MAMMALS 
land and marine 

during Focus On Nature Tours 

in WASHINGTON STATE
 and central CALIFORNIA

those during our West Coast USA Tours
mostly in the month of September
with an (*)

 
1991 thru 2014


A list of Washington State and California mammals compiled by Armas Hill 

Photo at upper right: SEA OTTERS


Codes:

W: in Washington State
C: in California

Tours 1991-2001 were also in British Columbia, Canada. 
Sightings there are noted with a: B

Numbers following the two-letter codes indicate the number of tours during with the mammal has been found 
(out of 13 tours in Washington State and 12 in California) 

Species with a PR occur in the area of Point Reyes, California
Noted with their status:
c: common  fc: fairly common  u: uncommon  r: rare  x: extremely rare  

SPECIES CLASSIFIED AS THREATENED GLOBALLY:
(t1):  critically endangered
(t2):  endangered
(t3):  vulnerable
(nt):  classified as near-threatened globally

(ph): species with a photo in the FONT website 

Links:

Upcoming FONT West Coast USA Birding & Nature Tours in Washington State & California

List of Birds found during FONT September West Coast USA Tours

Marine Life  (inc. Fish, Jellyfish, Mollusks (Shells), & Arthropods: Crustaceans & Echinoderms)

Directory of Photos in this Website

        Land Mammals:

1. Montane Shrew  (*)  ______ W 1
   Sorex monticolus 
   
   Sorex monticolus was called the Dusky Shrew.
   
   
2. Trowbridge's Shrew  ______  C  PR:c
   Sorex trowbridgii 
   
   
3. Vagrant Shrew  ______  C  PR:c
   Sorex vagrans
   
   
4. Pacific Shrew  ______  C  PR:r
   Sorex pacificus
   
   
5. Shrew Mole  ______  C  PR:fc
   Neurotrichus gibbsii
   
   
6. Broad-banded Mole  ______  C  PR:fc
   Scapanus latimanus 
   
   
7. Virginia Opossum  (ph) (*)  ______ C 2  PR:c
   Didelphis virginiana 
   
   
8. Pallid Bat  ______  C  PR:c
   Antrozous pallidus 
   
   
9. Silver-haired Bat  (ph)  ______  C  PR:u
   Lasionycteris noctivagans  
   
   
10. Western Red Bat  ______  C  PR:u
    Lasiurus blossevillii
    
    
11. Hoary Bat  ______  C  PR:c
    Lasiurus cinereus
    
    
12. Little Brown Myotis  ______  C  PR:u
    Myotis lucifugus
    
    
13. California Myotis  (*)  ______ C 2  PR:fc
    Myotis californicus
    
    
14. Fringed Myotis  ______  C  PR:c
    Myotis thysanodes
    
    
15. Yuma Myotis  ______  C  PR:c
    Myotis yumanensis
    
    
16. Big Brown Bat  (*)  ______ W C 3  PR:fc
    Eptesicus fuscus
    
    
17. Long-eared Bat  ______  C  PR:r
    Plecotus townsendii
    
    
18. Mexican Free-tailed Bat  (ph)  ______  C  PR:fc
    Tadarida brasiliensis
    
    
19. Sewellel  ______  C  W  PR:r 
    Aplodontia rufa  (the single member of its genus)
    
    The Sewellel has also been called the Mountain Beaver.   
    
    
20. Northern Raccoon  (ph) (*)  ______ W 2  PR:c
    Procyon lotor
    
    
21. Ringtail  ______  C  PR:r
    Bassariscus astutus
    
    
22. Northern River Otter  (*)  ______ W C 2  PR:r
    Lontra canadensis
    
    
23. Short-tailed Weasel  ______  C  PR:r
    Mustela erminea
    
    
24. Long-tailed Weasel  ______  C  PR:fc
    Mustela frenata
    
    
25. American Mink  (ph)  ______  C  PR:r
    Mustela vison
    
    
26. American Badger  (ph)  ______  C  PR:u
    Taxidea taxus
    
    
27. Spotted Skunk  ______  C  PR:u
    Spilogale putorius
    
    
28. Striped Skunk  ______  C  PR:c
    Mephitis mephitis
    
    
29. Coyote  (ph) (*)  ______ W C 8  PR:r
    Canis latrans
    
    
30. Gray Fox  (*)  ______ W C 2  PR:fc
    Urocyon cinereoargenteus
    
    
31. Red Fox  (ph) (*)  _____ W 2  PR:r
    Vulpes vulpes fulva  (the North American animal is considered now to be conspecific with the Old World Red Fox, Vulpes v. vulpes)
    
    
    
    A Red Fox. This mammal is the most widespread and abundant carnivore in the world. 
    (photo by Doris Potter)
    
    
32. Bobcat  (ph) (*)  ______ C 2  PR:fc
    Lynx rufus
    
    
33. Puma  (ph)  ______  C  PR:r
    Felis concolor
    
    
34. Hoary Marmot  (*)  ______ W 1
    Marmota caligata
    
    
35. California Ground Squirrel  (ph) (*)  ______ C 11  PR:r
    Spermophilus beecheyi
    
    
    
    A California Ground Squirrel at Monterey, California 
    (photo by Armas Hill)
    
    
36. Washington Ground Squirrel  (*)  ______ W 2
    Spermophilus washingtoni
    
    
37. Belding's Ground Squirrel  (*)  ______ W 1  (seen in eastern Wash State, slightly north of boundary in range maps)
    Spermophilus beldingi 
    
    
38. Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel  (*)  ______ W 7 
    Spermophilus saturatus
    
    The Cascade Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel is a split from the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus saturatus.
    
    
39. Townsend's Ground Squirrel  (*)  ______  W 1
    Spermophilus townsendii
    
    
40. Townsend's Chipmunk  (*)  ______ W 10
    Tamias townsendii
    
    
41. Yellow-pine Chipmunk  (*)  ______ W 10
    Tamias amoenus
    
    
42. Merriam's Chipmunk  (*)  ______ C 6
    Tamias merriami
    
    
43. Least Chipmunk  (*)  ______ W 2
    Tamias minimus
    
    
44. Panamint Chipmunk  (*)  ______ C 1
    Tamias panamintinus
    
     
45. Sonoma Chipmunk  ______  C  PR:u
    Tamias sonormae
    
    
46. Eastern Gray Squirrel  (i/wNA) (ph) (*)  ______ W B 3
    Sciurus carolinensis
    
    
47. Western Gray Squirrel  (*)  ______ W C 6  PR:c
    Sciurus griseus
    
    
48. Red (or Spruce) Squirrel  (*)  ______ W 4
    Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
    
    
49. Douglas Squirrel  (*) ______ W 9
    Tamiasciurus douglasii
    
    Tamiasciurus douglasii is called the "Chickaree" in the Rocky Mountains. 
    
    
50. North American Porcupine  (ph) (*)  ______ C  W 1  PR:r
    Erethizon dorsatum  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
51. Muskrat  (ph) (*)  ______ C  W 1  PR:u
    Ondatra zibethicus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
52. Nutria (i) (ph) (*)  ______ W 1  
    Myocastor coypus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    Myocastor coypus is native to South America, where it is called the Coypu.
    
    
53. Botta Pocket Gopher  ______  C  PR:c
    Thormomys bottae
    
    
54. Western Harvest Mouse  ______  C  PR:u
    Reitbrodontomys megalotis
    
    
55. North American Deermouse  (*)  ______ C  W 2  PR:c
    Peromyscus maniculatus
    
    
56. Northwestern Deermouse  (*)  ______ W 1
    Peromyscus keeni
    
    
57. Pacific Jumping Mouse  ______  C  PR:u
    Zapus trinotatus
    
    
58. Dusky-footed Woodrat  ______  C  PR:c
    Neotoma fuscipes
    
    
59. California Vole  ______  C  PR:c
    Microtus californicus
    
    
60. Norway Rat (i)  ______  C  PR:c
    Rattus norvegicus
    
    
61. Western House Mouse  (i)  ______  C  PR:c 
    Mus domesticus  
    
    Mus domesticus was conspecific with the Eastern House Mouse, Mus musculus. 
    
    
62. European Rabbit  (i) (*)  ______ W 6
    Oryctolagus cuniculus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
63. Mountain Cottontail  (*)  ______ W 7 
    Sylvilagus nuttallii
    
    Another name for Sylvilagus nuttallii is Nuttall's Cottontail.
    
    
64. Desert Cottontail  (ph) (*)  ______ C 2
    Sylvilagus audubonii
    
    
    
    Desert Cottontail, photographed during a FONT tour
    
    
65. Eastern Cottontail  (ph) (*)  ______ W 1
    Sylvilagus floridanus
    
    There is a western population of the Eastern Cottontail in Washington State.
      
     
66. Brush Rabbit  (*)  ______ C 3
    Sylvilagus bachmani
    
    
67. Black-tailed Jackrabbit  (ph) (*)  ______ C 1  PR:c
    Lepus californicus
    
    
    
    Black-tailed Jackrabbits, photographed during a FONT tour
    
    
68. "Desert" Bighorn Sheep  (ph) (*)  ______ W 1
    Ovis canadensis  (along with others, in the same genus as Domestic Sheep) 
    
    
    
    
    Bighorn Sheep, photographed during a FONT tour
    
    
69. Elk (or Wapiti) (ph) (*)  ______ W 1
    Cervus elaphus canadensis  (another, slightly smaller, subspecies in Europe is called there the Red Deer) 
    "Tule Elk"  (*)  ______ C 1  PR:fc
    Cervus elaphus nannodes  (a subspecies of Elk, native to California) 
    
    
70. Mule Deer  (ph) (*)  ______ C W 12  PR:c 
    Odocoileus hemionus
    
    Odocoileus hemionus is called Blacktail Deer west of the Cascades. 
    
    
    
    A Mule Deer, with its big ears, photographed during a FONT tour.
     
    
71. "Columbian" White-tailed Deer  (ph) (*)  ______ W 3
    Odocoileus virginianus
    
    
    
    The White-tailed Deer is found throughout nearly all of the Lower 48 states of the US,
    but it does not occur in much of California. It is rather common in Washington State.
    (photo by James Scheib)
    
    (photo by James Scheib)
    
    
72. (Common) Fallow Deer (i) (ph) (*)  ______  C 1  PR:u  (feral population in California) 
    Dama dama 
    
    Dama dama is native to the Mediterranean region of the Old World.
    
    
    
    Fallow Deer
    (photo by James Scheib)
    
    
73. Axis Deer (i)  ______  C  PR:u
    Axis axis
    
    
74. Wild Pig (i)  ______  C  PR:u
    Sus scrofa
    
    
    
    Marine Mammals:
    
    
75. Sea Otter  (ph) (*)  ______ C 12  PR:r
    Enhydra lutris  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
    
    Sea Otters
    
    
76. California Sea Lion  (ph) (*)  ______ C 12  PR:c 
    Zalophus californiannus  (the single member of its genus) 
    
    The Galapagos Sea Lion, on those islands, is a race of Zalophus californiannus.
    
    
    
    California Sea Lions
    (photo by Abram Fleishman)
    
    
77. Steller's (or Northern) Sea Lion  (*)  ______ W 2  PR:u
    Eumetopias jubatus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
78. Northern Fur Seal  (ph) (*)  ______ W C 5  PR:r
    Callorbinnus ursinus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
79. Harbor Seal  (ph) (*)  ______ W C 13  PR:c
    Phoca vitulina
    
    
    
    Harbor Seal
    (photo by James Scheib)
    
    
80. Northern Elephant Seal  (*)  ______ C 2  PR:u
    Mirounga angustirostris
    
    
81. Short-beaked Common Dolphin  (ph) (*)  ______ C 7  PR:r
    Delphinus delphis
    
    
    
    Short-beaked Common Dolphin photographed during a FONT tour
    (Photo by Andy Smith)
     
    
82. Northern Right Whale Dolphin  (*)  ______ C 4  PR:r
    Lissodelphis borealis
    
    
83. Pacific White-sided Dolphin  (*)  ______ C 9  PR:fc
    Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
    
    
84. Risso's Dolphin  (ph) (*)  ______ C 5  PR:r 
    Grampus griseus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    Grampus griseus is also called Gray Grampus.
    
    
    
    Risso's Dolphins photographed during a FONT tour 
    
    
85. Killer Whale  (ph) (*)  ______ W C 3  PR:u  (also called Orca) 
    Orcinus orca  (the single member of its genus)
    
    Orcas were seen nicely in the Puget Sound, Washington during the 2004 FONT West Coast Tour.
    
    
    
    Killer Whale (or Orca)
    
    
86. Dall's Porpoise  (*)  ______ W 7  PR:fc
    Phocoenoides dalli  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
87. Harbor Porpoise  (t3)  ______  PR:r
    Phocaena phocaena
    
    
88. Short-finned Pilot Whale  (ph) (*)  ______ C 1
    Globicephala macrorhynchus
    
    
89. Long-finned Pilot Whale  (ph) (*)  ______  PR:r
    Globicephala scammonii
    
    
90. Baird's Beaked Whale  (ph) (*)  ______ C 3   
    Berardius bairdii
    
    8 Baird's Beaked Whales were nicely seen during the 2005 FONT tour offshore from Monterey, California. 4 of them were seen floating, rather like logs, on the surface of the water close to the boat.
    
    
    
    A Baird's Beaked Whale photographed during a FONT West Coast Tour
    offshore from Monterery, California
    (Photo by Marie Gardner)
    
    
91. Stejneger's Beaked Whale  ______  PR:r
    Mesoplodon stejnegeri
    
    
92. Hubb's Beaked Whale  ______  PR:r
    Mesoplodon carlbubbsi
    
    
93. Cuvier's Beaked Whale  (ph)  ______  PR:r
    Ziphius cavirostris
    
    
94. Great Sperm Whale  (t3) (ph)  ______  PR:r
    Physeter catodon
    
    
95. Pygmy Sperm Whale  (ph)   ______  PR:r
    Kogia breviceps
    
    
96. Gray Whale  (*)  ______ C 1  PR:c
    Eschrichtius robustus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
97. Northern Minke Whale  (ph) (*)  ______ W 1  PR:r
    Balacnoptera acutorostrata
    
    
    
    A Northern Minke Whale photographed during a FONT tour
    
    
    
98. Humpback Whale  (t3) (ph) (*)  ______ C 8  PR:fc   
    Megaptera novaeanliae  (the single member of its genus)
    
    8 Humpback Whales were observed during the 2005 FONT tour offshore from Monterey, California. Some were seen breaching out of the water, including a mother with her calf.  
    
    
    
    A breaching Humpback Whale
    
    
    
99. Sei Whale  (t2)  ______  PR:r
    Balaenoptera borealis
    
    
100. Finback Whale  (t2) (ph)  ______   PR:r
     Balaenoptera physalus 
     
     
101. Blue Whale  (t2) (ph) (*)  ______ C 3  PR:u
     Balaenoptera m. musculus  (subspecies in the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans; 2 other subspecies in the Southern Hemisphere)
     
     
     
     
     A Blue Whale, the largest animal in the world, 
     photographed offshore from Monterey, California
     (Photo by Armas Hill)
     
       
     
     
     During the pelagic trip from Monterey, California on September 17, 2005, during which the Baird's Beaked Whales and Humpback Whales referred to above were seen, there were also many seabirds, including an Hawaiian Petrel (a mega-rarity off the California coast).      
     

Reference for the above mammal list is the new book: "Mammals of North America" by Roland W. Kays & Don E. Wilson, published by Princeton University Press, 2002. 

 Some Other Wildlife during the FONT West Coast USA Tours:

 Leatherback Sea Turtle  (ph)  _____ C 1

 Blue Shark _____ C 3

 Thresher Shark _____ C 1

 Ocean Sunfish  (ph)  _____ C 3

Ocean Sunfish
(photographed during a FONT tour)