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Mammals of San Francisco, California

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

60,210
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals

Naturalists have logged 60,210 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Francisco. The most frequently seen is the Mule Deer, with 9,271 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed near San Francisco include Bobcat and Guadalupe Fur Seal - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

BobcatGuadalupe Fur Seal

Most-observed mammals near San Francisco

Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
9,271 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
7,790 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
5,873 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
4,929 observations
California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianus
4,449 observations
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
3,821 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
3,546 observations
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
3,196 observations
Brush Rabbit
Sylvilagus bachmani
1,777 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
1,682 observations
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
1,226 observations
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
1,140 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
1,113 observations
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
961 observations
Sonoma Chipmunk
Neotamias sonomae
868 observations
Botta's Pocket Gopher
Megascapheus bottae
785 observations · iNaturalist
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
771 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
735 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
724 observations
Dusky-footed Woodrat
Neotoma fuscipes
687 observations
California Vole
Microtus californicus
548 observations
Northern Broad-footed Mole
Scapanus latimanus
492 observations
Western Gray Squirrel
Sciurus griseus
459 observations
Harbour Porpoise
Phocoena phocoena
346 observations
Grey Whale
Eschrichtius robustus
336 observations
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
272 observations
American Shrewmole
Neurotrichus gibbsii
212 observations
Black Rat
Rattus rattus
201 observations
Common Bottlenose Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
180 observations
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
169 observations · iNaturalist
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
147 observations
Northern Elephant Seal
Mirounga angustirostris
141 observations
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
140 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
122 observations
Douglas's Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus douglasii
120 observations
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
111 observations · iNaturalist
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
110 observations
Wapiti
Cervus canadensis
103 observations
Merriam's Chipmunk
Neotamias merriami
100 observations
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
96 observations
Steller Sea Lion
Eumetopias jubatus
88 observations
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
76 observations
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
66 observations
Western Deer Mouse
Peromyscus sonoriensis
43 observations
European Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
36 observations
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus
32 observations
Northern Fur Seal
Callorhinus ursinus
32 observations
Northern Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
31 observations
Guadalupe Fur Seal
Arctocephalus townsendi
29 observations
Vagrant Shrew
Sorex vagrans
28 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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