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American Beaver
Castor canadensis
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Vermont Mammals: Species List With Pictures
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
On this page
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department: 58# Species in Group:
This page lists 58 mammals: all from Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department's Mammals of Vermont. 3 are nonnative.
Which mammals can hurt you
Official sources single out these mammals in Vermont, in their own words:
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Photo: Marco Antonino Ramos Rodríguez · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized Raccoon
Rabies. “In Vermont, the virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats” Vermont Department of Health
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Photo: Mirko Schoenitz · CC0 1.0 · iNaturalist Striped Skunk
Rabies. “In Vermont, the virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats” Vermont Department of Health
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Photo: David Willingham · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Red Fox
Rabies. “In Vermont, the virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats” Vermont Department of Health
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Photo: Mike's Birds from Riverside, CA, US · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized Gray Fox
Rabies. “In Vermont, the virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats” Vermont Department of Health
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Bats
Rabies. “In Vermont, the virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats” Vermont Department of Health
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Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons American Black Bear
Large, strong wild animal. “Black bears are large, strong wild animals that should be treated with respect and appreciated from a distance to ensure your safety as well as the bear’s.” Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
All 58 mammals
From A to Z. Do not handle them.
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
- Danger to people
- “Black bears are large, strong wild animals that should be treated with respect and appreciated from a distance to ensure your safety as well as the bear’s.” Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
- 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
- Conservation
- state rank S5
American Marten
Martes americana
- Conservation
- state endangered; SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S1
No confirmed photo of American Mink
American Mink
Neogale vison
- Conservation
- state rank S5
No confirmed photo of Big Brown Bat
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S4
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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
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S5
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
- Conservation
- state rank SNA
Canadian Lynx
Lynx canadensis
- Conservation
- state endangered; federally threatened; SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S1
No confirmed photo of Cinereus or Masked Shrew
Cinereus or Masked Shrew
Sorex cinereus
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S5
Common Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S5
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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)
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Eastern Chipmunk
Tamias striatus
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
- Conservation
- state rank SNA
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Eastern Mountain Lion
Puma concolor couguar
- Conservation
- state endangered; federally delisted; SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank SH
No confirmed photo of Eastern Pygmy Shrew
Eastern Pygmy Shrew
Sorex hoyi
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S2
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S4B
Eastern Small-footed Bat
Myotis leibii
- Conservation
- state threatened; SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S1
No confirmed photo of Eastern Water Shrew
Eastern Water Shrew
Sorex albibarbis
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S3
No confirmed photo of Ermine
Ermine
Mustela richardsonii
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Fisher
Pekania pennanti
- Size
- New York: males 7 to 15 pounds and 35 to 47 inches; females 3 to 7 pounds and 30 to 37 inches. Figures vary by state.
- How to recognize it
- Low to the ground with short legs, small ears and a well-furred tail
- Tail about one-third of total length
- Five toes and sharp semi-retractable claws; bright green eyeshine at night
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
- Danger to people
- “In Vermont, the virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats” Vermont Department of Health
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S5
No confirmed photo of Hairy-tailed Mole
Hairy-tailed Mole
Parascalops breweri
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S4
Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S3B
House Mouse
Mus musculus
- Conservation
- state rank SNA
No confirmed photo of Indiana Bat
Indiana Bat
Myotis sodalis
- Conservation
- state endangered; federally endangered; SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S1
No confirmed photo of Little Brown Bat
Little Brown Bat
Myotis lucifugus
- Conservation
- state endangered; federal status UR (Under Review, per list legend); SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S1
No confirmed photo of Long-tailed or Rock Shrew
Long-tailed or Rock Shrew
Sorex dispar
- Conservation
- state special concern; SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S2
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S3S4
No confirmed photo of Meadow Jumping Mouse
Meadow Jumping Mouse
Zapus hudsonius
- Conservation
- state rank S5
No confirmed photo of Meadow Vole
Meadow Vole
Microtus pennsylvanicus
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Moose
Alces alces
- Size
- Alaska: adults 800 lb (small cow) to 1,600 lb (large bull), up to almost 6 feet tall. Elsewhere, NY DEC: bulls 600-1,200 lb, cows 500-800 lb.
