Mammals of Virginia

71 established wild species in Virginia. Plus 24 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

Marginal occurrence · 5 records
Size 32 cm12.6 in Weight 583 g1.3 lb active by night forest edge
Neotoma magister

Allegheny Woodrat

Neotoma magister

Rarely seen in Virginia 9 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 Virginia 2,287 sightings
Size 60–90 cm2–3 ft Weight 11–32 kg24.3–70.5 lb active day & night river

Sightings by month

Oso negro (Ursus americanus), Parque natural provincial Tatshenshini-Alsek, Yukón, Canadá, 2017-08-25, DD 85

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Common in Virginia 1,482 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 Virginia 289 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 Virginia 28 sightings
Size 5–7 cm2–2.8 in Weight 2–5 g0.1–0.2 oz active day & night deciduous forest

Sightings by month

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus James Gardens

American Red Squirrel

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

Occasional in Virginia 55 sightings
Size 17–23 cm6.7–9.1 in Weight 140–310 g4.9–10.9 oz active by day wetland

Sightings by month

American water shrew swimming at the surface of a stream, seen from above

American water shrew

Sorex palustris

Marginal occurrence · 3 records
Size 8 cm3.1 in Weight 8–18 g0.3–0.6 oz active day & night river
Appalachian Cottontail (Sylvilagus obscurus)

Appalachian Cottontail

Sylvilagus obscurus

Occasional in Virginia 36 sightings
Size 38.1–43.2 cm15–17 in Weight 0.8–1.2 kg1.7–2.5 lb active by day river

Sightings by month

Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) NOAA

Atlantic spotted dolphin

Stenella frontalis

Rarely seen in Virginia 5 sightings
Size 2.8 m9.2 ft Weight 100 kg220.5 lb active day & night river

Sightings by month

Big Brown Bats (Eptesicus fuscus)

Big Brown Bat

Eptesicus fuscus

Common in Virginia 255 sightings
Size 7.5 cm3 in Weight 17 g0.6 oz active by night agricultural

Sightings by month

Live black rat climbing through branches

Black Rat

Rattus rattus

Occasional in Virginia 26 sightings
Size 16–24 cm6.3–9.4 in Weight 75–230 g2.6–8.1 oz active by night agricultural

Sightings by month

Black-tailed jackrabbit (6785302534)

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

Lepus californicus

Range-listed · no digitized records yet
Size 47–63 cm1.5–2.1 ft Weight 1.3–3.6 kg2.9–7.9 lb active by night open desert
Bobcat (Lynx rufus)

Bobcat

Lynx rufus

Common in Virginia 257 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 Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Common Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Common in Virginia 149 sightings
Size 2–4 m6.6–13.1 ft Weight 150–650 kg330.7–1433 lb active by day coastal

Sightings by month

Small group of common dolphins surfacing in choppy water, pale hourglass flank patch visible

Common Dolphin

Delphinus delphis

Occasional in Virginia 43 sightings
Size 1.6–2.6 m5.2–8.5 ft Weight 70–110 kg154.3–242.5 lb active by night coastal

Sightings by month

Common Raccoon in Hugh Taylor Birch State Park

Common Raccoon

Procyon lotor

Common in Virginia 4,089 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 Virginia 815 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

Occasional in Virginia 74 sightings
Size 40–60 cm15.7–23.6 in Weight 4–10 kg8.8–22 lb active by night river

Sightings by month

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

Eastern Chipmunk

Tamias striatus

Common in Virginia 3,215 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 Virginia 6,132 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 Virginia 16,297 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

Common in Virginia 205 sightings
Size 7.1 cm2.8 in Weight 9 g0.3 oz active by night grassland

Sightings by month

Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus)

Eastern Mole

Scalopus aquaticus

Common in Virginia 257 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

Common in Virginia 297 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

Occasional in Virginia 95 sightings
Size 7.5–8.5 cm3–3.3 in Weight 5 g0.2 oz active by night cave

Sightings by month

Elk (Cervus canadensis)

Elk

Cervus canadensis

Occasional in Virginia 76 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

European rabbit feeding in dry vegetation

European Rabbit

Oryctolagus cuniculus

Occasional in Virginia 17 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

Occasional in Virginia 29 sightings
Size 5 cm2 in Weight 7–15 g0.2–0.5 oz active by night agricultural

Sightings by month

Fin whale from air

Fin Whale

Balaenoptera physalus

Occasional in Virginia 22 sightings
Size 17–22 m55.8–72.2 ft Weight 40000–80000 kg88185–176370 lb active by day coastal

Sightings by month

Martes Pennanti

Fisher

Pekania pennanti

Marginal occurrence · 9 records
Size 75–95 cm2.5–3.1 ft Weight 3.5–6 kg7.7–13.2 lb active dawn & dusk wetland
Sciurus niger

