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Mammals of Illinois

The mammals most often spotted in Illinois, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

78,866
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals

Naturalists have logged 78,866 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in Illinois. The most frequently seen is the Eastern Gray Squirrel, with 17,262 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in Illinois include Bobcat - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Bobcat

Most-observed mammals in Illinois

Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
17,262 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
13,964 observations
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
10,667 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
5,762 observations
Eastern Chipmunk
Tamias striatus
5,564 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
4,132 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
2,990 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
2,862 observations
Groundhog
Marmota monax
2,227 observations
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
2,199 observations
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
1,737 observations
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
1,218 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
1,090 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
965 observations
Northern Short-tailed Shrew
Blarina brevicauda
679 observations
Mexican Long-nosed Armadillo
Dasypus mexicanus
646 observations
American Mink
Neogale vison
590 observations
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
577 observations
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
428 observations
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
375 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
326 observations
Eastern Mole
Scalopus aquaticus
316 observations
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
301 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
229 observations
Southern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys volans
201 observations
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
171 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
140 observations
Western Meadow Vole
Microtus drummondii
139 observations
Plains Pocket Gopher
Geomys bursarius
116 observations
White-footed Mouse
Peromyscus leucopus
116 observations
American Bison
Bos bison
113 observations · iNaturalist
Tri-coloured Bat
Perimyotis subflavus
102 observations
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
80 observations
Masked Shrew
Sorex cinereus
80 observations
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
50 observations
Northern Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
49 observations
Domestic Dog
Canis familiaris
45 observations
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
43 observations · iNaturalist
Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse
Zapus hudsonius
38 observations
Woodland Vole
Microtus pinetorum
38 observations
Wapiti
Cervus canadensis
37 observations
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
32 observations
Domestic Horse
Equus caballus
30 observations
American Ermine
Mustela richardsonii
26 observations
European Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
21 observations
Least Weasel
Mustela nivalis
21 observations
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
20 observations · iNaturalist
Prairie Vole
Microtus ochrogaster
18 observations
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
17 observations
North American Least Shrew
Cryptotis parvus
17 observations · iNaturalist

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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