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Mammals of San Jose, California

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

46,750
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals

Naturalists have logged 46,750 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species near San Jose. The most frequently seen is the Mule Deer, with 9,387 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed near San Jose include Bobcat - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Bobcat

Most-observed mammals near San Jose

Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
9,387 observations
California Ground Squirrel
Otospermophilus beecheyi
8,262 observations
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
6,004 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
2,826 observations
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus californicus
2,580 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
1,978 observations
Brush Rabbit
Sylvilagus bachmani
1,793 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
1,553 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
1,214 observations
Merriam's Chipmunk
Neotamias merriami
1,031 observations
Western Gray Squirrel
Sciurus griseus
990 observations
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
912 observations
Wild Boar
Sus scrofa
897 observations · iNaturalist
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
864 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
844 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
741 observations
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
731 observations
Botta's Pocket Gopher
Megascapheus bottae
540 observations · iNaturalist
Dusky-footed Woodrat
Neotoma fuscipes
387 observations
California Vole
Microtus californicus
351 observations
Northern Elephant Seal
Mirounga angustirostris
335 observations
Northern Broad-footed Mole
Scapanus latimanus
325 observations
Wapiti
Cervus canadensis
248 observations
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
240 observations
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
187 observations
Harbor Seal
Phoca vitulina
162 observations
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
156 observations
American Shrewmole
Neurotrichus gibbsii
156 observations
Black Rat
Rattus rattus
152 observations
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
137 observations
Sea Otter
Enhydra lutris
89 observations
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
77 observations
California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianus
68 observations
House Mouse
Mus musculus
57 observations
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
52 observations
Brown Rat
Rattus norvegicus
50 observations
Western Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys megalotis
48 observations
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
47 observations · iNaturalist
Northern Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
36 observations
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Tadarida brasiliensis
36 observations
Humpback Whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
34 observations
European Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
34 observations
Narrow-faced Kangaroo Rat
Dipodomys venustus
25 observations · iNaturalist
Pallid Bat
Antrozous pallidus
21 observations
Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
Reithrodontomys raviventris
19 observations · iNaturalist
California Mouse
Peromyscus californicus
17 observations
Western Spotted Skunk
Spilogale gracilis
15 observations
Western Deer Mouse
Peromyscus sonoriensis
15 observations
California Pocket Mouse
Chaetodipus californicus
14 observations
Trowbridge's Shrew
Sorex trowbridgii
13 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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