Tennessee Mammals: Species List With Pictures

Venom: “Shrews in the genus Blarina are the only mammals in North America that produce a salivary toxin secreted from a duct at the base of the incisors. The powerful toxin, much like snake venom, is injected into the bite wounds of its prey to kill them.” (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: The Northern Short-tailed Shrew occurs in a variety of habitats including woodlands, grasslands, brushlands, field edges, and marshy areas. They can often be found living in thick, weedy growth, under mossy banks, under old logs, and under the humus layer on a forest floor. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Venom: “Shrews in the genus Blarina are the only mammals in North America that produce a salivary toxin secreted from a duct at the base of the incisors. The powerful toxin, much like snake venom, is injected into the bite wounds of its prey to kill them.” (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Prefers moist, well-drained hardwood forests for easier excavation of their underground tunnels, but also occurs in a variety of other wet and dry habitats such as fields and marshy areas. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Generally restricted to rocky habitats in forested areas, often at higher elevations, including caves, rock shelters, cliff faces, talus slopes, and rock outcrops. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: These highly aquatic mammals live in streams, rivers, wetlands, ponds, and small lakes. Beavers are well known for their skills in building dams made of tree limbs, branches, mud, stones, and other debris in streams and rivers to slow down the water. Lodges, which provide a living space, are built into the dam or in shallow water nearby, although sometimes they will excavate a den in a bank instead. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: This is the largest carnivore in the state. They predominantly occur in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Tennessee, but also occur in smaller numbers in the northern Cumberland Mountains and in a few places on the Cumberland Plateau (i.e.

Habitat: They are primarily found in heavily wooded areas. Black bears den in hollow trees, caves, holes in the ground, or under downed trees or roots in the winter. The dens contain beds typically lined with grass, leaves, twigs, and bark. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Permanent water is a habitat requirement for mink. They will use lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, marshes, and other areas with permanent water, especially if near the presence of standing timber. Dens are made in banks, under tree roots, in hollow trees, or in abandoned burrows of other mammals. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Occupies a wide range of habitats, including grassy openings, coniferous and deciduous forests, floodplains, and bogs. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Prefers small, cold mountain streams with thick overhanging vegetation; however, can also be associated with rivers, lakes, and bogs. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Prefers more dense, forested environments than the Eastern Cottontail; also generally occurs in higher elevations. Vegetation in these areas includes rhododendron, mountain laurel, greenbrier, and cane. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: They hibernate in many different places such as hollow trees, rocky crevices, buildings, caves, mines, or road culverts. Females establish nursery colonies during the summer in hollow trees, attics, chimneys, lofts, or caves. Males will roost in trees or man-made structures. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: The Bobcat, which is a stealthy hunter aided by keen eyesight, hearing, and a well developed sense of smell, is the most common and widely distributed wildcat in North America. It can be found all across Tennessee.

Habitat: Bobcats occur in a variety of habitats, but they prefer heavily forested areas with thick underbrush. They also occur in timbered swamps; farmland; scrubland; and rocky terrain such as glades, bluffs, and rocky outcrops. Maternity dens are made of dry leaves and moss and usually located under fallen tree, in hollow log, or in rock shelter. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: These bats, which are regarded as one of the most abundant mammals in North America, are named because their naked tails extend well beyond the edge of their interfemoral (tail) membrane. This species is known from only one record in Tennessee; it was found in a building in Montgomery County.

Habitat: These bats occur in caves in the southwestern U.S., but occur only in man-made structures in the eastern U.S. They prefer buildings and attics, especially hot attics. The high temperatures are essential for the rapid growth of young bats. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Brown Rats are generally found near human sites, but will occur in other habitats such as fields and woodlands. Most often found in buildings, sewers, garbage dumps, or near feed stores. They dig tunnels underground, usually beneath an object such as a board, for escape cover and a place to nest. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: This shrew, which is also known as the Masked Shrew because of the sometimes darker coloration over the eyes, is primarily found in eastern Tennessee with some records in middle Tennessee.

