List of mammals of Canada
This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Canada . There are approximately 200 mammal species in Canada.[ 1] fifteen terrestrial and five marine ecozones , ranging from oceanic coasts, to mountains to plains to urban housing, mean that Canada can harbour a great variety of species, including nearly half of the known cetaceans .[ 2] Arctic Archipelago whereas the terrestrial ecozone is the Boreal Shield .[ 3] rodents , and the smallest that of the Didelphimorphia (common opossums).
Studies of mammals in Canada hearken back to the 1795 northern explorations of Samuel Hearne , whose account is considered surprisingly accurate. The first seminal work on Canadian mammals, however, was John Richardson 's 1829 Fauna Boreali-Americana . Joseph Burr Tyrrell was the first to attempt to produce, in 1888, a comprehensive list of Canadian mammalian species. Ernest Thompson Seton and Charles-Eusèbe Dionne 's work were also important. Modern Canadian publications with interest in mammalogy include The Canadian Field-Naturalist Canadian Journal of Zoology Le Naturaliste Canadien [A]
Several species of mammal have particular symbolism. The Canadian horse and North American beaver are official symbols of Canada,[B] designated native species as symbols .
The North American beaver , Castor canadensis , is the national animal of Canada Conservation status - IUCN Red List of Threatened Species :
EX Extinct No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
EW Extinct in the wild Known only to survive in captivity or as a naturalized population well outside its previous range.
CR Critically endangered The species is in imminent risk of extinction in the wild.
EN Endangered The species is facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
VU Vulnerable The species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
NT Near threatened The species does not meet any of the criteria that would categorise it as risking extinction but it is likely to do so in the future.
LC Least concern There are no current identifiable risks to the species.
DD Data deficient There is inadequate information to make an assessment of the risks to this species.
NE Not evaluated Not been assessed by the IUCN .
(v. 2013.2, the data is current as of March 5, 2014[ 4]
Native mammals
Bats
Bats most distinguishing feature is that their forelimbs are developed as wings, making them the only mammals capable of flight. Bat species account for about 20% of all mammals.
Common name
(French name)
Species[ 5] (authority)
Preferred habitat
Native range
Status[ 6]
Family Vespertilionidae : vesper bats
Pallid bat
Chauve-souris blonde )
Antrozous pallidus LeConte , 1856)
Dry plains
British Columbia
I: LC
CA: threatened
Townsend's big-eared bat
Oreillard de Townsend )
Corynorhinus townsendii Open woodlands
Southern British Columbia
Big brown bat
Grande chauve-souris brune )
Eptesicus fuscus Palisot de Beauvois , 1796)
Varied, including cities
British Columbia to southern Quebec and New Brunswick
Spotted bat
Oreillard maculé )
Euderma maculatum Near waterways
Inner British Columbia
I: LC
CA: special concern
Silver-haired bat
Chauve-souris argentée )
Lasionycteris noctivagans Deciduous forest lakes
All of southern Canada except Gaspesia and northern Maritimes
Western red bat
Chauve-souris rousse de l'Ouest )
Lasiurus blossevillii [ 7] Open spaces and cities
Southwestern British Columbia
Eastern red bat
Chauve-souris rousse de l'Est )
Lasiurus borealis Müller , 1776)
Open spaces and cities
Alberta to southern Maritimes
Hoary bat
Chauve-souris cendré )
Lasiurus cinereus Forests
British Columbia to northern Hudson Bay and Maritimes
California myotis
Chauve-souris de Californie )
Myotis californicus Audubon & Bachman, 1842)
West Coast forest
West Coast and Okanagan Valley
Western small-footed myotis
Chauve-souris pygmée de l'Ouest )
Myotis ciliolabrum Dry areas
Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan
Long-eared myotis
Chauve-souris à longues oreilles )
Myotis evotis [ 8] Varied
Southern British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan
Keen's myotis
Chauve-souris de Keen )
Myotis keenii Forests
West Coast
I: LC
CA: data deficient
BC: unknown
Eastern small-footed myotis
Chauve-souris pygmée de l'Est )
Myotis leibii Montane forest
Southern and south-central Ontario, southwestern Quebec
I: EN
QC: listing candidate
Little brown bat
Petite chauve-souris brune )
Myotis lucifugus Varied, including cities
Yukon to Atlantic Canada
Northern long-eared myotis
Vespertilion nordique or Chauve-souris nordique )
Myotis septentrionalis [ 9] Trouessart , 1897)
Forests
Central to Eastern Canada
Fringed myotis
Chauve-souris à queue frangée )
Myotis thysanodes [ 9] White pine forest
Southcentral British Columbia
I: LC
CA: data deficient
Long-legged myotis
Chauve-souris à longues pattes )
Myotis volans Varied
British Columbia and Alberta
Yuma myotis
Chauve-souris de Yuma )
Myotis yumanensis Open areas
West Coast and Okanagan Valley
Tri-colored bat formerly eastern pipistrelle
Pipistrelle de l'Est )
Pipistrellus subflavus F. Cuvier , 1832)
Forest, fields and waterways
Southern Ontario, Quebec and Maritimes
Carnivorans
Carnivorans include over 260 species, the majority of which eat meat as their primary dietary item. They have a characteristic skull shape and dentition.
