Mammals of Kentucky

56 established wild species in Kentucky. Plus 15 range-listed species with few or no digitized records.

All species A-Z →

Alleghanian spotted skunk foraging among rocks and pine needles in daylight

Alleghanian Spotted Skunk

Spilogale putorius

Range-listed · no digitized records yet
Size 32 cm12.6 in Weight 583 g1.3 lb active by night forest edge
Neotoma magister

Allegheny Woodrat

Neotoma magister

Rarely seen in Kentucky 8 sightings
Size 31–45 cm12.2–17.7 in Weight 357 g12.6 oz active by night rocky outcrop

Sightings by month

Beaver swimming low in murky green pond water with only its wet head and back above the surface

American Beaver

Castor canadensis

Common in Kentucky 189 sightings
Size 60–90 cm2–3 ft Weight 11–32 kg24.3–70.5 lb active day & night river

Sightings by month

Image-American bison rests at hot spring in yellowstone national park 1

American Bison

Bison bison

Common in Kentucky 462 sightings
Size 1.9–2 m6.1–6.6 ft Weight 360–1000 kg793.7–2204.6 lb active day & night grassland
Oso negro (Ursus americanus), Parque natural provincial Tatshenshini-Alsek, Yukón, Canadá, 2017-08-25, DD 85

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Occasional in Kentucky 82 sightings
Size 1.2–2 m3.9–6.6 ft Weight 40–250 kg88.2–551.2 lb active by night conifer forest

Sightings by month

Norka amerykańska (neovison vison)

American Mink

Neogale vison

Common in Kentucky 99 sightings
Size 33–45.7 cm13–18 in Weight 0.5–1.4 kg1–3 lb active day & night lake

Sightings by month

American pygmy shrew crossing an asphalt path

American pygmy shrew

Sorex hoyi

Occasional in Kentucky 23 sightings
Size 5–7 cm2–2.8 in Weight 2–5 g0.1–0.2 oz active day & night deciduous forest

Sightings by month

Appalachian Cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus)

Appalachian Cottontail

Sylvilagus obscurus

Range-listed · no digitized records yet
Size 38.1–43.2 cm15–17 in Weight 0.8–1.2 kg1.7–2.5 lb active by day river
Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus)

Big Brown Bat

Eptesicus fuscus

Common in Kentucky 125 sightings
Size 7.5 cm3 in Weight 17 g0.6 oz active by night agricultural

Sightings by month

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Bobcat

Lynx rufus

Common in Kentucky 135 sightings
Size 30–60 cm11.8–23.6 in Weight 4–18 kg8.8–39.7 lb active by night forest edge

Sightings by month

Common Raccoon in Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Common Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Common in Kentucky 740 sightings
Size 40–70 cm1.3–2.3 ft Weight 3.5–9 kg7.7–19.8 lb active by night mixed forest

Sightings by month

Hisbid Cotton Mouse Mission TX 2018-03-12 08-18-23 (27112942988)

Cotton Mouse

Peromyscus gossypinus

Marginal occurrence · 1 record
Size 10.3 cm4.1 in Weight 34–51 g1.2–1.8 oz active by night woodland
Mother Coyote Sitting, Watching Over Den, Photo 1 of 2 (47924154788)

Coyote

Canis latrans

Common in Kentucky 334 sightings
Size 0.8–1 m2.5–3.3 ft Weight 7–21 kg15.4–46.3 lb active day & night urban

Sightings by month

Coypus

Coypu

Myocastor coypus

Marginal occurrence · 1 record
Size 40–60 cm15.7–23.6 in Weight 4–10 kg8.8–22 lb active by night river
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

Eastern Chipmunk

Tamias striatus

Common in Kentucky 471 sightings
Size 16.6 cm6.5 in Weight 93 g3.3 oz active by day urban

Sightings by month

Blacklick Woods - Eastern cottontail feeding 1

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

Common in Kentucky 783 sightings
Size 36–43 cm14.2–16.9 in Weight 0.8–1.5 kg1.8–3.3 lb active day & night lake

Sightings by month

Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) 01

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Sciurus carolinensis

Common in Kentucky 2,419 sightings
Size 23–30 cm9.1–11.8 in Weight 400–710 g0.9–1.6 lb active by day wetland

Sightings by month

Eastern harvest mouse moving through grass and herb stems

Eastern Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys humulis

Marginal occurrence · 9 records
Size 7.1 cm2.8 in Weight 9 g0.3 oz active by night grassland
Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus)