Habitat: Prefers rich, moist woodlands with plenty of moss, leaf litter, and rotting logs, but also uses open fields, floodplains, and marshes. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Prefers still or slow moving water habitats such as lakes, ponds, streams, rivers, drainage ditches, or wetlands. Vegetation is usually present in the water and along the banks. Dens are created in banks with interconnecting tunnels and chambers, or, if the water is shallow, they build small lodges similar to the shape of a beavers lodge. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Typical habitat is moist, timbered river bottoms or swamps. Also found in caves and cliff crevices. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: Historically, the Cougar could be found roaming all across Tennesseee and was considered the most widely distributed land mammal in the Western Hemisphere. It was believed that persecution and loss of their preferred isolated and undisturbed habitat, it was believed that they had been eliminated in Tennessee and across much of their original range in the eastern U.S.

Habitat: Cougars occupied a wide range of habitats, but preferred dense cover or rocky, rugged, mountainous areas in areas with low human densities. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: Coyotes are very adaptable, secretive canines that occur in a diversity of habitats all across the state. They are dog-like in appearance and somewhat resemble a small German Shephard.

Habitat: Coyotes are found in many different habitats. They can live almost anywhere including fields, forests, farmlands, shrubland, and urban areas. Dens are usually located in remote or unused fields, often in a bank, under a hollow log, in a rock cavity, or under a deserted building. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: This semi-aquatic rodent, which was originally introduced in Louisiana in the 1930's from South America, has spread northward and occurs in western Tennessee. It is more commonly known as the Nutria or "River Rat."

Habitat: Coypu can be found in freshwater streams, rivers, ponds, and marshes. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Chipmunks generally choose forest borders as places to make their shallow burrows, often near brush piles, stone heaps, and decaying logs. These burrows have openings of two inches in diameter, and a main tunnel that leads to a chamber they use to store food and use as a nest. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Eastern Cottontails inhabit many areas such as farmlands, hedgerows, orchard, and backyards, particularly where shrubby forest borders meet open areas. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Mostly found in mature hardwood forests, but prefers oak/hickory forests and commonly found along upland ridges. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Prefers dense hardwood forests in rural and urban areas, but frequently occurs in yards and city parks. Forest habitats usually have bushy understory vegetation. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: They use a variety of open or brushy habitats, but prefer old fields, abandoned fields, and briar thickets. Tall grasses, such as broom sedge, are usually associated with their old field habitats. Roadside ditches and wet bottomlands are used as well. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Occurs in a variety of habitats including forests, fields, pastures, gardens, lawns, and other areas with loose, well-drained soils. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: These bats, which are one of the easier bats to identify due to their reddish color, often emerge in the early evening, and can be seen feeding under street lights. Eastern Red Bats occur all across Tennessee.

Habitat: Eastern Red Bats are primarily a tree dwelling species, spending time in forests and around shade trees in cities and farms. Daytime roosts can be the outer canopy of large trees, shrubs, and bushes. They hibernate in hollow trees or under loose bark; they rarely enter caves or buildings. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: They hibernate in caves or mines, especially near entrances. Also, found in cave floors, cracks, and crevices. Summer roosts and nursery sites include caves, buildings, and cavities in the ground or beneath rocks. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Occurs around rocky, dense habitat, including fencerows, shrubby field borders, and farmland. Underground dens can be in grassy banks, rocky crevices, or along fencerows, while aboveground dens can include barns, woodpiles, haystacks, or rock or brush piles. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: Two subspecies occur in Tennessee, Eastern Woodrat (N. f. illinoensis) and Southern Appalachian Woodrat (N. f. haematoreia). The Southern Appalachian Woodrat occurs in the southeastern part of the state, while the Eastern Woodrat occurs in the western part of the state generally.

Habitat: The Eastern Woodrat primarily occurs in forested areas, but also uses caves and rocky outcrops. The Southern Appalachian Woodrat is found in forests, and it occurs on talus slopes. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: Historical records indicate Elk were abundant in Tennessee before European settlement, but became extirpated as settlers moved westward. TWRA began re-introducing Elk into North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, in the eastern part of the state, during the late 1990's.

Habitat: Generally prefers open woodlands or a mixed habitat of meadows and woods. They will also occur in foothills and valleys. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: The name of this bat refers to their usual foraging time, which is during the last half hour before daylight. They typically fly slow and high (40 to 75 feet) in the evening before descending to a lower flight at night.