Common nameFrench name)
Species
Preferred habitat
Native range
Status[ 6]
Family Felidae : felines
Canada lynx
Lynx du Canada )[ 10]
Lynx canadensis Kerr , 1792)
Forests
Most of Canada
I: LC NB: regionally endangered
NS: endangered
Bobcat
Lynx roux )
Lynx rufus Schreber , 1777)
Varied
Southern Canada
Cougar
Puma )
Puma concolor Linnaeus , 1771)
Mountain, marshes, dense forest
Mountainous regions of Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon
Eastern population CA: data deficient[ 11] ON: endangered
QC: listing candidate
NB: endangered
Family Canidae : canines
Coyote
Coyote )
Canis latrans Varied
Rocky Mountains, southern Prairies, southern Ontario, Quebec, and Maritime provinces[ 12]
Grey wolf
Loup )[ 13]
Canis lupus Linnaeus , 1758)
Varied
All of Canada, except Anticosti and Prince Edward Island. Extirpated in several areas. Population of the Arctic subspecies resides in Northern Canada.[ 14]
Eastern wolf
(Loup oriental )
Canis lycaon
(Schreber , 1775)
Varied
Great Lakes region in southeastern Canada (Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec)
I: NE
CA: designated special concern (as C. l. lycaon )
Red wolf
(Loup rouge )
Canis rufus
(Audubon & Bachman , 1851)
Varied
Once ranged into Ontario; extirpated.[ 15]
I: CR
Arctic fox
Renard arctique or polaire )[ 16]
Vulpes lagopus Linnaeus , 1758 )
Tundra
Northern Canada[ 17]
Swift fox
Renard véloce )
Vulpes velox Desert and dry prairie
Southern Prairie Provinces
I: LC
CA: endangered
AB: endangered
Red fox
Renard roux )
Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus , 1758 )
Varied
All of Canada except part of the Arctic Islands and West Coast
Family Ursidae : bears
Black bear
Ours noir )
Ursus americanus Pallas , 1780)
Varied, mostly forested areas
Most of Canada except Arctic and Prince Edward Island
Grizzly bear
Ours brun )
Ursus arctos horribilis Linnaeus , 1758 )
Open spaces, mostly alpine and Arctic tundra
Yukon, most of British Columbia except Vancouver Island, Rocky Mountains, mainland Northwest Territory and Nunavut[ 18]
I: LC
CA: special concern
AB: recommended for threatened
NWT: sensitive
BC: Blue List
Polar bear
Ours blanc or polaire )
Ursus maritimus Phipps , 1774)
Edge of ice fields
Arctic Sea and coasts
I: VU
CA: special concern
BC: Yellow List
NWT: sensitive
QC: listing candidate
NF: vulnerable
Family Procyonidae : raccoons and allies
Raccoon
Raton laveur )[ 19]
Procyon lotor Linnaeus , 1758 )
Riparian forest
Southern Canada except Rockies
Family Mustelidae : mustelids
Sea otter
Loutre de mer )
Enhydra lutris Linnaeus , 1758 )
Sea and coast
Vancouver and Goose Island coast
I: EN
CA: threatened[ 20]
Northern river otter
Loutre de rivière )
Lontra canadensis Rivers, lakes and swamps
Most of Canada except part of the Arctic and southern Prairies
Wolverine
Carcajou )
Gulo gulo Linnaeus , 1758 )
Boreal forest, Arctic tundra
Largely extinct in southern Canada west of the Rockies - found in much of continental Canada and the Arctic islands
Eastern population CA: endangered
ON: threatened
QC: endangered
NF: endangered Western population
American marten
Martre d'Amérique )
Martes americana Turton , 1806)
Coniferous and mixed forests
Rockies to Labrador and Newfoundland, except Prairies - extinct in several parts of Eastern Canada
I: LC NS: endangered[ 22]
NF: endangered
Pacific marten
(Martre du Pacifique )
Martes caurina
(Merriam , 1890)
Coniferous and mixed forests
West coast up to Yukon down to British Columbia and the Rockies
Beringian ermine
Hermine béringienne )
Mustela erminea Linnaeus , 1758 )
Boreal forest, Arctic tundra
Most of Arctic Canada aside from parts of eastern Nunavut and Baffin Island
Haida ermine
Hermine Haïda )
Mustela haidarum Preble , 1898 )
Temperate rainforest
Haida Gwaii archipelago
I: NE
ssp. haidarum
CA: threatened
BC: Red List
Black-footed ferret
Putois à pieds noirs )
Mustela nigripes Audubon and Bachman , 1851)
Prairies and grasslands
Extirpated; once inhabited southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan
I: EN CA: reintroduced, once again extirpated
Least weasel
Belette pygmée )[ 23]
Mustela nivalis Linnaeus , 1766)
Varied
Yukon to Labrador, except southern Quebec and Ontario
American ermine
Hermine américaine )
Mustela richardsonii Bonaparte , 1838)
Varied
Almost all of Canada south of the Arctic, except part of southern Prairies and Anticosti Island.
