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Mammals of Los Angeles, California

The mammals most often spotted near Los Angeles, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

62,462
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals

Naturalists have logged 62,462 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near Los Angeles. The most frequently seen is the Eastern Fox Squirrel, with 23,301 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed near Los Angeles include Bobcat and Blue Whale - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

BobcatBlue Whale

Most-observed mammals near Los Angeles

Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
23,301 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
6,782 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
6,238 observations
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
5,598 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
4,248 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
2,783 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
2,265 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
1,714 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
1,431 observations
Western Gray Squirrel
Sciurus griseus
1,319 observations
California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianus
1,119 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
1,084 observations
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
729 observations
Botta's Pocket Gopher
Megascapheus bottae
657 observations · iNaturalist
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
390 observations
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
342 observations
Merriam's Chipmunk
Neotamias merriami
336 observations
Black Rat
Rattus rattus
325 observations
Brush Rabbit
Sylvilagus bachmani
250 observations
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
235 observations
European Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
133 observations
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
129 observations
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
129 observations
Southern Broad-footed Mole
Scapanus occultus
129 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
124 observations
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
88 observations
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
77 observations
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
48 observations
Big-eared Woodrat
Neotoma macrotis
42 observations
Northern Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
41 observations
Canyon Bat
Parastrellus hesperus
40 observations
California Vole
Microtus californicus
39 observations
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus
33 observations
Ringtail
Bassariscus astutus
28 observations
Grey Whale
Eschrichtius robustus
22 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
20 observations
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
18 observations
Northern Elephant Seal
Mirounga angustirostris
18 observations
Lodgepole Chipmunk
Neotamias speciosus
18 observations
Common Minke Whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
17 observations
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
17 observations
Gambel's Deer Mouse
Peromyscus gambelii
17 observations
California Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus californicus
16 observations
Western Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys megalotis
15 observations
Domestic Dog
Canis familiaris
13 observations
Dusky-footed Woodrat
Neotoma fuscipes
11 observations
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
11 observations
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
9 observations
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
8 observations
Risso's Dolphin
Grampus griseus
6 observations

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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