Fox Squirrel

Sciurus niger

Common in Virginia 965 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

Marginal occurrence · 3 records
Size 9.7 cm3.8 in Weight 22 g0.8 oz active dawn & dusk woodland
Myotis grisescens colony

Gray Bat

Myotis grisescens

Marginal occurrence · 5 records
Size 7.5–10.1 cm3–4 in Weight 10 g0.4 oz active by night cave
Gray fox standing in dappled woodland

Gray Fox

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Common in Virginia 214 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

Occasional in Virginia 39 sightings
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 Virginia 2,505 sightings
Size 50.6 cm19.9 in Weight 3.4 kg7.5 lb active by day woodland

Sightings by month

Common seal (Phoca vitulina) 2

Harbor Seal

Phoca vitulina

Occasional in Virginia 73 sightings
Size 1.4–1.9 m4.6–6.2 ft Weight 55–170 kg121.3–374.8 lb active by day coastal

Sightings by month

Phocoena phocoena.2

Harbour Porpoise

Phocoena phocoena

Common in Virginia 261 sightings
Size 1.4–1.9 m4.6–6.2 ft Weight 45–70 kg99.2–154.3 lb active by night coastal

Sightings by month

Harp Seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), Greenland Sea IMG 5032

Harp Seal

Pagophilus groenlandicus

Marginal occurrence · 4 records
Size 1.8 m5.8 ft Weight 141.1 kg311.1 lb active by day coastal
Hispid cotton rat moving through short green grass

Hispid cotton rat

Sigmodon hispidus

Occasional in Virginia 92 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

Common in Virginia 715 sightings
Size 5–10 cm2–3.9 in Weight 12–30 g0.4–1.1 oz active by night agricultural

Sightings by month

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) with calf Moorea 2

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Occasional in Virginia 65 sightings
Size 12–17 m39.4–55.8 ft Weight 25000–40000 kg55115.6–88185 lb active by day marine

Sightings by month

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

Indiana bat

Myotis sodalis

Marginal occurrence · 1 record
Size 5.5 cm2.2 in Weight 5–10 g0.2–0.4 oz active by night agricultural
Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis)

Least Weasel

Mustela nivalis

Marginal occurrence · 8 records
Size 26 cm10.2 in Weight 50 g1.8 oz active by night grassland
Long-finned pilot whale spyhopping at the surface, showing its bulbous forehead

Long-finned Pilot Whale

Globicephala melas

Occasional in Virginia 16 sightings
Size 7.1 m23.3 ft Weight 1060 kg2336.9 lb active by night urban

Sightings by month

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 · 6 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 Virginia 20 sightings
Size 24.8 cm9.8 in Weight 170 g6 oz active day & night wetland

Sightings by month

Marsh Rabbit

Marsh Rabbit

Sylvilagus palustris

Occasional in Virginia 66 sightings
Size 40.6 cm16 in Weight 1.2 kg2.7 lb active by night coastal

Sightings by month

Sorex cinereus, Harwich, Chatham, Ontario, Canada 1

Masked Shrew

Sorex cinereus

Occasional in Virginia 50 sightings
Size 6.9 cm2.7 in Weight 5 g0.2 oz active day & night grassland

Sightings by month

Tadarida brasiliensis - Bahamas - Long Island (sic) - Cartwright Cave - March 2006 - 2

Mexican Free-tailed Bat

Tadarida brasiliensis

Marginal occurrence · 4 records
Size 3.1–4.1 cm1.2–1.6 in Weight 7–12 g0.2–0.4 oz active by night cave

Sightings by month

Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Teriberka

Minke Whale

Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Occasional in Virginia 18 sightings
Size 7–10 m23–32.8 ft Weight 5000–10000 kg11023.1–22046.2 lb active by day wetland

Sightings by month

Mountain Lion (Puma concolor)

Mountain Lion

Puma concolor

Marginal occurrence · 1 record
Size 1–1.5 m3.3–5.1 ft Weight 36–120 kg79.4–264.6 lb active day & night montane forest
Muskrats resting on a floating log in open water

Muskrat

Ondatra zibethicus

Common in Virginia 1,402 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

Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) (9310532204)

North American Deermouse

Peromyscus maniculatus

Common in Virginia 1,464 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 Virginia 68 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

Rarely seen in Virginia 8 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

Common in Virginia 657 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 North Atlantic right whale head at the surface, rough pale callosity patches visible on the rostrum

North Atlantic right whale

Eubalaena glacialis

Marginal occurrence · 3 records
Size 17.6 m57.8 ft Weight 23000 kg50706.4 lb active day & night coastal
Live northeastern marsh rice rat peering out from dense dry grass and green shoots

Northeastern Marsh Rice Rat

Oryzomys palustris

Rarely seen in Virginia 5 sightings
Size 14.2 cm5.6 in Weight 50 g1.8 oz active day & night wetland

Sightings by month

Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus)