I: NE
ssp. anguinae
Long-tailed weasel
Belette à longue queue )
Neogale frenata Lichtenstein , 1831)
Open areas
Southern Rockies to western Ontario, southern Ontario to western Nova Scotia
Mink
Vison d'Amérique )
Neogale vison Wetlands and rivers
Most of Canada, except the Arctic, part of the Prairies and Anticosti Island - introduced to Newfoundland
Fisher
Pékan )
Pekania pennanti Coniferous and mixed forests near rivers
British Columbia to central Quebec, reintroduced in parts of the Maritimes
Badger
Blaireau d'Amérique )
Taxidea taxus Fields
Southern Prairies, south-central British Columbia and southernmost Ontario
I: LC
CA: endangered (jeffersoni and jacksoni )
Family Mephitidae : skunks
Striped skunk
Moufette rayée )
Mephitis mephitis Forests, cultivated areas, valleys
Rockies to the Maritimes - introduced in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia in the 19th century
Western spotted skunk Moufette tachetée occidentale )
Spilogale gracilis [ 24] Thickets and bushes
Southwestern British Columbia
I: LC
I: secure (TNC)
Superfamily Pinnipedia : pinnipeds
Family Otariidae : eared seals
Northern fur seal
Otarie à fourrure )[ 25]
Callorhinus ursinus Linnaeus , 1758 )
Sea
Off the coast of British Columbia; appreciates rocky outcrops - occasionally reported from the Arctic
Steller sea lion
Otarie de Steller )[ 26]
Eumetopias jubatus Coast waters
British Columbia; appreciates rocky outcrops
Walrus
Morse )
Odobenus rosmarus Linnaeus , 1758 )
Arctic shallows
James Bay to Greenland - extinct in the Western Arctic and the Magdalen Islands
California sea lion
Otarie de Californie )
Zalophus californianus Lesson , 1828))
Coast waters
Near Vancouver Island
Family Phocidae : earless seals
Hooded seal
Phoque à capuchon )
Cystophora cristata Sea
Atlantic from Gulf of the Saint Lawrence to northern Baffin Island
Bearded seal
Phoque barbu )
Erignathus barbatus Sea
Arctic Ocean
Grey seal
Phoque gris )
Halichoerus grypus Sea rocks, and reefs
East Coast
Northern elephant seal
Éléphant de mer du Nord )
Mirounga angustirostris Gill , 1866)
Tropical and temperate sea waters
Occasional in British Columbia
Harp seal
Phoque du Groenland )
Phoca groenlandica [ 27] Cold waters
Gulf of Saint Lawrence to James Bay and Greenland
Harbour seal
Phoque commun )
Phoca vitulina Linnaeus , 1758 )
Coast waters and some interior lakes
Most Canadian coasts except the colder part of the Arctic
I: LC QC: ssp. mellonae listing candidate
Ringed seal
Phoque annelé )
Pusa hispida Arctic waters and ice-floes
Arctic Ocean
Cetaceans
Cetaceans includes whales , dolphins and porpoises . They are the mammals most fully adapted to aquatic life with a spindle-shaped nearly hairless body, protected by a thick layer of blubber, and forelimbs and tail modified to provide propulsion underwater.
Common name
(French name)
Species
(authority)
Preferred habitat
Native range
Status[ 6]
Family Balaenidae : right whales
Bowhead whale
Baleine boréale )[ 28]
Balaena mysticetus Linnaeus , 1758 )
Polar ice shelf in winter, coastal waters in the summer
Arctic Ocean
North Atlantic right whale
Baleine franche )[ 31]
Eubalaena glacialis Linnaeus , 1758 )
Temperate coast waters
North Atlantic
I: CR
CA: endangered
North Pacific right whale
Baleine franche )[ 31]
Eubalaena japonica Lacépède , 1818)
North Pacific
I: EN
CA: endangered Northeast Pacific subpopulation I: CR
Family Balaenopteridae : rorquals
Northern minke whale
Petit rorqual )
Balaenoptera acutorostrata Temperate or polar seas
Northern Atlantic and Pacific
I: LC
CA: not at risk
Sei whale
Rorqual boréal )
Balaenoptera borealis Lesson , 1828)
Temperate seas
Atlantic and Pacific oceans
Blue whale
Rorqual bleu )
Balaenoptera musculus Linnaeus , 1758 )
Temperate and polar waters
Atlantic and Pacific oceans
ssp. musculus (North Pacific stock) I: LR/cd
CA: endangered
ssp. musculus (North Atlantic stock) I: VU
CA: endangered
ssp. brevicauda
Fin whale
Rorqual commun )
Balaenoptera physalus Linnaeus , 1758 )
Pelagic, coastal
Atlantic and Pacific oceans
I: VU
CA: threatened/special concern[ 32] BC: Blue List
QC: listing candidate
Humpback whale
Baleine à bosse )
Megaptera novaeangliae Coastal waters, often penetrates estuaries
Atlantic and Pacific oceans
I: LC
CA: threatened/not at risk[ 33]
Family Eschrichtiidae: grey whale
Grey whale
Baleine grise )
Eschrichtius robustus Lilljebor , 1861)
Temperate continental shelf waters
Pacific Coast
Western subpopulation I: EN
CA: special concern
Family Monodontidae : narwhal and beluga
Narwhal
Narval )
Monodon monoceros Linnaeus , 1758 )
Edge of Arctic ice sheet
Eastern Arctic Ocean
I: LC [ 34]
CA: special concern
Beluga
Bélouga )
Delphinapterus leucas Arctic coast waters - often swim deep up rivers
Eastern and Western Arctic Ocean
I: LC
CA: Varied[ 35] QC: threatened/listing candidate[ 36]
ON: not at risk
Family Phocoenidae : porpoises
Harbour porpoise
Marsouin commun )[ 37]
Phocoena phocoena Linnaeus , 1758 )
East and West Coast
I: LC
CA: special concern
Dall's porpoise
Marsouin de Dall )
Phocoenoides dalli True , 1885)
Continental shelf
North Pacific
Family Physeteridae: sperm whale
Sperm whale
Cachalot )
Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus , 1758 )
Very deep waters
Pacific and Atlantic Oceans - only migrating males are found in Canadian waters
I: VU
CA: not at risk
Family Ziphidae : beaked whales
Cuvier's beaked whale
Baleine à bec de Cuvier )
Ziphius cavirostris G. Cuvier , 1823)
Uncertain
North Pacific and Atlantic
I: LC
CA: not at risk
Baird's beaked whale
Grande baleine à bec )
Berardius bairdii Stejneger , 1883)
Near continental shelf cliffs
North Pacific
I: LC
CA: not at risk
Northern bottlenose whale
Baleine à bec commune )
Hyperoodon ampullatus Forster , 1770)
Subarctic waters
North Atlantic and part of Arctic
I: NT
CA: endangered[ 38]
Sowerby's beaked whale
Baleine à bec de Sowerby )
