Mammals of Nebraska

75 established wild species in Nebraska. Plus 17 range-listed species with few or no digitized records.

All species A-Z →

AmericanBadger

American Badger

Taxidea taxus

Occasional in Nebraska 68 sightings
Size 63.9 cm2.1 ft Weight 4–12 kg8.8–26.5 lb active by night grassland

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 Nebraska 150 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 Nebraska 437 sightings
Size 1.9–2 m6.1–6.6 ft Weight 360–1000 kg793.7–2204.6 lb active day & night grassland

Sightings by month

Norka amerykańska (neovison vison)

American Mink

Neogale vison

Common in Nebraska 92 sightings
Size 33–45.7 cm13–18 in Weight 0.5–1.4 kg1–3 lb active day & night lake

Sightings by month

Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus)

Big Brown Bat

Eptesicus fuscus

Common in Nebraska 174 sightings
Size 7.5 cm3 in Weight 17 g0.6 oz active by night agricultural

Sightings by month

New Mexico Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn Sheep

Ovis canadensis

Common in Nebraska 127 sightings
Size 1.7 m5.5 ft Weight 58–143 kg127.9–315.3 lb active day & night desert

Sightings by month

Black-footed ferret checking out his new digs (30027077935)

Black-footed Ferret

Mustela nigripes

Marginal occurrence · 3 records
Size 38–50 cm15–19.7 in Weight 0.7–1.2 kg1.4–2.6 lb active by night great basin desert
Black-tailed jackrabbit (6785302534)

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Lepus californicus

Occasional in Nebraska 20 sightings
Size 47–63 cm1.5–2.1 ft Weight 1.3–3.6 kg2.9–7.9 lb active by night open desert

Sightings by month

black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)

Black-tailed Prairie Dog

Cynomys ludovicianus

Common in Nebraska 139 sightings
Size 28–36 cm11–14.2 in Weight 0.7–1.5 kg1.5–3.3 lb active by day grassland

Sightings by month

Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Bobcat

Lynx rufus

Common in Nebraska 731 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

Bushy-tailed woodrat peering from forest floor cover at Oregon Caves

Bushy-tailed Woodrat

Neotoma cinerea

Occasional in Nebraska 31 sightings
Size 22.7 cm8.9 in Weight 286 g10.1 oz active by night coniferous forest

Sightings by month

Common Raccoon in Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Common Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Common in Nebraska 609 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

Mother Coyote Sitting, Watching Over Den, Photo 1 of 2 (47924154788)

Coyote

Canis latrans

Common in Nebraska 536 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

Range-listed · no digitized records yet
Size 40–60 cm15.7–23.6 in Weight 4–10 kg8.8–22 lb active by night river
Desert cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus audubonii) (5-13-11) patagonia lake, scc, az -01 (5720663856)

Desert Cottontail

Sylvilagus audubonii

Occasional in Nebraska 17 sightings
Size 35–43 cm13.8–16.9 in Weight 0.7–1.2 kg1.5–2.6 lb active day & night desert

Sightings by month

AI-generated image: Dwarf Shrew in side profile crossing rocky alpine gravel. 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

Dwarf Shrew

Sorex nanus

Range-listed · no digitized records yet
Size 5.6 cm2.2 in Weight 2–3 g0.1 oz active day & night great basin desert
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

Eastern Chipmunk

Tamias striatus

Marginal occurrence · 2 records
Size 16.6 cm6.5 in Weight 93 g3.3 oz active by day urban
Blacklick Woods - Eastern cottontail feeding 1

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

Common in Nebraska 976 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 Nebraska 124 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 Mole (Scalopus aquaticus)

Eastern Mole

Scalopus aquaticus

Occasional in Nebraska 36 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 Nebraska 37 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 woodrat climbing in a shrub

Eastern Woodrat

Neotoma floridana

Occasional in Nebraska 20 sightings
Size 21.4 cm8.4 in Weight 208 g7.3 oz active by night coastal

Sightings by month

Elk (Cervus canadensis)

Elk

Cervus canadensis

Common in Nebraska 222 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

AI-generated image: Elliot's Short-tailed Shrew in side profile on leaf litter soil. 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

Elliot's Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina hylophaga

Common in Nebraska 290 sightings
Size 9–12 cm3.5–4.7 in Weight 15 g0.5 oz active day & night grassland

Sightings by month

Fallow deer in field

European Fallow Deer

Dama dama

Range-listed · no digitized records yet
Size 1.3–1.8 m4.3–5.9 ft Weight 30–100 kg66.1–220.5 lb active day & night mixed forest
European rabbit feeding in dry vegetation

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Marginal occurrence · 1 record
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

