Mammals of San Diego, California
The mammals most often spotted near San Diego, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
42,459
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals
Naturalists have logged 42,459 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Diego. The most frequently seen is the California Sea Lion, with 10,118 recorded sightings.
Rarer finds confirmed near San Diego include Bobcat, Blue Whale, Guadalupe Fur Seal and Bryant's Woodrat - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.
Most-observed mammals near San Diego
California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianus
10,118 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
7,179 observations
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
5,483 observations
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
4,006 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
2,315 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
2,092 observations
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
1,612 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
1,475 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
1,279 observations
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
965 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
881 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
828 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
701 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
461 observations
Grey Whale
Eschrichtius robustus
336 observations
Brush Rabbit
Sylvilagus bachmani
300 observations
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
277 observations
Black Rat
Rattus rattus
233 observations
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
217 observations
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
201 observations
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
142 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
111 observations
Big-eared Woodrat
Neotoma macrotis
106 observations
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus
96 observations
Risso's Dolphin
Grampus griseus
95 observations
Pacific White-sided Dolphin
Aethalodelphis obliquidens
75 observations · iNaturalist
California Vole
Microtus californicus
65 observations
Northern Elephant Seal
Mirounga angustirostris
61 observations
Botta's Pocket Gopher
Megascapheus bottae
61 observations · iNaturalist
Northern Baja Deer Mouse
Peromyscus fraterculus
47 observations · iNaturalist
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
45 observations
Western Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys megalotis
45 observations
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
42 observations · iNaturalist
San Diego Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus fallax
41 observations
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
40 observations
Guadalupe Fur Seal
Arctocephalus townsendi
38 observations
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
37 observations
Canyon Bat
Parastrellus hesperus
37 observations
Gambel's Deer Mouse
Peromyscus gambelii
35 observations
Southern California Pocket Gopher
Megascapheus nigricans
35 observations
Bryant's Woodrat
Neotoma bryanti
34 observations
Common Minke Whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
32 observations
Dulzura Kangaroo Rat
Dipodomys simulans
30 observations
Western Spotted Skunk
Spilogale gracilis
29 observations
Western red bat
Lasiurus frantzii
25 observations
Domestic Dog
Canis familiaris
22 observations · iNaturalist
Orca
Orcinus orca
20 observations
Yuma Myotis
Myotis yumanensis
19 observations
Merriam's Chipmunk
Neotamias merriami
18 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
17 observations
Mammals in nearby places
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