Mesoplodon bidens Sowerby , 1804)
Deep ocean
Temperate North Atlantic
I: LC
CA: special concern
Hubbs' beaked whale
Baleine à bec de Moore )
Mesoplodon carlhubbsi [ 39] Temperate waters
North Pacific
I: DD
CA: not at risk
Stejneger's beaked whale
Baleine à bec de Stejneger )
Mesoplodon stejnegeri Cold, high sea
North Pacific
I: NT
CA: not at risk
Family Delphinidae : oceanic dolphins
White-beaked dolphin
Dauphin à bec blanc )
Lagenorhynchus albirostris High, cold sea
North Atlantic
Atlantic white-sided dolphin
Dauphin à flancs blancs )
Leucopleurus acutus Temperate high sea
North Atlantic
Common bottlenose dolphin
Grand dauphin )
Tursiops truncatus Montagu , 1821)
Coastal waters
Occasional in the Maritimes
Short-beaked common dolphin
Dauphin commun à bec court )
Delphinus delphis Linnaeus , 1758 )
Temperate high sea
Atlantic and Pacific Continental shelves
Pacific white-sided dolphin
Dauphin à flancs blancs du pacifique )
Sagmatias obliquidens Temperate and subarctic seas
North Pacific
Orca
Épaulard or orque )
Orcinus orca Linnaeus , 1758 )
Prefers coastal waters
Atlantic, Pacific and parts of the Arctic
I: DD
CA: varies[ 40]
Short-finned pilot whale
Globicéphale du Pacifique )
Globicephala macrorhynchus Varied
Pacific Ocean
I: LC
CA: not at risk
Long-finned pilot whale
Globicéphale de l'Atlantique )
Globicephala melas Traill , 1809)
Varied
North Atlantic
Even-toed ungulates
The even-toed ungulates are ungulates whose weight is borne about equally by the third and fourth toes, rather than mostly or entirely by the third as in perissodactyls . There are about 220 artiodactyl species worldwide, including many that are of great economic importance.
Common nameFrench name)
Species
Preferred habitat
Native range
Status[ 6]
Family Cervidae : deer
Moose
Orignal )
Alces alces Linnaeus , 1758 )
Subarctic and open forests
Yukon to New Brunswick - introduced in Newfoundland, Cape Breton and Anticosti Islands
Elk
Wapiti )
Cervus canadensis Linnaeus , 1758 )[ 43] Varied, prefers open areas
Southern Rockies and part of the Prairies, reintroduced in several part of its former range.
I: LC
ssp roosevelti
Mule deer
Cerf mulet )
Odocoileus hemionus Subarctic and open forests
West Coast to Prairies
White-tailed deer
Cerf de Virginie )[ 44]
Odocoileus virginianus Glens, rivers, marshes, forest edges
Southern Rockies and Prairie Provinces to coast of Labrador and Maritimes - introduced to the Anticosti Islands
Caribou
Caribou )
Rangifer tarandus Tundra, Taiga and boreal forest
Boreal forest across Canada, and parts of the Arctic and Rockies
I: VU AB: caribou & groenlandicus threatened
MB: caribou threatened
QC: threatened
NF: caribou threatened
BC: varies[ 41]
Family Antilocapridae : pronghorn
Pronghorn
Antilope d'Amérique or pronghorn )
Antilocapra americana Prairies and plains
Southern Saskatchewan and Alberta
Family Bovidae : bovids
American bison
Bison )[ 45]
Bison bison Linnaeus , 1758 )
Varied
South of the Great Slaves Lake - small reintroduced population found in several parts of its former range
I: NT AB: endangered
BC: Red List
Mountain goat
Chèvre de montagne )
Oreamnos americanus Blainville , 1816)
Mountains
Various parts of the Western Cordillera
Muskox
Boeuf musqué )
Ovibos moschatus Arctic tundra
Canadian Arctic
Bighorn sheep
Mouflon d'Amérique )
Ovis canadensis Alpine prairies
South and southeastern Rockies
Dall sheep
Mouflon de Dall )
Ovis dalli Nelson , 1884)
Alpine tundra
Yukon and northern British Columbia
Marsupials
Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere . Opossums probably diverged from the basic South American marsupials in the late Cretaceous or early Paleocene . They are small to medium-sized marsupials, about the size of a large house cat , with a long snout and prehensile tail.
Common nameFrench name)
Species
Preferred habitat
Native range
Status[ 6]
Family Didelphidae: New World opossums
Virginia opossum
Opossum d'Amérique or de Virginie )
Didelphis virginiana Humid lowland forest
Southwestern Ontario, introduced in British Columbia
The lagomorphs comprise two families, Leporidae (hares and rabbits ), and Ochotonidae (pikas ). They can resemble rodents , but differ in a number of physical characteristics, such as having four incisors in the upper jaw rather than two.
Common name
(French name)
Species
(authority)
Preferred habitat
Native range
Status[ 6]
Family Ochotonidae : pikas
Collared pika
Pica à collier )
Ochotona collaris Mountains above the tree line
Rockies of the Yukon
American pika
Pica d'Amérique )
Ochotona princeps Mountains near the tree line
Southern British Columbia and Alberta
Family Leporidae : rabbits and hares
Snowshoe hare
Lièvre d'Amérique )
Lepus americanus Forests
Much of mainland Canada except southernmost Ontario
I: LC ssp. washingtonii
Arctic hare
Lièvre arctique )
Lepus arcticus Tundra
Canadian Arctic (including Arctic Archipelago), Labrador, Newfoundland
White-tailed jackrabbit
Lièvre de Townsend )
Lepus townsendii Fields
Southern Prairies, Okanagan Valley
Eastern cottontail
Lapin à queue blanche )
Sylvilagus floridanus Open woodlands
Southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan Ontario and Quebec
Mountain cottontail
Lapin de Nuttall )
Sylvilagus nuttallii Dry plains
Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan, Okanagan and Similkameen valleys
I: LC ssp. nuttallii
CA: special concern
New England cottontail
(Lapin de Nouvelle-Angleterre )
Sylvilagus transitionalis
(Bangs , 1895)
High elevation forests
Presence uncertain in Quebec, possibly extant
Rodents
Rodents make up the largest order of mammals, with over 40% of mammalian species. They have two incisors in the upper and lower jaw which grow continually and must be kept short by gnawing. Most rodents are small though the capybara , a rodent native to South America, can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).