Occasional in Nebraska 23 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 Nebraska 1,848 sightings
Size 25.4–38.1 cm10–15 in Weight 804 g1.8 lb active by day river

Sightings by month

Franklin's Ground Squirrel in Nebraska

Franklin's Ground Squirrel

Poliocitellus franklinii

Common in Nebraska 160 sightings
Size 36–41 cm14.2–16.1 in Weight 370 g13.1 oz active by day grassland

Sightings by month

Fringed Myotis (Myotis thysanodes)

Fringed Myotis

Myotis thysanodes

Rarely seen in Nebraska 10 sightings
Size 5.4 cm2.1 in Weight 9 g0.3 oz active by night desert

Sightings by month

Gray fox standing in dappled woodland

Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Marginal occurrence · 2 records
Size 0.8–1.1 m2.5–3.7 ft Weight 3–9 kg6.6–19.8 lb active day & night brushy woodland
Groundhog (Marmota monax)

Groundhog

Marmota monax

Common in Nebraska 259 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

Occasional in Nebraska 48 sightings
Size 18.5 cm7.3 in Weight 160 g5.6 oz active day & night river

Sightings by month

Hispid pocket mouse standing on pale rocky ground at night

Hispid Pocket Mouse

Chaetodipus hispidus

Common in Nebraska 103 sightings
Size 17–23 cm6.7–9.1 in Weight 30–47 g1.1–1.7 oz active by night river

Sightings by month

House mouse in dry plant litter

House Mouse

Mus musculus

Occasional in Nebraska 37 sightings
Size 5–10 cm2–3.9 in Weight 12–30 g0.4–1.1 oz active by night agricultural

Sightings by month

Least Chipmunk in natural habitat

Least Chipmunk

Neotamias minimus

Rarely seen in Nebraska 9 sightings
Size 10–11 cm3.9–4.3 in Weight 41–47 g1.4–1.7 oz active by day shrubland

Sightings by month

Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis)

Least Weasel

Mustela nivalis

Rarely seen in Nebraska 11 sightings
Size 26 cm10.2 in Weight 50 g1.8 oz active by night grassland

Sightings by month

Long-legged myotis roosting on tree bark with wings folded

Long-legged Myotis

Myotis volans

Marginal occurrence · 6 records
Size 8.3–10.6 cm3.3–4.2 in Weight 6–10 g0.2–0.4 oz active by night urban
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 Nebraska 14 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 Nebraska 35 sightings
Size 6.9 cm2.7 in Weight 5 g0.2 oz active day & night grassland

Sightings by month

AI-generated image: Merriam's Shrew in side profile on dry soil among 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

Merriam's Shrew

Sorex merriami

Marginal occurrence · 1 record
Size 6.2 cm2.4 in Weight 5 g0.2 oz active day & night desert
Tadarida brasiliensis - Bahamas - Long Island (sic) - Cartwright Cave - March 2006 - 2

Mexican Free-tailed Bat

Tadarida brasiliensis

Range-listed · no digitized records yet
Size 3.1–4.1 cm1.2–1.6 in Weight 7–12 g0.2–0.4 oz active by night cave
Cow moose standing in a marshy Alaska wetland

Moose

Alces alces

Occasional in Nebraska 36 sightings
Size 2.4–3.1 m7.9–10.2 ft Weight 200–490 kg440.9–1080.3 lb active day & night wetland

Sightings by month

Mountain cottontail in dry western woodland edge

Mountain Cottontail

Sylvilagus nuttallii

Marginal occurrence · 4 records
Size 27.9–38.1 cm11–15 in Weight 0.6–1.1 kg1.3–2.4 lb active day & night coniferous forest

Sightings by month

Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)

Mountain Lion

Puma concolor

Common in Nebraska 896 sightings
Size 1–1.5 m3.3–5.1 ft Weight 36–120 kg79.4–264.6 lb active day & night montane forest

Sightings by month

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Common in Nebraska 515 sightings
Size 1.3–1.7 m4.1–5.5 ft Weight 55–150 kg121.3–330.7 lb active day & night river

Sightings by month

Muskrats resting on a floating log in open water

Muskrat

Ondatra zibethicus

Common in Nebraska 230 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

Marginal occurrence · 3 records
Size 60–90 cm2–3 ft Weight 3–8 kg6.6–17.6 lb active by night forest
Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) (9310532204)

North American Deermouse

Peromyscus maniculatus

Common in Nebraska 2,583 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

Rarely seen in Nebraska 13 sightings
Size 5–8 cm2–3.1 in Weight 6 g0.2 oz active by night grassland