Habitat: Evening Bats mostly use tree cavities during the spring and summer months, but they will use buildings and other man-made structures such as attics and barns. They almost never enter caves. Winter habitat is unknown, but accumulations of fat reserves suggest they migrate or hibernate. Nursery colonies are formed under the bark of dead trees or in houses. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: Fishers originally occurred in northeastern Tennessee more than 200 years ago, but were extirpated by intensive trapping and logging. These carnivores, which are members of the musk-scented weasel family, were re-introduced into Cumberland County in 2002.

Habitat: Fishers prefer large expanses of undisturbed, mature forest habitat. They will use coniferous, deciduous, or mixed forests as long as it has high canopy closure. Hollow trees or rock crevices are typically used for dens. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Golden mice occupy a variety of habitats, but generally prefer moist thickets, forests, and borders of broomsedge fields, especially containing vines and dense underbrush. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: This is one of the 2 endangered bats in Tennessee (along with Indiana Bat). It is the largest of the "mouse-eared bats" in Tennessee, and its grayish overall color helps distinguish it from other Myotis bats.

Habitat: Inhabits caves year round, but they usually use different caves for winter and summer residence. They will sometimes use man-made tunnels as their summer quarters. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Usually prefers brushy edge habitat created by a mixture of woods and fields. Gray Foxes generally use more wooded habitat than Red Foxes. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Occurs in forested and open areas with loose, well-drained soils. Usually found in elevations above 1400 feet. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Occurs primarily in open fields or borders of fields with dense, grassy growth. Also, occurs along borders of agricultural fields and along roadsides. They build small nests of grasses, plant fibers, or other materials under rocks or logs. A system of runways is created as the rats move around in the soil and grass. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: The Hoary Bat is the largest bat species in Tennessee, living primarily in trees. It occurs across the entire state, and is also the most widely distributed bat in the U.S.

Habitat: They roost almost entirely in trees 10-15 feet above the ground hanging from their hind feet on branches, covered by leaves above, and generally open beneath. Most migrate southward in October and November as the temperatures drop and food sources are depleted. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: The House Mouse occurs in a variety of habitats, but is usually found among houses, barns, and buildings. They can also be found in old fields, grain fields, fencerows, weedy roadsides, and woodlots. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: They winter in the largest and coolest limestone caves, and prefer areas in the cave with high humidity. They rarely inhabit buildings or other man-made structures. Females deliver their young in hollow trees or beneath tree bark. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: The Least Weasel, which is the smallest carnivore in North America, can be found in the middle and eastern areas of the state. They are very secretive and wary, but also very aggressive.

Habitat: Least Weasels can be found in a wide variety of habitats, but prefer forests and woodlands with rocky slopes. They also occur in grasslands, brushy fields, marshy areas, and edge habitats. Least Weasels occupy, and build nests of grass, in old mole burrows or other holes in the ground. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Males are solitary, or live in colonies up to 20 individuals, during the summer using rocky crevices, hollow trees, loose bark, or under shingles or siding of buildings. Females live in nursery colonies in the spring and summer, which may be in cliff crevices, hollow trees, under loose tree bark, or in undisturbed parts of buildings such as attics. Little brown bats hibernate in limestone caves during the winter. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Prefers cool and damp rocky slopes in coniferous and deciduous forests, sometimes areas with moss-covered rocks. Long-tailed shrews spend most of their time in the deep crevices between rocks about a foot beneath the surface. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Long-tailed Weasels occur in a variety of habitats, but tend to prefer woodlands, thickets, and brushy fencerows near water. They will live in old burrows of other small mammals, in rock crevices, under tree roots, or under barns where they will build their own nest made of grass and lined with mouse hair. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: As its name indicates this rat is found primarily in marshes and wet open areas, but will use a variety of habitats. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Meadow Jumping Mice prefer open-grassy fields, but also use hay fields, shrubby fields, fence rows, and edges of woods. They are frequently found in moist areas or near water. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: They prefer moist, low areas of fields composed of thick grasses and sedges. Also, they occur in grassy marshes, orchards, road sides, and fields near streams and lakes. Voles use a system of runways on top of the ground and underground tunnels, where they spend most of their time. Nests, made of dry grass, can be above or below ground. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: These unusual looking animals have only reached Tennessee in the last thirty years or so, but their range continues to expand. They occur across the state except in eastern Tennessee.