Common name
(French name)
Species
(authority)
Preferred habitat
Native range
Status[ 6]
Family Erethizontidae : New World porcupines
North American porcupine
Porc-épic d'Amérique )
Erethizon dorsatum Linnaeus , 1758 )
Forests south of the tree line
All of Canada except Arctic
Family Aplodontiidae: mountain beaver
Mountain beaver
Castor de montagne )
Aplodontia rufa Rafinesque , 1817)
Montane forest
Southern British Columbia
Family Castoridae : beavers
North American beaver
Castor )
Castor canadensis Kuhl , 1820)
Humid areas of forests
All of Canada below the tree line except drier parts of the Prairies
Family Sciuridae : squirrels
Eastern grey squirrel
Écureuil gris )
Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin , 1788)
Prefers deep forest, but frequent in urban areas
Southern Manitoba and northwestern Ontario, southern Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick
Eastern fox squirrel
Écureuil fauve )
Sciurus niger Linnaeus , 1758 )
Edges of forests and groves
Southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Pelee Island
Douglas squirrel
Écureuil de Douglas )
Tamiasciurus douglasii Bachman , 1839)
Coniferous forest
Southwestern British Columbia
American red squirrel
Écureuil roux )[ 46]
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Erxleben , 1839)
Forests
Mainland Canada south of the tree line, except the southern Prairies and southwestern British Columbia; Vancouver Island
Humboldt's flying squirrel
Glaucomys oregonensis Bachman , 1839)
Boreal forest
Southern British Columbia continuing south through the US border
Northern flying squirrel
Grand polatouche )
Glaucomys sabrinus Shaw , 1801)
Boreal forest
Mainland Canada south of the tree line except the southern Prairies
Southern flying squirrel
Petit polatouche )
Glaucomys volans Linnaeus , 1758 )
Deciduous forest
Southern Ontario, part of Quebec, southern Nova Scotia
I: LC [ 47]
QC: listing candidate
Black-tailed prairie dog
Chien de prairie à queue noire )
Cynomys ludovicianus Ord , 1815)
Dry prairies
Small part of southern Saskatchewan
I: LC
CA: special concern
Hoary marmot
Marmotte des Rocheuses )
Marmota caligata Eschscholtz , 1829)
Alpine tundra
Rockies, Columbia, and Coast Mountains
Yellow-bellied marmot
Marmotte à ventre jaune )
Marmota flaviventris Audubon and Bachman, 1841)
Mountains
Central British Columbia and southernmost Alberta
Groundhog
Marmotte commune , siffleux )
Marmota monax Linnaeus , 1758 )
Broken ground
Much of mainland Canada east of the Rockies, inland valleys and part of western Yukon
Vancouver Island marmot
Marmotte de Vancouver )
Marmota vancouverensis Near the mountain tree line
Endemic to Vancouver Island
Golden-mantled ground squirrel
Spermophile à mante dorée )
Callospermophilus lateralis Say , 1823)
Montane coniferous forest
Southeastern Rockies
I: LC
Cascade golden-mantled ground squirrel
Spermophile à mante dorée des Cascades )
Callospermophilus saturatus Southern British Columbia Cascade Range
British Columbia
Franklin's ground squirrel
Écureuil terrestre de Franklin )
Poliocitellus franklinii Parklands
Northwestern Ontario and southern Prairies except short-grass prairies
*I: LC least concern
Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Spermophile rayé )
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus Mitchill , 1821)
Groves, swamps, uncultivated land
Southern Prairie Provinces
Columbian ground squirrel
Spermophile du Columbia )
Urocitellus columbianus Montane open areas
Southern Rocky mountains
Arctic ground squirrel
Spermophile arctique )
Urocitellus parryii Richardson , 1825)
Tundra without permafrost
Mainland Arctic
Richardson's ground squirrel
Spermophile de Richardson )
Urocitellus richardsonii Sabine , 1822)
Prairies
South of the Prairie provinces
Yellow-pine chipmunk
Tamia amène )
Tamias amoenus Allen , 1821)
Dry montane forest
Southern and central British Columbia and Alberta
Least chipmunk
Tamia mineur )
Tamias minimus Edges of forests, groves, but also open spaces
Western Quebec to Yukon
Red-tailed chipmunk
Tamia à queue rousse )
Tamias ruficaudus A. H. Howell , 1839)
High altitude forest and valley pine groves
Southern British Columbia and Alberta
I: LC
CA: vulnerable
AB: may be at risk
BC: Imperiled
Eastern chipmunk
Tamia rayé, Petit suisse )
Tamias striatus Linnaeus , 1758 )
Deciduous forest
Maritime provinces, and the southern half of Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba
Townsend's chipmunk
Tamia de Townsend )
Tamias townsendii Western Coast lowland and montane tsuga forests
Southwestern British Columbia
Family Geomyidae : pocket gophers
Plains pocket gopher
Gaufre brun )
Geomys bursarius Fields and banks
Southern Manitoba
I: LC
CA: not at risk[ 48]
Northern pocket gopher
Gaufre gris )
Thomomys talpoides Open areas
Southern Prairie Provinces and British Columbia
I: LC
ssp. douglasii
vulnerable
ssp. segregatus
near threatened
BC: secure
ssp. segregatus
Red List
Family Heteromyidae : heteromyids
Ord's kangaroo rat
Rat-kangourou d'Ord )
Dipodomys ordii Woodhouse , 1853)
Semi-deserctic areas
Great Sand Hills area
I: LC
CA: special concern
Olive-backed pocket mouse
Souris à abajoues des plaines )
Perognathus fasciatus Wied-Neuwied , 1839)
Dry plains
Southern Prairies
I: LC
CA: sensitive
Great Basin pocket mouse
Souris à abajoues des pinèdes )
Perognathus parvus Peale , 1848)
Dry plains
Great Basin
I: LC
CA: sensitive
Family Dipodidae : jerboas
Woodland jumping mouse
