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Mammals of San Diego, California

The mammals most often spotted near San Diego, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

43,461
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals

Naturalists have logged 43,461 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Diego. The most frequently seen is the California Sea Lion, with 10,403 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.

BobcatBlue WhaleGuadalupe Fur SealBryant's Woodrat

Most-observed mammals near San Diego

California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianus
10,403 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
7,282 observations
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
5,550 observations
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
4,112 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
2,437 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
2,153 observations
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
1,626 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
1,505 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
1,310 observations
Common Dolphin
Delphinus delphis
999 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
905 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
842 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
709 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
475 observations
Grey Whale
Eschrichtius robustus
339 observations
Brush Rabbit
Sylvilagus bachmani
303 observations
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
281 observations
Black Rat
Rattus rattus
238 observations
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
219 observations
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
205 observations
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
157 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
117 observations
Big-eared Woodrat
Neotoma macrotis
109 observations
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus
96 observations
Risso's Dolphin
Grampus griseus
95 observations
Pacific White-sided Dolphin
Aethalodelphis obliquidens
77 observations · iNaturalist
California Vole
Microtus californicus
65 observations
Botta's Pocket Gopher
Megascapheus bottae
64 observations · iNaturalist
Northern Elephant Seal
Mirounga angustirostris
61 observations
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
50 observations
Northern Baja Deer Mouse
Peromyscus fraterculus
47 observations · iNaturalist
Western Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys megalotis
45 observations
Orca
Orcinus orca
44 observations
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
43 observations · iNaturalist
San Diego Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus fallax
42 observations
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
41 observations
Guadalupe Fur Seal
Arctocephalus townsendi
41 observations
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
37 observations
Canyon Bat
Parastrellus hesperus
37 observations
Southern California Pocket Gopher
Megascapheus nigricans
37 observations
Gambel's Deer Mouse
Peromyscus gambelii
35 observations
Bryant's Woodrat
Neotoma bryanti
34 observations
Common Minke Whale
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
32 observations
Dulzura Kangaroo Rat
Dipodomys simulans
32 observations
Western Spotted Skunk
Spilogale gracilis
29 observations
Western Red Bat
Lasiurus frantzii
25 observations
Domestic Dog
Canis familiaris
22 observations
Yuma Myotis
Myotis yumanensis
19 observations
Merriam's Chipmunk
Neotamias merriami
18 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
17 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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