Habitat: Generally prefer forests of mature shortleaf pine, oak, and hickory. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: This species is found statewide in two different forms. The short-tailed form (P. m. bardii) occurs in West Tennessee, while the long-tailed form (P. m. nubiterrae) lives in the eastern part of the state.

Habitat: The short-tailed form (P. m. bardii) occurs primarily in early successional habitat, such as prairies, pastures, and fencerows. The long-tailed form (P. m. nubiterrae) lives in woodland habitat. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Occurs primarily in open grassy fields, brushy areas, weedy fields, and fencerows. Occasionally found in marshy areas or timbered habitat. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: They primarily use rivers, streams, and lakes, which are frequently bordered by woods. Dens are usually located in banks, beneath rocky ledges, under tree roots, under fallen trees, or in thick vegetation; often they use old lodgings of beavers, muskrats, or woodchucks. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: Closely related to the Southern Flying Squirrel, this nocturnal rodent is one of the smallest tree squirrels. The subspecies which occurs in the state, Carolina Northern Flying Squirrel (G. s. coloratus), occurs only in the mountains of eastern Tennessee.

Habitat: Occurs in both coniferous and deciduous moist forests at higher elevations (usually greater than 4500 feet), especially at the transition zone between the two. They also prefer mature trees that are widely spaced and a large number of dead snags. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Winters in caves and mines that are cool and moist. In summer, they roost in a variety of shelters including barns and attics, and under tree bark or shutters. They usually roost singly, except for small maternity colonies. They seem to prefer tight crevices and holes, although they will also frequently hang out in the open. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: The Prairie Vole has a very fitting name as it describes the grassy habitat in which they are typically found. They range throughout Tennessee, except in the extreme eastern portion of the state.

Habitat: Their name describes their habitat very well as they prefer open grassy fields such as prairies, pastures, weedy fields, and fallow fields. Also, they will occur in hayfields and along fence rows. Voles use a system of runways on top of the ground and underground tunnels, where they spend most of their time. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Raccoons are found in various rural and urban habitats, but are partial to hardwood swamps, marshes, and bottomland forests. Dens are usually located in hollow trees, caves, rocky ledges, old woodchuck burrows, squirrel nests, or abandoned farm buildings. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: They are generally associated with forested riparian areas. Roosting occurs in hollow trees, abandoned buildings, cave entrances, and under bridges and loose tree bark. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Red Foxes use a variety of habitats, but usually prefer the edges of forests and fields. They use urban areas quite frequently. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Prefers coniferous forests in higher elevations, but can be found in hardwood and mixed coniferous-hardwood forests as well. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Rock Voles occur in a specialized habitat of cool, moist talus slopes with mossy rocks and logs, in the mountains. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: It is almost always found among human dwellings, usually in upper stories of buildings. They can also be found in trees or on ships; it occurs less frequently on the ground or in open fields. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: Seminole Bats are more common around the Gulf Coast states, where their preferred Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides) roosting habitat occurs, but their range does extend across Tennessee. They were once considered a sub-species of the very similar Eastern Red Bat (L. borealis).

Habitat: Generally found in lowland mixed deciduous and pine forests associated with waterways. Their favorite habitat includes Spanish Moss, but they are also known to roost beneath loose bark, in clumps of foliage, and in caves. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: This bat, which is easily identified by its "frosted" appearance, is also readily recognized in flight, as this is the slowest flying bat in North America. It occurs state-wide in Tennessee.

Habitat: This bat is usually found in forests along wooded waterways. It usually roosts during the day under tree bark or in cavities. They may also be found in buildings, but prefers open air structures such as carports and garages to enclosed attics. During migration, they may be encountered in a wide variety of other shelters including piles of slab, railroad ties, lumber, and fence posts. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Smoky Shrews prefer moist hardwood forests with decaying logs, thick leaf litter, and moss-covered rocks; frequently found in higher elevations. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Primarily roosts in buildings and hollow trees in the south, but will also use caves and other man-made structures. Maternity colonies are formed in caves. Southeastern Myotis are usually associated with water, often roosting over water. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Occurs in a variety of habitats, but often found in bogs, marshes, or swampy areas, or in dense ground cover (briers or honeysuckle vines) in wooded areas. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: The Southern Bog Lemming is the only lemming which occurs in Tennessee, and it is found state-wide. Lemmings are legendary for their population fluctuations leading to alterations in their predator-prey relationships.

