus americanus
No confirmed photo of Southern Bog Lemming
Southern Bog Lemming
Synaptomys cooperi
No confirmed photo of Southern Flying Squirrel
Southern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys volans
No confirmed photo of Southern Red-backed Vole
Southern Red-backed Vole
Myodes gapperi
No confirmed photo of Star-nosed Mole
Star-nosed Mole
Condylura cristata
Striped skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
Tricolored Bat
Perimyotis subflavus
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
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
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
No confirmed photo of White-footed Deermouse
White-footed Deermouse
Peromyscus leucopus
No confirmed photo of White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
White-tailed Jack Rabbit
Lepus townsendii
No confirmed photo of Wolverine
Wolverine
Gulo gulo
Woodchuck
Marmota monax
No confirmed photo of Woodland Caribou
Woodland Caribou
Rangifer tarandus
No confirmed photo of Woodland Jumping Mouse
Woodland Jumping Mouse
Napaeozapus insignis
No confirmed photo of Woodland Vole
Woodland Vole
Microtus pinetorum
- Conservation
- Minnesota special concern species
Mammals people confuse
Bobcat or Mountain lion (cougar)?
Bobcat Not stated
Mountain lion (cougar) Not stated
Cougars are one color (yellow-brown to light cinnamon) with a long tail. The bobcat's tail is short and its coat is spotted. TWRA says cougars are many times larger and longer, with a very long tail.
Bobcat or Canada lynx?
Bobcat Not stated
Canada lynx Not stated
A lynx has longer ear tufts and large, fur-covered feet (3.5 to 4.5 inches wide). A bobcat's feet are small and hairless (up to 2.5 inches). A lynx's tail has a black tip and no white underneath; a bobcat's tail is white underneath. Do not use the tail tip alone, because agencies describe the bobcat's tip differently (New Mexico white, Arizona black).
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 Minnesota
Records of mammals in Minnesota peak in March to July and September. 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 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources:
- Cougar encounter: face the cougar, make yourself look larger, speak loudly and firmly; do not run, crouch or lie down. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Bears: remove or secure attractants such as birdseed, pet food, garbage and grill grease. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
How to report
Invasive insects (emerald ash borer, spongy moth, Asian long-horned beetle, brown marmorated stink bug): Minnesota Department of Agriculture "Report a Pest" line 1-888-545-6684. Invasive vertebrates (mute swans, Eurasian swine/wild pigs): the DNR Invasive Species Program and your local conservation officer or wildlife office. Aquatic invasives: your local DNR invasive species specialist. Cougar sightings: the nearest DNR area wildlife office or conservation officer. General DNR line: 888-646-6367. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Common questions
What official sources say
Are there mountain lions (cougars) in Minnesota?
Rarely. Cougars are rarely seen but occasionally appear, mostly transient males from the western Dakotas. In March 2026 a female with three kittens was recorded in St. Louis County, the first confirmed breeding in more than 100 years. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
“Today, they are rarely seen but occasionally do appear.”
Are there bears in Minnesota?
Yes. The black bear is the only bear species in the state, found mainly in the northern third of Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
“The black bear is the only species of bear in the state.”
About this list
The species list comes from Mammals in Minnesota (Minnesota DNR, complete list PDF) (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, undated (server last-modified 2018-08-27)).
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
Sources
- Reptiles / Amphibians of Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. archived copy, captured October 12, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
- Mammals in Minnesota (complete list linked from the DNR Mammals page). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Cougars in Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. archived copy, captured October 24, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (3)
“Human encounters with cougars are extremely rare.”
“Face the cougar directly, raise your arms to make yourself appear larger and speak loudly and firmly.”
“Today, they are rarely seen but occasionally do appear.”
- Living with bears. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. archived copy, captured October 10, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“Black bears, by nature, are wary of people and not normally aggressive. They are, however, large, powerful and surprisingly fast-moving animals.”
“The best way to avoid problems with bears is to not attract them in the first place.”
- Black bear. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. archived copy, captured October 20, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“The black bear is the only species of bear in the state.”
- Animals of Concern for Rabies. Minnesota Department of Health. updated October 20, 2022; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Species of concern for rabies:”
- How do I report an invasive terrestrial animal? Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. archived copy, captured April 14, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Report new locations to Minnesota Department of Agriculture or call the ‘Report a Pest’ phone number: 1-888-545-6684.”
- 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.