- How to recognize it
- "Bell": flap of skin and hair hanging from the throat (both sexes)
- Antlers on males only; flat and palmate (hand-shaped), up to five feet wide
- Antlers only on males (ADF&G)
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S5
No confirmed photo of New England Cottontail
New England Cottontail
Sylvilagus transitionalis
- Conservation
- state special concern; SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank SH
North American Deermouse
Peromyscus maniculatus
- Conservation
- state rank S5
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
- Conservation
- state rank S5
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S5
No confirmed photo of Northern Flying Squirrel
Northern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys sabrinus
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S4
No confirmed photo of Northern Long-eared Bat
Northern Long-eared Bat
Myotis septentrionalis
- Conservation
- state endangered; federally endangered; SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S1
No confirmed photo of Northern Short-tailed Shrew
Northern Short-tailed Shrew
Blarina brevicauda
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
- Danger to people
- “In Vermont, the virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats” Vermont Department of Health
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
- Danger to people
- “In Vermont, the virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats” Vermont Department of Health
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
- Conservation
- state rank S5
No confirmed photo of Rock Vole
Rock Vole
Microtus chrotorrhinus
- Conservation
- state special concern; SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S2
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S2B
No confirmed photo of Smoky Shrew
Smoky Shrew
Sorex fumeus
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S4
Snowshoe Hare
Lepus americanus
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S5
No confirmed photo of Southern Bog Lemming
Southern Bog Lemming
Synaptomys cooperi
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S2
No confirmed photo of Southern Flying Squirrel
Southern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys volans
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S5
No confirmed photo of Southern Red-backed Vole
Southern Red-backed Vole
Clethrionomys gapperi
- Conservation
- state rank S5
No confirmed photo of Star-nosed Mole
Star-nosed Mole
Condylura cristata
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
- Danger to people
- “In Vermont, the virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats” Vermont Department of Health
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Tri-colored Bat
Perimyotis subflavus
- Conservation
- state endangered; proposed federally endangered; SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S1
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
- Conservation
- state rank S5
No confirmed photo of White-footed Deermouse
White-footed Deermouse
Peromyscus leucopus
- Conservation
- state rank S5
No confirmed photo of White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
- Conservation
- state rank S5
Woodchuck
Marmota monax
- Conservation
- state rank S5
No confirmed photo of Woodland Jumping Mouse
Woodland Jumping Mouse
Napaeozapus insignis
- Conservation
- state rank S5
No confirmed photo of Woodland Vole
Woodland Vole
Microtus pinetorum
- Conservation
- SGCN (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan); state rank S3
Mammals people confuse
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).
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When mammals are active in Vermont
Records of mammals in Vermont peak in May to October. They show when people record mammals, not how many there are (about month bars).
- Bears: feed birds only from December to March. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
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 Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and Vermont Department of Health:
- Bears: never feed bears; feed birds only December to March; secure trash, pet food, chickens and beehives. Report a bear in a residential area or an aggressive bear to Vermont Fish & Wildlife. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
- Rabies: for a bite from a wild animal, contact the Vermont USDA Rabies Hotline 1-800-4-RABIES (1-800-472-2437) or a Game Warden. Vermont Department of Health
How to report
Reptiles and amphibians (including Timber Rattlesnake sightings): Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (vtherpatlas.org). Bear incidents and rare animals: F&W Citizen Reporting forms. Invasive insects and aquatic animals: vtinvasives.org Report It! pages. Wildlife conflicts: U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Damage Control Unit (name as given on the F&W page), Berlin VT, 802-223-8690. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
What official sources say
Are there bears in Vermont?
Yes. The American Black Bear is on the F&W mammal list (state rank S5, common). Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
“Ursus americanus American Black Bear S5 G5”
Are there moose in Vermont?
Yes. Moose are on the F&W mammal list; motor vehicles are the main known cause of non-hunting moose deaths. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
“The primary known cause of non-hunting moose deaths (mortalities) in Vermont is motor vehicles.”
Are there mountain lions in Vermont?
Not anymore. The Eastern Mountain Lion is on the F&W list as state rank SH (possibly extirpated; known only from historical occurrences but with hope of rediscovery) and state endangered. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department
About this list
The species list comes from Mammals of Vermont (Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department) (Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory), 07 December 2022).
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 Vermont.
Sources
- Reptiles and Amphibians of Vermont. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory). document dated 13 March 2022; checked November 3, 2026.
- Mammals of Vermont. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory). document dated 07 December 2022; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Ursus americanus American Black Bear S5 G5”
- Vertebrate Animals of Vermont. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory). document dated 07 December 2022; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“58# Species in Group:”
- Rabies. Vermont Department of Health. updated October 22, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“In Vermont, the virus is most often found in raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats”
“Call the Vermont USDA Rabies Hotline at 1-800-4-RABIES (1-800-472-2437) or 1-802-223-8690.”
- If You Encounter a Bear. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Black bears are large, strong wild animals that should be treated with respect and appreciated from a distance to ensure your safety as well as the bear’s.”
- Living with Black Bears. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“If you see a bear in a residential area or you encounter an aggressive bear, please contact the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.”
“Feed birds from December to March only.”
- Citizen Reporting. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Report incidents of property damage by bears, visits to birdfeeders, compost bins or garbage, bears on porches or decks, damage to bee hives, corn or other crops, and any incident where you feel threatened by a bear.”
- Moose. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“The primary known cause of non-hunting moose deaths (mortalities) in Vermont is motor vehicles.”
- 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.