Souris sauteuse des bois )
Napaeozapus insignis Miller , 1891)
Forest streams
Eastern Canada
Meadow jumping mouse
Souris sauteuse des champs )
Zapus hudsonius Zimmermann , 1780)
Wet fields
Eastern Canada (except Anticosti island and Newfoundland) to Yukon
I: LC ssp. alascensis
Western jumping mouse
Souris sauteuse de l'ouest )
Zapus princeps Prairies
Rockies and Prairies
Pacific jumping mouse
Souris sauteuse du Pacifique )
Zapus trinotatus Montane prairies
Southwestern British Columbia
Family Cricetidae : cricetids
Southern red-backed vole
Campagnol à dos roux de Gapper )
Clethrionomys gapperi [ 49] Vigors ), 1830
Forests
Most of the provinces, except Newfoundland and Vancouver Island
I: LC ssp. galei ssp. occidentalis
Northern red-backed vole
Campagnol à dos roux boréal )
Clethrionomys rutilus [ 49] Pallas , 1779)
Shrubby tundra
Mainland Arctic
Northern collared lemming
Lemming variable or lemming à collerette )[ 50]
Dicrostonyx groenlandicus [ 51] Traill , 1823)
Tundra
Northern Arctic islands
Ungava collared lemming
Lemming d'Ungava )
Dicrostonyx hudsonius Tundra
Northern Quebec
Victoria collared lemming
Lemming à collerette )
Dicrostonyx kilangmiutak [ 51] Anderson & Rand , 1945)
Tundra
Mainland Arctic, Banks, Victoria and King Williams Islands
Ogilvie Mountains collared lemming
Dicrostonyx nunatakensis [ 51] Montane tundra
Ogilvie Mountains
Richardson's collared lemming
Dicrostonyx richardsoni Merriam , 1900)
Tundra
Arctic, roughly south of the Thelon River Basin
Sagebrush vole
Campagnol des sauges )
Lemmiscus curtatus Cope , 1868)
Sagebrush steppes
Southern Alberta and Saskatchewan
North American brown lemming
Lemming brun )
Lemmus trimucronatus
Tundra of Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon, also west coast of British Columbia almost south to Vancouver Island
Rock vole
Campagnol des rochers )
Microtus chrotorrhinus Rocky areas
Boreal Ontario and Quebec; southernmost Labrador; Gaspesia and northern New Brunswick
I: LC
ssp. ravus
data deficient
Long-tailed vole
Campagnol longicaude )
Microtus longicaudus Varied
Western Cordillera
Singing vole
Campagnol chanteur )
Microtus miurus Osgood , 1901)
Alpine tundra
Yukon and neighbouring Northwest Territory
Montane vole
Campagnol montagnard )
Microtus montanus Shortgrass alpine prairies
Central south British Columbia
Prairie vole
Campagnol des prairies )
Microtus ochrogaster Wagner , 1842)
Prairies
Prairie provinces
Tundra vole
Campagnol nordique )
Microtus oeconomus Wet tundra
Western Arctic
Creeping vole
Campagnol de l'oregon )
Microtus oregoni Humid coniferous forest
Southern British Columbia
Meadow vole
Campagnol des champs )
Microtus pennsylvanicus Wet fields
All of Canada except Arctic and westernmost ranges
Woodland vole
Campagnol sylvestre )
Microtus pinetorum Le Conte , 1830)
Deciduous forest
Southernmost Ontario and Quebec
I: LC
CA: special concern
Water vole
Campagnol de Richardson )
Microtus richardsoni De Kay , 1842)
Alpine prairies and streams
Cascades and southern Rockies
Townsend's vole
Campagnol de Townsend )
Microtus townsendii Saline marshes and fields
Vancouver Island, nearby islands and Fraser River delta
Taiga vole
Campagnol à joues jaunes )
Microtus xanthognathus Leach , 1815)
Forest streams
From southwestern Hudson Bay through northern Prairies and Yukon
Muskrat
Rat musqué )
Ondatra zibethicus Linnaeus , 1766)
Wetlands
Most of Canada outside the Arctic and southwestern British Columbia
Western heather vole
Campagnol des bruyères )
Phenacomys intermedius Varied
British Columbia
I: LC
ssp. artemisiae
near threatened
ssp. sphagnicola
near threatened
Eastern heather vole
Phénacomys d'Ungava )
Phenacomys ungava Varied
Quebec, Ontario and Labrador to southern Yukon
Northern bog lemming
Campagnol-lemming boréal )
Synaptomys borealis Peatlands
Labrador to Alaska; Gaspesia and northern New Brunswick
Southern bog lemming
Campagnol-lemming de Cooper )
Synaptomys cooperi Baird , 1857)
Peatlands
Western Manitoba, central and southern Ontario and Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
Bushy-tailed woodrat
Rat à queue touffue )
Neotoma cinerea Mountains
Western Cordillera
Yukon deer mouse
(Souris de yukon )
Peromyscus arcticus
(Wagner, 1845)
Forest, mountains
Yukon
Northwestern deer mouse
Souris de keen )
Peromyscus keeni [ 53] Mild and rainy forest
West of the Coastal Mountains
White-footed mouse
Souris à pattes blanches )
Peromyscus leucopus Deciduous forest
Southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia
Eastern deer mouse
Souris sylvestre )
Peromyscus maniculatus Anywhere except wetlands
Easternmost Saskatchewan to most of eastern Canada aside from northern Quebec and Newfoundland
Western deer mouse
(Souris sylvestre )
Peromyscus sonoriensis
(Wagner, 1845)
Anywhere except wetlands
Saskatchewan west to British Columbia, north to the southern Northwest Territories and eastern Yukon
Western harvest mouse
Souris-moissonneuse occidentale )
Reithrodontomys megalotis Prairies
Okanagan Valley (ssp. dychei ), south of Alberta and Saskatchewan (ssp. megalotis )
I: LC
CA: special concern (dychei )
CA: endangered (megalotis )
BC: Blue List
AB: unknown
SA: unknown
Northern grasshopper mouse
Souris à sauterelles )
Onychomys leucogaster Southern Prairies
Prairies
Shrews and moles
Eulipotyphlans are insectivorous mammals. Shrews and solenodons closely resemble mice, hedgehogs carry spines, while moles are stout-bodied burrowers.
