List of mammals of Yellowstone National Park

There are at least 67 species of mammals known to live within Yellowstone National Park, a 2,219,791 acres (898,318 ha)[1] protected area in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Species are listed by common name, scientific name, typical habitat, and relative abundance.[2]

A bull elk grazes in Gibbon Meadows in the west-central portion of the park.
An elk grazes with a bison in the park.

Canids

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A gray wolf runs through deep snow.
 
A coyote pack hunting in the snow.

Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae

  • Coyote (Canis latrans) valleys, grasslands, forests – common
  • Northwestern wolf (Canis lupus occidentalis) valleys, grasslands, forests – common
  • Wasatch mountain fox (Vulpes vulpes macroura) meadows, forests – common

Bears

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A grizzly bear

Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae

Raccoons

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Order: Carnivora Family: Procyonidae

Felids

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Order: Carnivora Family: Felidae

  • Cougar (Puma concolor) forests, rock outcrops – uncommon
  • Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) coniferous forests – rare
  • Bobcat (Lynx rufus) coniferous forests, rock outcroppings – common

Weasels

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Order: Carnivora Family: Mustelidae

Skunks

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Order: Carnivora Family: Mephitidae

Rabbits and hares

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A snowshoe hare

Order: Lagomorpha Family: Leporidae

Pikas

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Order: Lagomorpha Family: Ochotonidae

  • American Pika (Ochotona princeps) alpine tundra, rocky areas – common

Bovids

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Yellowstone is home to approximately 5,000 bison.

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Bovidae

  • Plains bison (Bison bison bison) grasslands, sagebrush, shrubland – abundant
  • Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) cliffs, rock outcroppings, alpine tundra – uncommon
  • Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus) cliffs, rock outcroppings, alpine tundra – uncommon (non-native)

Pronghorn

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Pronghorn buck in snow.

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Antilocapridae

  • Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) sagebrush, grassland – common

Elk, moose, and deer

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Elk are Yellowstone's most abundant large mammal.

Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae

Shrews

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Order: Soricomorpha Family: Soricidae

Beavers

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Order: Rodentia Family: Castoridae

  • American beaver (Castor canadensis) riparian areas – fairly common, increasing

Squirrels

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A chipmunk

Order: Rodentia Family: Sciuridae

Voles and Woodrats

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A muskrat

Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae

Mice

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A deer mouse

Order: Rodentia Family: Cricetidae

  • Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) grasslands – common

Jumping mice

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Order: Rodentia Family: Dipodidae

Porcupines

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A porcupine

Order: Rodentia Family: Erethizontidae

Bats

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A silver-haired bat clings to a tree trunk.

Order: Chiroptera Family: Vespertilionidae

See also

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Further reading

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  • Streubel, Donald P. (1995). Small Mammals of the Yellowstone Ecosystem. Boulder, CO: Robert Rineharts. ISBN 0-911797-59-9.
  • Broderick, Harold J. (1954). Wild Animals of Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Library and Museum Association, Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service.

References

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  1. ^ "Listing of acreage – December 31, 2011" (XLSX). Land Resource Division, National Park Service. Retrieved March 8, 2012. (National Park Service Acreage Reports)
  2. ^ "Mammals". Yellowstone National Park. National Park Service.