Northern Flying Squirrel

Glaucomys sabrinus

Marginal occurrence · 5 records
Size 25–37 cm9.8–14.6 in Weight 148 g5.2 oz active by night mixed conifer
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 Virginia 21 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

Marginal occurrence · 4 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 Virginia 705 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

Common in Virginia 101 sightings
Size 15–28 cm5.9–11 in Weight 140–500 g0.3–1.1 lb active by night urban

Sightings by month

Live pygmy sperm whales logging at the sea surface, backs and dorsal fins exposed

Pygmy Sperm Whale

Kogia breviceps

Occasional in Virginia 62 sightings
Size 2.7–4 m8.9–13.1 ft Weight 320–450 kg705.5–992.1 lb active day & night urban

Sightings by month

Rafinesques big-eared bat (5494435840)

Rafinesque's Big-eared Bat

Corynorhinus rafinesquii

Marginal occurrence · 3 records
Size 10.5 cm4.1 in Weight 9–11 g0.3–0.4 oz active by night cave
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

Common in Virginia 5,020 sightings
Size 43 cm16.9 in Weight 5–10 kg11–22 lb active day & night desert

Sightings by month

Risso s Dolphin (Grampus griseus) Catalina (3)

Risso's Dolphin

Grampus griseus

Rarely seen in Virginia 10 sightings
Size 2.6–4 m8.5–13.1 ft Weight 342.5–460 kg755.1–1014.1 lb active by night coastal

Sightings by month

Microtus chrotorrhinus

Rock Vole

Microtus chrotorrhinus

Marginal occurrence · 9 records
Size 11.5 cm4.5 in Weight 39 g1.4 oz active day & night coniferous forest
Sei whale surfacing in deep blue ocean water, small curved dorsal fin visible with a splash at the blowhole

Sei Whale

Balaenoptera borealis

Range-listed · no digitized records yet
Size 12–20 m39.4–65.6 ft Weight 14000–30000 kg30864.7–66138.7 lb active by day urban
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
Short-finned Pilot Whale off Tenerife

Short-finned Pilot Whale

Globicephala macrorhynchus

Occasional in Virginia 15 sightings
Size 6.1 m20 ft Weight 726 kg1600.6 lb active by night coastal

Sightings by month

Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

Sika Deer

Cervus nippon

Common in Virginia 264 sightings
Size 1.1–1.7 m3.6–5.6 ft Weight 30–90 kg66.1–198.4 lb active by night urban

Sightings by month

Silver-haired bat tucked into loose bark

Silver-haired Bat

Lasionycteris noctivagans

Common in Virginia 123 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

Occasional in Virginia 87 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

Occasional in Virginia 20 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

Common in Virginia 273 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

Common in Virginia 194 sightings
Size 12–16.5 cm4.7–6.5 in Weight 6–42 g0.2–1.5 oz active by night mixed forest

Sightings by month

Southern short-tailed shrew walking through moss and leaf litter beside green plant shoots

Southern Short-tailed Shrew

Blarina carolinensis

Occasional in Virginia 12 sightings
Size 10.2 cm4 in Weight 20 g0.7 oz active day & night agricultural

Sightings by month

Star-nosed mole's fleshy 22-ray nose organ fanned out, close-up macro

Star-nosed mole

Condylura cristata

Marginal occurrence · 8 records
Size 12.1 cm4.8 in Weight 52 g1.8 oz active day & night urban
Small group of striped dolphins swimming at the surface in open blue ocean

Striped Dolphin

Stenella coeruleoalba

Occasional in Virginia 31 sightings
Size 1.8–2.6 m5.9–8.5 ft Weight 100–160 kg220.5–352.7 lb active day & night urban

Sightings by month

Mephitis mephitis in Dierenpark Zie-ZOO

Striped Skunk

Mephitis mephitis

Common in Virginia 586 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

Two Tamanend's bottlenose dolphins surfacing together, an adult with a smaller paler calf alongside

Tamanend's Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops erebennus

Common in Virginia 409 sightings
Size 2.3–2.9 m7.6–9.4 ft coastal

Sightings by month

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

Townsend's Big-eared Bat

Corynorhinus townsendii

Marginal occurrence · 8 records
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

Common in Virginia 126 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 Virginia 1,674 sightings
Size 40.8 cm16.1 in Weight 1.1–1.6 kg2.5–3.6 lb active by night river

Sightings by month

Manatee with calf.PD - colour corrected

West Indian Manatee

Trichechus manatus

Marginal occurrence · 3 records
Size 4 m13.1 ft Weight 387.5 kg854.3 lb active day & night coastal
Little brown myotis roosting alertly on a wooden beam

Western Little Brown Myotis

Myotis lucifugus

Rarely seen in Virginia 10 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 Virginia 9,518 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 Virginia 20,082 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

Occasional in Virginia 20 sightings
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 Virginia 42 sightings
Size 10.3 cm4.1 in Weight 26 g0.9 oz active day & night woodland

Sightings by month