Fifty-eight species of mammals are found in Vermont. From the American pygmy shrew to the moose, Vermont mammals exhibit a diversity of sizes, habits, and habitats.
While a handful of Vermont’s mammals are important to our hunting and trapping tradition, most are small, nocturnal animals we may go a lifetime without seeing.
- 3 are non-native species – house mouse, brown rat and Eastern cottontail
- 35 are small mammals – weighing less than 1.1 lbs.
- 17 species are believed to be rare or uncommon and are tracked in the Natural Heritage Database
- 5 hibernating bat species are state-listed as endangered following a recent frightening decline due to White-nose Syndrome. Learn more about Vermont’s bats
- 2 are very rare, recently-returned carnivore species – Canadian lynx and American marten
Other rare species, like the Long-tailed Shrew, Rock Vole, and Southern Bog Lemming, are lesser-known.
Additional Resources
Mammals of Vermont - A list of mammal species known to regularly occur in Vermont, as well as their conservation status.
Small Mammal Atlas - This site provides information about the life history, distribution and habitat requirements of 23 species of terrestrial small mammals in Vermont.
See also:
- Vermont Critters – Mammals
- Lists of Animal Species Found in Vermont
- List of Endangered and Threatened Animals of Vermont | PDF
- List of Rare and Uncommon Animals in Vermont | PDF
- Recovery Plans for Threatened & Endangered Species
- Wildlife Action Plan
- Endangered and Threatened Species Takings Permits
- Citizen Reporting Forms for Rare Animals
- NatureServe Explorer