Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: California Pocket Mouse
California Pocket Mice eat seeds, insects, and sometimes green leaves. Like other pocket mice in the genus Chaetodipus, they scurry around on all four feet (unlike kangaroo rats, which are in the same family of rodents, and which hop on...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Bailey's Pocket Mouse
Bailey's Pocket Mice are solitary, nocturnal, and live in burrows. Pocket Mice mostly eat seeds, using their "pockets," fur-lined, external cheek pouches, to bring seeds to their nests, where they store them in preparation for leaner...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Common Gray Fox
Gray foxes are adept at climbing trees. They are active at night and during twilight, sleeping during the day in dense vegetation or secluded rocky places. Learn more about the Urocyon cinereoargenteus, more commonly known as a Common...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Chihuahuan Pocket Mouse
The Chihuahuan Pocket Mouse differs only slightly in appearance from the Desert Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus penicillatus) but there is little overlap in their geographic ranges. The Chihuahuan Pocket Mouse is a bit larger and lighter than...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Bobcat
The Bobcat is the most widely distributed native cat in North America. Bobcats occupy many habitat types, from desert to swamp to mountains. Learn more about the Lynx rufus, more commonly known as a Bobcat, in this easy-to-read species...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: American Pika
American Pikas scent-mark with their cheek glands, and also communicate with both long and short vocalizations. Short calls are uttered as alarms and to announce that they are departing or returning from foraging, and males perform a...
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National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Collared Pika
Collared Pikas are common in the mountains of central and southern Alaska, particularly above the timberline. They are very vocal animals, calling loudly to one another with short, sharp sounds that may be alarm calls or have a role in...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Broad Footed Mole
Broad-footed Moles' forefeet are almost as wide as they are long, and their fur is nearly uniformly black. They seem to prefer moist soils, but will inhabit dry areas with large boulders. Learn more about the Scapanus latimanus, more...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Arizona Gray Squirrel
Walnuts are a favorite food of Arizona Gray Squirrels, and when they find an abundance, the squirrels soon stain their faces, paws, and undersides a distinct brownish-orange from walnut juice. Other foods eaten may include fungi, acorns,...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Arizona Cotton Rat
All cotton rats have a strong connection with grass, which they feed upon, and in which they construct their runways. Within their range in southeast and central Arizona and western Mexico, Arizona cotton rats inhabit only grassy areas...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Brush Rabbit
When they are frightened, Brush Rabbits often thump the ground with a hind foot and may also squeal. These very small cottontails use burrows dug by other animals as escape routes, and sometimes climb into shrubs or low trees to avoid...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: American Black Bear
Most Black Bears hibernate for up to seven months, and do not eat, drink, urinate, or exercise the entire time. In the South, where plant food is available all year, not all bears hibernate, but pregnant females do. Learn more about the...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Big Eared Kangaroo Rat
The Big-eared Kangaroo Rat has the longest ears of any kangaroo rat, and weighing in at about 85 g, is one of the largest Dipodomys species in California. It is dark cinnamon in color, with white underparts and brown ears. Learn more...
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National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: California Kangaroo Rat
California Kangaroo Rats require open areas away from the humidity of the coast in northern California and southern Oregon. They seem to need well-drained soil, and after a rain can be seen pushing mud out of their burrows. Learn more...
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National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: American Marten
American Martens are widely distributed in northern forests across Canada and into Alaska. Only 200 years ago, they were also abundant in the southeastern United States. Learn more about the Martes americana, more commonly known as an...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Blainville's Beaked Whale
Blainville's beaked whale is found worldwide in warm temperate to tropical waters. Small pods of 3-7 whales have been seen off Hawaii in waters 700 to 1,000 m deep, near much deeper water. Learn more about the Mesoplodon densirostris,...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Arctic Fox
An animal that does not begin to shiver until temperatures reach -70 C, the arctic fox is one of the most superbly cold-adapted mammals. Its dense, multi-layered coat, which is several inches thick during winter, provides excellent heat...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Baird's Beaked Whale
Baird's beaked whale is the longest species of the Ziphiidae, which is a family of medium-sized whales. The name "beaked whale" comes from the way the long snout, or rostrum, tapers to a tip. Learn more about the Berardius bairdii, more...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: American Bison
The American Bison's recovery from near extinction parallels what happened to the European Bison, Bison bonasus. Once abundant and widespread in northern latitudes, their decline in several countries since the 6th century has been...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep live only in remote, treeless mountain terrain. They use steep slopes and cliffs to escape from wolves, coyotes, and cougars. Learn more about the Ovis canadensis, more commonly known as a Bighorn Sheep, in this...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Coast Mole
Coast Moles are difficult to distinguish from Townsend's Moles where their ranges overlap in the Pacific Northwest. Both have velvety, dark-gray fur and tiny eyes and ears that are hidden under their fur. Learn more about the Scapanus...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Baird's Shrew
Baird's Shrew has a very limited range in Oregon, in moist conifer forests. Its fur is darker brown in winter than in summer, when it is brownish-chestnut or olive-brown, with paler sides and belly. Learn more about the Sorex bairdi,...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Arizona Shrew
The Arizona Shrew was at first found only in Arizona, but it is now known to occur in New Mexico and northern Mexico as well. Until the 1990s, only about 22 specimens had ever been collected. Learn more about the Sorex arizonae, more...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Arctic Shrew
Arctic Shrews prefer grassy clearings and marshes within coniferous forests and are never very dense in population. Mortality is high early in life. Learn more about the Sorex arcticus, more commonly known as an Arctic Shrew, in this...