Sightings by month

Erethizontidae Erethizon dorsatum 3.2

North American Porcupine

Erethizon dorsatus

Occasional in Nebraska 65 sightings
Size 60–90 cm2–3 ft Weight 3.5–12 kg7.7–26.5 lb active by night mixed forest

Sightings by month

River Otter (Lontra canadensis)

North American River Otter

Lontra canadensis

Occasional in Nebraska 16 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

Northern grasshopper mouse walking beside desert grass

Northern Grasshopper Mouse

Onychomys leucogaster

Rarely seen in Nebraska 12 sightings
Size 12.7 cm5 in Weight 33 g1.2 oz active by night grassland

Sightings by month

Hoary bat in flight against blue sky, wings spread to show its yellow throat patch and heavily frosted fur

Northern Hoary Bat

Lasiurus cinereus

Occasional in Nebraska 23 sightings
Size 13–15 cm5.1–5.9 in Weight 26 g0.9 oz active by night cave

Sightings by month

Northern myotis hanging head-down from a rock ceiling, long ears and tan fur visible

Northern Myotis

Myotis septentrionalis

Rarely seen in Nebraska 4 sightings
Size 8.6 cm3.4 in Weight 6 g0.2 oz active by night coniferous forest

Sightings by month

Northern pocket gopher in low vegetation

Northern pocket gopher

Thomomys talpoides

Occasional in Nebraska 33 sightings
Size 22.9 cm9 in Weight 60–160 g2.1–5.6 oz active day & night river

Sightings by month

Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda)

Northern Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina brevicauda

Occasional in Nebraska 54 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

Rarely seen in Nebraska 8 sightings
Size 15–28 cm5.9–11 in Weight 140–500 g0.3–1.1 lb active by night urban

Sightings by month

Olive-backed pocket mouse in grass and dry litter at night

Olive-backed Pocket Mouse

Perognathus fasciatus

Occasional in Nebraska 14 sightings
Size 8 cm3.1 in Weight 11–14 g0.4–0.5 oz active by night grassland

Sightings by month

Ord's kangaroo rat standing in profile, showing its huge hind feet and long tufted tail

Ord's Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys ordii

Common in Nebraska 71 sightings
Size 21–36.5 cm8.3–14.4 in Weight 50 g1.8 oz active by night great basin desert

Sightings by month

Pallid bat roosting on a cave wall

Pallid Bat

Antrozous pallidus

Marginal occurrence · 1 record
Size 6–8.5 cm2.4–3.3 in Weight 14–25 g0.5–0.9 oz active by night desert scrub
Plains harvest mouse close-up among dry grass stems and twigs

Plains Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys montanus

Occasional in Nebraska 14 sightings
Size 7.6 cm3 in Weight 10 g0.4 oz active by night grassland

Sightings by month

Plains pocket gopher emerging from a burrow in reddish soil

Plains Pocket Gopher

Geomys bursarius

Occasional in Nebraska 23 sightings
Size 25–35 cm9.8–13.8 in Weight 187 g6.6 oz active day & night grassland

Sightings by month

Apache pocket mouse, a subspecies of the plains pocket mouse, eating seeds on sandy ground

Plains pocket mouse

Perognathus flavescens

Occasional in Nebraska 26 sightings
Size 6.9 cm2.7 in Weight 9 g0.3 oz active by night desert

Sightings by month

Plains spotted skunk walking through rocky leaf litter in Texas

Plains Spotted Skunk

Spilogale interrupta

Rarely seen in Nebraska 10 sightings
Size 35–55 cm13.8–21.7 in Weight 583 g1.3 lb active by night wetland

Sightings by month

AI-generated image: Prairie Shrew foraging in shortgrass prairie ground litter. 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 Shrew

Sorex haydeni

Common in Nebraska 96 sightings
Size 7–10 cm2.8–3.9 in Weight 3–6 g0.1–0.2 oz active by night prairie

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 Nebraska 27 sightings
Size 12.4 cm4.9 in Weight 47 g1.7 oz active day & night grassland

Sightings by month

Pronghorn buck standing in a meadow of yellow wildflowers

Pronghorn

Antilocapra americana

Common in Nebraska 212 sightings
Size 1.2–1.5 m3.9–4.9 ft Weight 32–70 kg70.5–154.3 lb active day & night grassland

Sightings by month

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

Common in Nebraska 625 sightings
Size 43 cm16.9 in Weight 5–10 kg11–22 lb active day & night desert

Sightings by month

Sand Hills pocket gopher peering from a burrow entrance in sandy soil

Sand Hills Pocket Gopher

Geomys lutescens

Occasional in Nebraska 22 sightings
Size 12.7–35.6 cm5–14 in Weight 187 g6.6 oz active day & night sandy prairie