Common name
(French name)
Species
(authority)
Preferred habitat
Native range
Status[ 6]
Family Soricidae : shrews
Northern short-tailed shrew
Grande musaraigne )
Blarina brevicauda Deciduous forest
Eastern Saskatchewan to Maritime provinces
North American least shrew
Petite musaraigne )
Cryptotis parva Fields, clearings and salt marshes
Long point, Ontario
I: LC
CA: possibly extirpated
Arctic shrew
Musaraigne arctique )
Sorex arcticus Kerr , 1792)
Peatlands and marshes
From the Northwest Territory to central Quebec
Maritime shrew
Musaraigne des Maritimes )
Sorex maritimensis Peatlands and marshes
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
Marsh shrew
Musaraigne de Bendire )
Sorex bendirii Coniferous forest
Fraser Valley
I: LC
CA: threatened
Masked shrew
Musaraigne cendrée )
Sorex cinereus Varied
Most of Mainland Canada except northernmost Quebec; Prince Edward and Cape Breton islands
Long-tailed shrew
Musaraigne longicaude )
Sorex dispar [ 55] Wet banks
New Brunswick
Smoky shrew
Musaraigne fuligineuse )
Sorex fumeus Deciduous forest
Great lakes to Maritimes
Gaspé shrew
Musaraigne de Gaspé )
Sorex gaspensis [ 55] Near forest streams
Gaspesia and northern New Brunswick; Cape Breton Island
I: LC
CA: not at risk[ 56]
Prairie shrew
Musaraigne des steppes )
Sorex haydeni Grassland
Southern Prairies
American pygmy shrew
Musaraigne pygmée )
Sorex hoyi Forest clearings
Yukon and eastern Cordillera to Labrador and Maritimes
Merriam's shrew
Musaraigne de Merriam )
Sorex merriami Grasslands
Extreme southern British Columbia
Montane shrew
Musaraigne sombre )
Sorex monticolus [ 57] Montane streams and marshes
Western Cordillera
American water shrew
Musaraigne palustre )
Sorex palustris Lakes and marshes
Western Cordillera to Labrador and Maritimes except southern Prairies and southernmost Ontario
I: LC ssp. brooksi
Preble's shrew
Musaraigne de Preble )
Sorex preblei Montane streams and marshes
Southcentral British Columbia
Trowbridge's shrew
Musaraigne de Trowbridge )
Sorex trowbridgii Coniferous forest
Lower Fraser Valley
Tundra shrew
Sorex tundrensis Tundra
Yukon and Northwest territory
Barren ground shrew
Sorex ugyunak Anderson & Rand , 1945)
Tundra
Mainland Arctic
Vagrant shrew
Musaraigne errante )
Sorex vagrans Montane streams
Southern Cordillera
Family Talpidae : moles
Star-nosed mole
Condylure étoilé )
Condylura cristata Linnaeus , 1758 )
Wet forest
Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
Coast mole
Taupe du Pacifique )
Scapanus orarius True , 1896)
Alpine coniferous forest
Southwestern British Columbia
Townsend's mole
Taupe de Townsend )
Scapanus townsendii Fields
Southwestern British Columbia
I: LC
CA: endangered
Shrew-mole
Taupe de Townsend )
Neurotrichus gibbsii Banks
Southwestern British Columbia
Eastern mole
Taupe à queue glabre )
Scalopus aquaticus Linnaeus , 1758 )
Open woodlands
Point Pelee area
I: LC
CA: special concern
Hairy-tailed mole Taupe à queue velue )
Parascalops breweri Dry loose soils
Southern Quebec and Ontario
Introduced or accidental species
A number of wild mammals may be found in Canadian territory without being confirmed natives. Some were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced. These include the house mouse (Mus musculus ), and brown and black rats (respectively Rattus norvegicus and R. rattus ). Other include escaped animals: the coypu (Myocastor coypus ), European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus ) and European hare (Lepus europaeus ).[ 58] European fallow deer (Dama dama ) and wild boar (Sus scrofa ) were introduced for hunting.
Finally, other species are encountered only accidentally, or so rarely in Canadian territory that it is impossible to tell whether they are permanent residents. Most of these species are cetaceans, some generally poorly known: Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus ), the dwarf and pygmy sperm whales (Kogia sima and K. breviceps ), Blainville's and True's beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris and M. mirus ), the false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens ), and the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba ). The big free-tailed and evening bats (respectively Nyctinomops macrotis and Nycticeius humeralis ), as well as the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis ) are found mostly in areas south of the U.S.-Canada frontier, and occasionally in Canada.
