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South Carolina Mammals: Species List With Pictures

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. Which mammals can hurt you
  2. All 51 mammals
  3. When they are active
  4. If you are bitten or stung
  5. Common questions
  6. What official sources say
  7. About this list
  8. Sources

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources: South Carolina is home to approximately 101 native species of mammals

This page lists 51 mammals. 1 is nonnative. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources gives a total of 101; the 51 here are the mammals official sources name one by one.

Which mammals can hurt you

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

All 51 mammals

From A to Z. Do not handle them.

No confirmed photo of Appalachian Cottontail

Appalachian Cottontail

Sylvilagus obscures

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Big brown bat

Big brown bat

Eptesicus fuscus

Black Bear
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Black Bear

Ursus americanus

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 South Carolina
Mountains and upper piedmont; coastal plain South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Full Black Bear guide

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 South Carolina
Throughout South Carolina, most abundant in the Coastal Plain South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Full Bobcat guide

Bottlenose Dolphin
Photo: Dean Hester · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncates

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Brazilian free-tailed bat

Brazilian free-tailed bat

Tadarida brasiliensis

No confirmed photo of Carolina Red-backed Vole

Carolina Red-backed Vole

Myodes gapperi carolinensis

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Dwarf Sperm Whale

Dwarf Sperm Whale

Kogia sima

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Photo: Mila C · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

419 records by month.
No confirmed photo of Eastern Woodrat

Eastern Woodrat

Neotoma floridana

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Evening bat

Evening bat

Nycticeius humeralis

Florida Manatee
Photo: Viktor · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

Florida Manatee

Trichechus manatus latirostris

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Gray bat

Gray bat

Myotis grisescens

No confirmed photo of Hairy-tailed Mole

Hairy-tailed Mole

Parascalops breweri

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Humpback Whale

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Little brown bat

Little brown bat

Myotis lucifugus

No confirmed photo of Masked Shrew

Masked Shrew

Sorex cinereus

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Meadow Vole

Meadow Vole

Microtus pennsylvanicus

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
Nine-banded Armadillo
Photo: MartinKlippel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

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

Full Nine-banded Armadillo guide

No confirmed photo of Northern long-eared bat

Northern long-eared bat

Myotis septentrionalis

No confirmed photo of Northern yellow bat

Northern yellow bat

Lasiurus intermedius

Opossum
Photo: Shirley Zundell · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist

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 South Carolina
Every county South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
41 records by month.

Full Opossum guide

No confirmed photo of Pine Vole

Pine Vole

Microtus pinetorum

No confirmed photo of Pygmy Shrew

Pygmy Shrew

Sorex hoyi

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Pygmy Sperm Whale

Pygmy Sperm Whale

Kogia breviceps

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Rafinesque's big-eared bat

Rafinesque's big-eared bat

Corynorhinus rafinesquii

No confirmed photo of Seminole bat

Seminole bat

Lasiurus seminolus

No confirmed photo of Southeastern bat

Southeastern bat

Myotis austroriparius

No confirmed photo of Star-nosed Mole

Star-nosed Mole

Condylura cristata

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of Swamp Rabbit

Swamp Rabbit

Sylvilagus aquaticus

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)
No confirmed photo of White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer

No confirmed photo of Woodland Jumping Mouse

Woodland Jumping Mouse

Napaeozapus insignis

Conservation
SC SWAP priority species (2015 list)

When mammals are active in South Carolina

Records of mammals in South Carolina peak in February to July and October. They show when people record mammals, not how many there are (about month bars).

1,915 records of mammals in South Carolina 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.

Common questions

What official sources say

Are there black bears in South Carolina?

Yes. Two resident populations. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

“In South Carolina, there are two resident populations of black bears, one in the mountains and upper piedmont and one in the coastal plain.”

Are there wolves or mountain lions in South Carolina?

Not anymore. SWAP says the Red Wolf, Gray Wolf and Eastern Cougar lived in SC in colonial times and were lost from the region. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

“However, back in colonial times, South Carolina was also home to several additional species including the American Bison, Eastern Elk, Red Wolf, Gray Wolf, and Eastern Cougar.”

About this list

The species list comes from Wildlife Species (SCDNR) and SWAP 2015 priority mammals (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, count 2025 SWAP). 51 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 South Carolina.

Sources

  1. Reptiles and Amphibians of SC. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. page footer 2020; checked November 3, 2026.
  2. Wildlife Species. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. page footer 2024; checked November 3, 2026.
  3. SC State Wildlife Action Plan 2025, Chapter 4: Overview of the Taxonomic Groups. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 2025; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (2)
    “South Carolina is home to approximately 101 native species of mammals”
    “However, back in colonial times, South Carolina was also home to several additional species including the American Bison, Eastern Elk, Red Wolf, Gray Wolf, and Eastern Cougar.”
  4. Beaver. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  5. Bobcat. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  6. Gray Fox. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  7. Long-tailed Weasel. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  8. Mink. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  9. Muskrat. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  10. Opossum. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “The opossum weighs 4 to 7 lbs. and stands 6 to 8 inches high at the shoulder.”
  11. Raccoon. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Rabies limits numbers in some areas.”
  12. Red Fox. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Red foxes are also subject to rabies and predation.”
  13. River Otter. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  14. Southern Fox Squirrel. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  15. Spotted Skunk. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Skunks are highly susceptible to highway mortality, and are affected by a variety of diseases including rabies, distemper, and tularemia.”
  16. Striped Skunk. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Skunks are highly susceptible to highway mortality, and are affected by a variety of diseases including rabies, distemper, and tularemia.”
  17. Black Bear. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “In South Carolina, there are two resident populations of black bears, one in the mountains and upper piedmont and one in the coastal plain.”
  18. Coyote. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  19. Wild Hog. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  20. South Carolina Species Information: Armadillos. SCDNR (prepared by National Wildlife Control Training Program). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Canine and incisor teeth are absent. … The long, tapering tail is encased in 12 bony rings.”
  21. South Carolina Species Information: Voles. SCDNR (prepared by National Wildlife Control Training Program). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  22. South Carolina Species Information: Tree Squirrels. SCDNR (prepared by National Wildlife Control Training Program). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  23. Manatees in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  24. Bats of South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  25. Species of Greatest Conservation Need (Priority Species), SC State Wildlife Action Plan. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 2015 plan list; checked November 3, 2026.
  26. 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.