Sightings by month

Silky pocket mouse crouched on sandy grassland ground

Silky Pocket Mouse

Perognathus flavus

Occasional in Nebraska 35 sightings
Size 9.5–11.8 cm3.7–4.6 in Weight 6–9 g0.2–0.3 oz active by night grassland

Sightings by month

Silver-haired bat tucked into loose bark

Silver-haired Bat

Lasionycteris noctivagans

Occasional in Nebraska 31 sightings
Size 9.5–11.5 cm3.7–4.5 in Weight 11 g0.4 oz active by night river

Sightings by month

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

Occasional in Nebraska 36 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

Marginal occurrence · 5 records
Size 17.1 cm6.7 in Weight 65 g2.3 oz active by night deciduous forest
Southern meadow jumping mouse in grass and leaf litter

Southern Meadow Jumping Mouse

Zapus luteus

Size 18–24 cm7.1–9.4 in Weight 12–30 g0.4–1.1 oz active by night moist grassland

Sightings by month

Spotted ground squirrel sitting upright at a burrow entrance, its back covered in scattered white spots

Spotted Ground Squirrel

Xerospermophilus spilosoma

Occasional in Nebraska 21 sightings
Size 18–25 cm7.1–9.8 in Weight 100–200 g3.5–7.1 oz active by day grassland

Sightings by month

Mephitis mephitis in Dierenpark Zie-ZOO

Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis

Common in Nebraska 204 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

Swift fox at a burrow entrance on the shortgrass prairie

Swift Fox

Vulpes velox

Rarely seen in Nebraska 10 sightings
Size 38–53 cm15–20.9 in Weight 1.6–3 kg3.5–6.6 lb active day & night grassland

Sightings by month

Thirteen-lined ground squirrel crouched beside short grass

Thirteen-lined ground squirrel

Ictidomys tridecemlineatus

Common in Nebraska 230 sightings
Size 17–30 cm6.7–11.8 in Weight 173 g6.1 oz active by day grassland

Sightings by month

Townsend's big-eared bat roosting on a cave wall

Townsend's Big-eared Bat

Corynorhinus townsendii

Range-listed · no digitized records yet
Size 5.8 cm2.3 in Weight 9–11 g0.3–0.4 oz active by night coastal
Tricolored Bat hibernating on a limestone mine wall

Tricolored Bat

Perimyotis subflavus

Rarely seen in Nebraska 8 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 Nebraska 355 sightings
Size 40.8 cm16.1 in Weight 1.1–1.6 kg2.5–3.6 lb active by night river

Sightings by month

Western deer mouse sheltering in a rock crevice

Western Deer Mouse

Peromyscus sonoriensis

Size 12–20 cm4.7–7.9 in Weight 15–32 g0.5–1.1 oz active by night river

Sightings by month

Western harvest mouse moving through dry stems and gravel

Western Harvest Mouse

Reithrodontomys megalotis

Common in Nebraska 70 sightings
Size 11.8–17 cm4.6–6.7 in Weight 11 g0.4 oz active by night wetland

Sightings by month

Little brown myotis roosting alertly on a wooden beam

Western Little Brown Myotis

Myotis lucifugus

Occasional in Nebraska 21 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

Western meadow vole Talkeetna alaska

Western Meadow Vole

Microtus drummondii

Occasional in Nebraska 25 sightings
Size 13–20 cm5.1–7.9 in Weight 39 g1.4 oz active day & night river

Sightings by month

Western small-footed myotis roosting on wood with its dark face mask visible

Western Small-footed Myotis

Myotis ciliolabrum

Occasional in Nebraska 47 sightings
Size 8–10 cm3.1–3.9 in Weight 4–5 g0.1–0.2 oz active by night desert

Sightings by month

White-footed mouse on a fallen log in leaf litter

White-footed Mouse

Peromyscus leucopus

Common in Nebraska 165 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 Nebraska 985 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

White-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii)

White-tailed Jackrabbit

Lepus townsendii

Occasional in Nebraska 20 sightings
Size 45–65 cm1.5–2.1 ft Weight 2.6–4.3 kg5.7–9.5 lb active by night grassland

Sightings by month

Microtus pinetorum - crlevy - 550023152

Woodland Vole

Microtus pinetorum

Marginal occurrence · 8 records
Size 10.3 cm4.1 in Weight 26 g0.9 oz active day & night woodland
Wyoming ground squirrel peering from a burrow entrance

Wyoming Ground Squirrel

Urocitellus elegans

Marginal occurrence · 1 record
Size 19–24 cm7.5–9.4 in Weight 299 g10.5 oz active by day montane forest