Eastern Mole

Scalopus aquaticus

Common in Kentucky 97 sightings
Size 14.8 cm5.8 in Weight 75 g2.6 oz active day & night river

Sightings by month

Eastern red bat roosting among green leaves, disguised as a dead leaf

Eastern Red Bat

Lasiurus borealis

Occasional in Kentucky 82 sightings
Size 9.3–11.7 cm3.7–4.6 in Weight 7–13 g0.2–0.5 oz active by night desert

Sightings by month

Eastern small-footed myotis clinging to a weathered wooden post in daylight, unhandled and alert

Eastern Small-footed Myotis

Myotis leibii

Rarely seen in Kentucky 10 sightings
Size 7.5–8.5 cm3–3.3 in Weight 5 g0.2 oz active by night cave

Sightings by month

Eastern woodrat climbing in a shrub

Eastern Woodrat

Neotoma floridana

Size 21.4 cm8.4 in Weight 208 g7.3 oz active by night coastal
Elk (Cervus canadensis)

Elk

Cervus canadensis

Occasional in Kentucky 59 sightings
Size 1.6–2.7 m5.2–8.9 ft Weight 178–497 kg392.4–1095.7 lb active day & night forest edge

Sightings by month

Fallow deer in field

European Fallow Deer

Dama dama

Occasional in Kentucky 45 sightings
Size 1.3–1.8 m4.3–5.9 ft Weight 30–100 kg66.1–220.5 lb active day & night mixed forest

Sightings by month

European rabbit feeding in dry vegetation

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Rarely seen in Kentucky 8 sightings
Size 34–50 cm13.4–19.7 in Weight 1–2.5 kg2.2–5.5 lb active by night grassland

Sightings by month

Evening bat resting, brown fur and dark ears and wings visible, not restrained

Evening Bat

Nycticeius humeralis

Rarely seen in Kentucky 7 sightings
Size 5 cm2 in Weight 7–15 g0.2–0.5 oz active by night agricultural

Sightings by month

Sciurus niger

Fox Squirrel

Sciurus niger

Common in Kentucky 186 sightings
Size 25.4–38.1 cm10–15 in Weight 804 g1.8 lb active by day river

Sightings by month

Golden Mouse (Ochrotomys nuttalli)

Golden Mouse

Ochrotomys nuttalli

Occasional in Kentucky 59 sightings
Size 9.7 cm3.8 in Weight 22 g0.8 oz active dawn & dusk woodland

Sightings by month

Myotis grisescens colony

Gray Bat

Myotis grisescens

Occasional in Kentucky 27 sightings
Size 7.5–10.1 cm3–4 in Weight 10 g0.4 oz active by night cave

Sightings by month

Gray fox standing in dappled woodland

Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Occasional in Kentucky 20 sightings
Size 0.8–1.1 m2.5–3.7 ft Weight 3–9 kg6.6–19.8 lb active day & night brushy woodland

Sightings by month

Silver-gray wolf walking along a gravel bank in Alaska

Gray Wolf

Canis lupus

Size 1.1–1.6 m3.4–5.2 ft Weight 23–80 kg50.7–176.4 lb active day & night cave

Sightings by month

Groundhog (Marmota monax)

Groundhog

Marmota monax

Common in Kentucky 430 sightings
Size 50.6 cm19.9 in Weight 3.4 kg7.5 lb active by day woodland

Sightings by month

Hispid cotton rat moving through short green grass

Hispid cotton rat

Sigmodon hispidus

Rarely seen in Kentucky 7 sightings
Size 18.5 cm7.3 in Weight 160 g5.6 oz active day & night river

Sightings by month

House mouse in dry plant litter

House Mouse

Mus musculus

Occasional in Kentucky 30 sightings
Size 5–10 cm2–3.9 in Weight 12–30 g0.4–1.1 oz active by night agricultural

Sightings by month

Indiana bats roosting in a dense cluster on a cave ceiling with several individuals in flight below

Indiana bat

Myotis sodalis

Common in Kentucky 854 sightings
Size 5.5 cm2.2 in Weight 5–10 g0.2–0.4 oz active by night agricultural

Sightings by month

Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis)

Least Weasel

Mustela nivalis

Marginal occurrence · 5 records
Size 26 cm10.2 in Weight 50 g1.8 oz active by night grassland
AI-generated image: Long-tailed Shrew in side profile on moss-covered wet rocks. No public-domain photograph of this species exists. This image was generated with AI from verified reference material and reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy

Long-tailed Shrew

Sorex dispar

Marginal occurrence · 4 records
Size 6.6 cm2.6 in Weight 3–8 g0.1–0.3 oz active day & night river
Long-tailed weasel standing alert in grass with its black-tipped tail curled behind it, Sonoma County, California

Long-tailed Weasel

Neogale frenata

Occasional in Kentucky 15 sightings
Size 24.8 cm9.8 in Weight 170 g6 oz active day & night wetland

Sightings by month

Sorex cinereus, Harwich, Chatham, Ontario, Canada 1

Masked Shrew

Sorex cinereus

Occasional in Kentucky 48 sightings
Size 6.9 cm2.7 in Weight 5 g0.2 oz active day & night grassland

Sightings by month

Muskrats resting on a floating log in open water

Muskrat

Ondatra zibethicus

Occasional in Kentucky 53 sightings
Size 25–36 cm9.8–14.2 in Weight 0.6–2 kg1.3–4.4 lb active day & night wetland

Sightings by month

Nine-banded Armadillo

Nine-banded Armadillo

Dasypus mexicanus

Common in Kentucky 166 sightings
Size 60–90 cm2–3 ft Weight 3–8 kg6.6–17.6 lb active by night forest

Sightings by month

Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) (9310532204)

North American Deermouse

Peromyscus maniculatus

Common in Kentucky 138 sightings
Size 8–10 cm3.1–3.9 in Weight 21 g0.7 oz active by night river

Sightings by month

North American least shrew moving through short grass

North American Least Shrew

Cryptotis parvus

Occasional in Kentucky 20 sightings
Size 5–8 cm2–3.1 in Weight 6 g0.2 oz active by night grassland

Sightings by month

River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

North American River Otter

Lontra canadensis

Common in Kentucky 90 sightings
Size 0.7–1.1 m2.2–3.5 ft Weight 5–15 kg11–33.1 lb active day & night river

Sightings by month

Live northeastern marsh rice rat peering out from dense dry grass and green shoots

Northeastern Marsh Rice Rat

Oryzomys palustris

Marginal occurrence · 1 record
Size 14.2 cm5.6 in Weight 50 g1.8 oz active day & night wetland
Hoary bat in flight against blue sky, wings spread to show its yellow throat patch and heavily frosted fur

Northern Hoary Bat

Lasiurus cinereus

Marginal occurrence · 7 records
Size 13–15 cm5.1–5.9 in Weight 26 g0.9 oz active by night cave
Northern myotis hanging head-down from a rock ceiling, long ears and tan fur visible

Northern Myotis

Myotis septentrionalis

Marginal occurrence · 2 records
Size 8.6 cm3.4 in Weight 6 g0.2 oz active by night coniferous forest
Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda)

Northern Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina brevicauda

Common in Kentucky 189 sightings
Size 11.1 cm4.4 in Weight 21 g0.7 oz active day & night riparian

Sightings by month

Live Norway rat beside shallow water

Norway Rat

Rattus norvegicus

Occasional in Kentucky 14 sightings
Size 15–28 cm5.9–11 in Weight 140–500 g0.3–1.1 lb active by night urban

Sightings by month

AI-generated image: Prairie Vole alert in a grassy meadow, stocky grizzled brown-gray body and short tail. No public-domain photograph of this species exists. This image was generated with AI from verified reference material and reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy

Prairie Vole

Microtus ochrogaster

Occasional in Kentucky 45 sightings
Size 12.4 cm4.9 in Weight 47 g1.7 oz active day & night grassland

Sightings by month

Rafinesques big-eared bat (5494435840)

Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat

Corynorhinus rafinesquii

Occasional in Kentucky 47 sightings
Size 10.5 cm4.1 in Weight 9–11 g0.3–0.4 oz active by night cave

Sightings by month

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

Common in Kentucky 202 sightings
Size 43 cm16.9 in Weight 5–10 kg11–22 lb active day & night desert

Sightings by month

Seminole bat resting on leaf litter at night with wings partly folded

Seminole Bat

Lasiurus seminolus

Marginal occurrence · 1 record
Size 10.8–11.4 cm4.3–4.5 in Weight 13 g0.5 oz active by night coastal
Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

Sika Deer

Cervus nippon

Marginal occurrence · 2 records
Size 1.1–1.7 m3.6–5.6 ft Weight 30–90 kg66.1–198.4 lb active by night urban
Silver-haired bat tucked into loose bark

Silver-haired Bat

Lasionycteris noctivagans

Occasional in Kentucky 22 sightings
Size 9.5–11.5 cm3.7–4.5 in Weight 11 g0.4 oz active by night river

Sightings by month

Smoky shrew moving through dense green grass

Smoky Shrew

Sorex fumeus

Common in Kentucky 174 sightings
Size 7.4 cm2.9 in Weight 8 g0.3 oz active day & night river

Sightings by month

Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius)

Southeastern Myotis

Myotis austroriparius

Marginal occurrence · 1 record
Size 7.7–8.9 cm3–3.5 in Weight 6–7 g0.2 oz active by night coastal
AI-generated image: Southern bog lemming alert among wet sedges and sphagnum at a bog edge. No public-domain photograph of this species exists. This image was generated with AI from verified reference material and reviewed by our editorial team for accuracy

Southern Bog Lemming

Synaptomys cooperi

Rarely seen in Kentucky 10 sightings
Size 11.8 cm4.6 in Weight 35 g1.2 oz active day & night mixed conifer

Sightings by month

Southern Flying Squirrel-27527-1

Southern Flying Squirrel

Glaucomys volans

Occasional in Kentucky 39 sightings
Size 17.1 cm6.7 in Weight 65 g2.3 oz active by night deciduous forest

Sightings by month

Southern red-backed vole feeding among sunflower seeds on snow

Southern Red-backed Vole

Clethrionomys gapperi

Occasional in Kentucky 43 sightings
Size 12–16.5 cm4.7–6.5 in Weight 6–42 g0.2–1.5 oz active by night mixed forest
Southern short-tailed shrew walking through moss and leaf litter beside green plant shoots

Southern Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina carolinensis

Occasional in Kentucky 17 sightings
Size 10.2 cm4 in Weight 20 g0.7 oz active day & night agricultural

Sightings by month

Mephitis mephitis in Dierenpark Zie-ZOO

Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis

Common in Kentucky 182 sightings
Size 46.5–81.5 cm1.5–2.7 ft Weight 0.6–6.3 kg1.3–13.9 lb active by night grassland

Sightings by month

Sylvilagus aquaticus - Sumpfkaninchen 193808230

Swamp Rabbit

Sylvilagus aquaticus

Marginal occurrence · 4 records
Size 40–55 cm15.7–21.7 in Weight 1.5–2.7 kg3.3–6 lb active day & night wetland
Townsend's big-eared bat roosting on a cave wall

Townsend's Big-eared Bat

Corynorhinus townsendii

Rarely seen in Kentucky 12 sightings
Size 5.8 cm2.3 in Weight 9–11 g0.3–0.4 oz active by night coastal

Sightings by month

Tricolored Bat hibernating on a limestone mine wall

Tricolored Bat

Perimyotis subflavus

Common in Kentucky 271 sightings
Size 7.7–8.9 cm3–3.5 in Weight 5–8 g0.2–0.3 oz active by night cave

Sightings by month

Virginia Opossum clinging to a tree branch in a snowy winter woodland

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

Common in Kentucky 366 sightings
Size 40.8 cm16.1 in Weight 1.1–1.6 kg2.5–3.6 lb active by night river

Sightings by month

Little brown myotis roosting alertly on a wooden beam

Western Little Brown Myotis

Myotis lucifugus

Common in Kentucky 182 sightings
Size 8–9.5 cm3.1–3.7 in Weight 6–13 g0.2–0.5 oz active by night cave

Sightings by month

White-footed mouse on a fallen log in leaf litter

White-footed Mouse

Peromyscus leucopus

Common in Kentucky 321 sightings
Size 10.1 cm4 in Weight 20–30 g0.7–1.1 oz active by night urban

Sightings by month

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

Common in Kentucky 2,423 sightings
Size 0.9–2.2 m3.1–7.2 ft Weight 68–136 kg149.9–299.8 lb active day & night mixed forest

Sightings by month

Adult wild boar foraging in grass

Wild Boar

Sus scrofa

Marginal occurrence · 5 records
Size 85–90 cm2.8–3 ft Weight 40–50 kg88.2–110.2 lb active day & night lake

Sightings by month

Microtus pinetorum - crlevy - 550023152

Woodland Vole

Microtus pinetorum

Occasional in Kentucky 47 sightings
Size 10.3 cm4.1 in Weight 26 g0.9 oz active day & night woodland

Sightings by month