MAMMALS 
(land & marine) 

during Focus On Nature Tours 

in WASHINGTON STATE
& central CALIFORNIA

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

 
1991 thru 2010


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 indicate during how many of the tours the mammal has been found 
(out of 13 tours in Washington State & 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  

(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

        Land Mammals:

1. Montane (formerly Dusky) Shrew  (*)  ______ W 1
   Sorex monticolus 
   
   
2. Trowbridge's Shrew  ______  PR:c
   Sorex trowbridgii 
   
   
3. Vagrant Shrew  ______  PR:c
   Sorex vagrans
   
   
4. Pacific Shrew  ______  PR:r
   Sorex pacificus
   
   
5. Shrew Mole  ______  PR:fc
   Neurotrichus gibbsii
   
   
6. Broad-banded Mole  ______  PR:fc
   Scapanus latimanus 
   
   
7. Virginia Opossum  (ph) (*)  ______ C 2  PR:c
   Didelphis virginiana 
   
   
8. Pallid Bat  ______  PR:c
   Antrozous pallidus 
   
   
9. Silver-haired Bat  ______  PR:u
   Lasionycteris noctivagans  
   
   
10. Red Bat  ______  PR:u
    Lasiurus borealis
    
    
11. Hoary Bat  ______  PR:c
    Lasiurus cinereus
    
    
12. Little Brown Myotis  ______  PR:u
    Myotis lucifugus
    
    
13. California Myotis  (*)  ______ C 2  PR:fc
    Myotis californicus
    
    
14. Fringed Myotis  ______  PR:c
    Myotis thysanodes
    
    
15. Yuma Myotis  ______  PR:c
    Myotis yumanensis
    
    
16. Big Brown Bat  (*)  ______ W C 3  PR:fc
    Eptesicus fuscus
    
    
17. Long-eared Bat  ______  PR:r
    Plecotus townsendii
    
    
18. Mexican Free-tailed Bat  (ph)  ______  PR:fc
    Tadarida brasiliensis
    
    
19. Sewellel  ______  PR:r  (has been called Mountain Beaver)
    Aplodontia rufa  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
20. Northern Raccoon  (ph) (*)  ______ W 2  PR:c
    Procyon lotor
    
    
21. Ringtail  ______  PR:r
    Bassariscus astutus
    
    
22. Northern River Otter  (*)  ______ W C 2  PR:r
    Lontra canadensis
    
    
23. Short-tailed Weasel  ______  PR:r
    Mustela erminea
    
    
24. Long-tailed Weasel  ______  PR:fc
    Mustela frenata
    
    
25. American Mink  (ph)  ______  PR:r
    Mustela vison
    
    
26. American Badger  (ph)  ______  PR:u
    Taxidea taxus
    
    
27. Spotted Skunk  ______  PR:u
    Spilogale putorius
    
    
28. Striped Skunk  ______  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)  ______  PR:r
    Felis concolor
    
    
34. Hoary Marmot  (*)  ______ W 1
    Marmota caligata
    
    
35. California Ground Squirrel  (*)  ______ 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  (a recent "split" from the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus lateralis)
    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  ______  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 (also called "Chickaree") (The Red Squirrel is also referred to as "Chickaree" in the Rocky Mtns)
    Tamiasciurus douglasii
    
    
50. North American Porcupine  (ph)  ______ W 1  PR:r
    Erethizon dorsatum  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
51. Muskrat  (ph)  ______ W 1  PR:u
    Ondatra zibethicus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
52. Nutria (i) (ph)  ______ W 1  (native to South America, where it is called the Coypu)
    Myocastor coypus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
53. Botta Pocket Gopher  ______  PR:c
    Thormomys bottae
    
    
54. Western Harvest Mouse  ______  PR:u
    Reitbrodontomys megalotis
    
    
55. North American Deermouse ______ W 2  PR:c
    Peromyscus maniculatus
    
    
56. Northwestern Deermouse ______ W 1
    Peromyscus keeni
    
    
57. Pacific Jumping Mouse  ______  PR:u
    Zapus trinotatus
    
    
58. Dusky-footed Woodrat  ______  PR:c
    Neotoma fuscipes
    
    
59. California Vole  ______  PR:c
    Microtus californicus
    
    
60. Norway Rat (i)  ______  PR:c
    Rattus norvegicus
    
    
61. Western House Mouse  (i)  ______  PR:c  (was conspecific with the Eastern House Mouse, Mus musculus)
    Mus domesticus   
    
    
62. European Rabbit (i) ______ W 6
    Oryctolagus cuniculus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
63. Mountain Cottontail ______ W 7  (has also been called Nuttall's Cottontail)
    Sylvilagus nuttallii
    
    
64. Desert Cottontail ______ C 2
    Sylvilagus audubonii
    
    
    
    
    Desert Cottontail, photographed during a FONT tour
    
    
65. Eastern Cottontail (a western population) ______ 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 ______ C 1  PR:c
    Lepus californicus
    
    
    
    
    Black-tailed Jackrabbits, photographed during a FONT tour
    
    
68. "Desert" Bighorn Sheep ______ 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) ______ 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 ______ C W 12  PR:c  (called Blacktail Deer west of the Cascades)
    Odocoileus hemionus
    
    
    
    
    A Mule Deer, with its big ears, photographed during a FONT tour.
     
    
71. "Columbian" White-tailed Deer ______ 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)
    
    
72. (Common) Fallow Deer (i) ______  C 1  PR:u  (feral population in California; native to the Mediterranean region of the Old World)
    Dama dama 
    
    
    
    
    Fallow Deer
    (photo by James Scheib)
    
    
73. Axis Deer (i)  ______  PR:u
    Axis axis
    
    
74. Wild Pig (i)  ______  PR:u
    Sus scrofa
    
    
    
    Marine Mammals:
    
    
75. Sea Otter ______ C 12  PR:r
    Enhydra lutris  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
    
    
    Sea Otters
    
    
    
76. California Sea Lion ______ C 12  PR:c  (the Galapagos Sea Lion is a race of this species; there is another rare subspecies in Japan)
    Zalophus californiannus  (the single member of its genus) 
    
    
    
    
    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 ______ W C 5  PR:r
    Callorbinnus ursinus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
79. Harbor Seal ______ 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 ______ 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 ______ C 5  PR:r  (also called Gray Grampus) 
    Grampus griseus  (the single member of its genus)
    
    
    
    
    Risso's Dolphins photographed during a FONT tour 
    
    
85. Killer Whale ______ 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  ______  PR:r
    Phocaena phocaena
    
    
88. Short-finned Pilot Whale ______ C 1
    Globicephala macrorhynchus
    
    
89. Long-finned Pilot Whale  ______  PR:r
    Globicephala scammonii
    
    
90. Baird's Beaked Whale ______ 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  (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 ______ W 1  PR:r
    Balacnoptera acutorostrata
    
    
    
    
    A Northern Minke Whale photographed during a FONT tour
    
    
    
98. Humpback Whale ______ 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  ______  PR:r
    Balaenoptera borealis
    
    
100. Finback Whale  (ph)  ______   PR:r
     Balaenoptera physalus 
     
     
101. Blue Whale ______ C 3  PR:u
     Balaenoptera musculus
     
     
     
     
     
     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 Univ Press, 2002. 

 Some Other Wildlife during the FONT West Coast USA Tours:

 Leatherback Sea Turtle _____ C 1

 Blue Shark _____ C 3

 Thresher Shark _____ C 1

 Ocean Sunfish _____ C 3

Ocean Sunfish
(photographed during a FONT tour)