Habitat: Prefers low areas of moist, grassy fields, meadows, or swamps with thick vegetation; also occurs less frequently in bogs and damp woods. They use runways, like voles, and make underground tunnels for nesting, feeding, resting, and food storage. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Generally prefers mature oak-hickory forests near water and containing plenty of snags with cavities. They may also live in forests near human houses, sometimes living in attics or birdhouses. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Prefers cool, moist habitats including forests with moss-covered boulders, wet meadows, and swamps. Unlike other voles, these voles do not build elaborate tunnel systems, but rather use burrows of other animals and natural features like rocks and logs. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: This mole has one of the most uniquely specialized noses in the animal kingdom. It is also the most aquatic Tennessee mole and only occurs in the eastern part of the state.

Habitat: Star-nosed Moles are found in a variety of habitats with moist soil, including woods, bogs, marshes, and fields. Frequently adjacent to water and in higher elevations. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: They occur in a variety of habitats in both rural and urban areas, but tend to prefer forest borders, brushy field corners, fencerows, open grassy fields, rocky outcrops, and agricultural fields. They typically use underground dens which can be in grassy banks, rocky crevices, or along fencerows, although sometimes they use aboveground dens including barns, woodpiles, haystacks, or rock or brush piles. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Always occurs near water; usually in swampy lowlands, wetlands, marshes, cypress swamps, or canebrakes. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: Tri-colored bats occupy more caves in eastern North America than any other bat species. They typically roost alone and prefer warmer caves compared to other cave-hibernating bats.

Habitat: Hibernates in caves, rock crevices and mines. Summer roosts include trees, cliffs, and sometimes buildings. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Part of the success of the Virginia opossum in Tennessee is owed to its willingness to rarely, if ever, pass up a meal, which undoubtedly allows it to exploit a variety of habitat types and situations whether on the ground or in a tree. Though it prefers open forests with a permanent water source, it is equally at home almost anywhere, including agricultural lands and even suburban and urban areas where it is frequently seen along roadways. Known as a solitary wanderer, the opossum seldom remains in a single location for more than a few days. Being primarily active at night, it seeks out cover in the form of brush, hollow trees or logs, or man-made structures by day. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Primarily found in forests and around forest edges, but can be found in a variety of habitats including scrubland, oldfields, and fencerows. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: The White-tailed Deer, easily one of the most recognizable mammals, is Tennessee's most popular big game animal and occurs state-wide. Although deer are plentiful and widespread today, they were nearly extirpated during the early 20th century due to over-harvesting for food and hides.

Habitat: Occurs in a variety of habitats, but generally prefers wooded areas during the day. They also use crop fields, pastures, shrubby areas, thickets, field edges, yards, and orchards. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: Wild Pigs, which were originally introduced from Europe into the United States as a big game species, can be found in many areas of Tennessee. These pigs have recently been removed from big game status to a non-protected nuisance animal marked for eradication.

Habitat: Wild Pigs live in many types of habitats, but are generally found in upland and bottomland hardwood forests, mountainous terrain, brushlands, or swamps. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: This is the largest member of the Sciuridae (Squirrel) Family and it occurs all across Tennessee. Woodchucks, also known as "groundhogs", are well-known for their habitat of excavating burrows and sitting upright next to them.

Habitat: Woodchucks prefer sloping pastures and cultivated fields, adjacent to small woodlots and sometimes stream banks. They utilize loamy soil to build burrow systems, usually with separate dens for nesting and hibernating. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Habitat: Prefers moist areas and edges of coniferous and deciduous forests with dense, herbaceous growth. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)

Range: This small rodent, which spends most of its time in underground tunnel systems, is found across the state. Its other name, Pine Vole, refers to the habitat where the first specimen was collected, not necessarily its preferred habitat.

Habitat: Woodland Voles occur in a variety of habitats, both in open lands and in woodlands. They occur in fields next to wooded areas, along fencerows, and in orchards, gardens, and thickets along forest edges. (Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency)