BFS Mammals

NOTES:

Species. Species that are not native to the area are designated with an dagger (†).

Photos. Links labeled ‘BFS’ lead to iNaturalist observations of that species made at the Bernard Field Station. Please refer to copyright information in the images for allowed uses. Note that no photos taken at the BFS may be used for commercial purposes without the express permission of the BFS Director.

‘CP’ links will return all photographs of the listed taxon in the CalPhotos, Digital Library Project database. Note that you must check the stipulations with each photograph for permissible uses of the CalPhotos images.

Common name Species name Photos* Conservation
Status*		 Notes
Opossums (Didelphidae):
Virginia Opossum† Didelphis virginiana† CP The Virginia opossum was not originally native to California. It was intentionally introduced into the West during the Great Depression, probably as a source of food.
Free-tailed Bats (Molossidae):
Mexican Free-tailed Bat Tadarida brasiliensis CP
Evening Bats (Vespertilionidae):
Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus CP
Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans
Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus CP
Yuma Myotis Myotis yumanensis
Canyon Bat Parastrellus hesperus CP Formerly Pipistrellus hesperus. Previously observed at the BFS but not confirmed since 2001.
Hares & Rabbits (Leporidae):
San Diego Black-tailed Hare Lepus californicus CP Observed historically on the BFS, but has not been confirmed since 1990.
Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii BFS, CP
Squirrels (Sciuridae):
Merriam’s Chipmunk Neotamias merriami BFS, CP Probably accidental. The only record is of one captured by a trail cam. There is no evidence that they are established on the BFS.
California Ground Squirrel Otospermophilus beecheyi BFS, CP
Western Gray Squirrel Sciurus griseus BFS, CP
Eastern Fox Squirrel† Sciurus niger† BFS, CP Eastern fox squirrels were introduced to Los Angeles around 1904 and have since spread. The first documented sighting at BFS was in 2009, and although they have been seen occasionally since, they have not established at the BFS.
Pocket Gophers (Geomyidae):
Botta’s Pocket Gopher Thomomys bottae BFS, CP Recent molecular data support reassignment to genus Megascapheus and a split into eight species, with M. bottae being the one at the BFS – a taxonomy used by iNaturalist. Field biologists, however, still use Thomomys bottae.
Pocket Mice & Kangaroo Rats (Heteromyidae):
Agile Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys agilis BFS
New World Rats, Mice, Voles, & Relatives (Cricetidae):
California Vole Microtus californicus BFS, CP
San Diego Desert Woodrat Neotoma bryanti  BFS, CP SSC Formerly Neotoma lepida intermedia.
Big-Eared Woodrat Neotoma macrotis Formerly Neotoma fuscipes macrotis, now elevated to a separate species.
California Mouse Peromyscus californicus Observed historically on the BFS, but has not been confirmed since 1990.
Cactus Mouse Peromyscus eremicus CP Observed historically on the BFS, but has not been confirmed since 1990.
Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus BFS, CP Recent molecular data support reassignment to genus Megascapheus and a split into eight species, with P. gambelii being the one at the BFS – a taxonomy used by iNaturalist. Field biologists, however, still use Peromyscus maniculatus.
Western Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys megalotis BFS, CP
Old World Rats & Mice (Muridae):
Norway Rat† Rattus norvegicus† CP
Roof Rat, Black Rat† Rattus rattus† CP
House Mouse† Mus musculus† CP
Dogs & Foxes (Canidae):
Domestic Dog† Canis familiaris†
Coyote Canis latrans BFS, CP
California Grey Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus CP
Raccoons & Coatis (Procyonidae):
Raccoon Procyon lotor BFS, CP
Weasels (Mustelidae):
Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata CP Observed historically on the BFS, but has not been confirmed since 1980.
Skunks (Mephitidae):
Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis CP
Western Spotted Skunk Spilogale gracilis CP
Cats (Felidae):
Domestic Cat† Felis catus† BFS
Bobcat Lynx rufus BFS, CP

*Key:

Conservation Status:
SSC = Species of Special Concern according to California Department of Fish & Wildlife Special Animals List [pdf] – July 2023
Links to Photos and Descriptions:
BFS = Photos of mammals taken at the Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station.
CP = CalPhotos, Digital Library Project, UC Berkeley. Clicking the CalPhotos link for a listing will return a display of all photos for that taxon. If you want to use any of these photos, be sure to check the guidelines for Using the Photos in CalPhotos