Out of three species that have been extirpated in Canada in written history, two have since been reintroduced.
The sea mink (Neogale macrodon ) formerly lived in the Maritime Provinces , but became extinct following overhunting and habitat destruction . The only Canadian (and also last known) specimen was captured on Campobello Island , New Brunswick in 1894.
The eastern elk (Cervus canadensis canadensis ), a subspecies of the elk or wapiti, was also formerly found in Quebec and Ontario , but was made extinct for much the same reasons as the sea mink.
Eastern cougars (Puma concolor couguar ) were also found in the eastern provinces, but became extinct soon after populations in the United States were eradicated.
The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes ) became extirpated in Canada in 1937. Between the 1950s and 1981, it was suspected to be entirely extinct until a wild population was discovered in 1981 in Wyoming . Subsequent reintroductions into Canada have failed.
The swift fox (Vulpes velox ) and sea otter (Enhydra lutris ) both were extirpated in Canada in the 1930s, but were successfully reintroduced in the beginning of the 1970s.
See also
Notes
References
^ "Canada Animals | Canadian Animals | Canada Wildlife | AZ Animals" . A-Z Animals .^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2018-01-10). "Introduction to the Ecological Land Classification (ELC) 2017" . www.statcan.gc.ca . Retrieved 2020-11-09 . ^ Wiken, Ed. "Casting the bottom line on the blue planet" . Natural Resources Canada . Archived from the original on 2008-06-12. Retrieved 2008-02-13 . ^ "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species" . International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014 .^ Tamara Eder; Gregory Kennedy (2011). Mammals of Canada . Lone Pine Pub. ISBN 978-1-55105-857-3 ^ a b c d e f g h
I: International - ises IUCN where available
CA: Canadian status, if any
Provincial statuses, if any and different from federal status ^ This species is often treated as a subspecies of L. borealis
^ Sometimes considered a subspecies of M. leibii
^ a b Sometimes considered a subspecies of M. keenii
^ Formerly Loup-cervier
^ It is not clear whether a sustainable population exists or not in eastern Canada. The species was practically exterminated by the 1970s, but a large number of observations since and the capture of a specimen in 1992 have made the species' status in eastern Canada a subject of controversy amongst biologists.
^ "Coyote | The Canadian Encyclopedia" . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca .^ "Loup gris " is used when contrast with C. l. rufus ("Loup rouge ") is needed
^ "Arctic Wolf - Facts, Diet & Habitat Information" .^ Phillips, M. (2020) [errata version of 2018 assessment]. "Canis rufus " . IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 : e.T3747A163509841. Retrieved 9 March 2021 . ^ "Renard polaire " is preferred in Europe, while "renard arctique " is more common in Quebec.
^ The species is occasionally reported as far south as Central Ontario and Cape Breton Island, and is known to travel south on floes .
^ The Prairies population has been extirpated as has the population in central British Columbia and the lower mainland.
^ If distinction from other Procyon species is needed, "raton laveur commun " is used.
^ Reintroduced in the 1970s; the species had been extirpated in Canada around the start of the 20th century.
^ Ssp. luscus is Blue-Listed. Ssp. vancouverensis is Red-Listed.
^ Cape Breton Island only
^ Frequently just "belette ", or "belette d'Europe " if distinction from other Mustela species is needed.
^ This species is often considered a subspecies of the eastern spotted skunk , S. putorius , which is otherwise not found in Canada.
^ If distinction is needed with Arctocephalus fosteri , the southern or New Zealand fur seal , "otarie à fourrure du Nord " is used.
^ Also "lion de mer de Steller "
^ Sources conflict as to whether classify this species with Phoca Pagophilus
^ IUCN records this species as Baleine du Groenland .
^ The IUCN ranks the Okhotsk Sea subpopulation as endangered EN LR/cd
^ COSEWIC ranks the Davis Strait-Baffin and Bay-Foxe Basin populations as threatened and the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Sea population as special concern.
^ a b Also Baleine noire . The recognition of Eubalaena japonica as a separate species has not yet effected common French names.
^ COSEWIC ranks the Pacific population as threatened and the Atlantic one as special concern.
^ COSEWIC ranks the Pacific population as threatened and the Atlantic one as not at risk.
^ IUCN lists the species as near threatened; TNC lists it as apparently secure.
^ The various populations have ranks varying between special concern and endangered.
^ The St. Laurence Estuary population is designated threatened, other populations are listing candidates.
^ Sometimes simply "Marsouin "
^ Population of the Scotian Shelf only
^ Might be a subspecies of M. bowdoini
^ Populations in the Pacific are ranked threatened, endangered or special concern. The Atlantic population is considered data deficient.
^ a b Populations are Blue- or Red-Listed
^ On mainland only
^ Some debate remains as to whether consider this species the same or not as red deer , C. elaphus .
^ The name "chevreuil " is frequent in Quebec, but considered improper, as it normally applies to the European roe deer , Capreolus capreolus .
^ If distinction is needed with B. bonasus , "bison d'Amérique " is used.
^ This species and the European Sciurus vulgaris both share the same French name.
^ COSEWIC originally designated this species as special concern in 1988. It has since been discovered that the range is much larger than previously thought, and the species was delisted in 2006.("COSEWIC Species Database : Squirrel, Southern Flying" . Archived from the original on 2009-07-14. Retrieved 2007-09-01 .[1] )^ Originally assessed as special concern, was reassessed in 1998
^ a b Myodes ^ The name was originally applied to D. torquatus , of which D. groenlandicus was originally considered to be a subspecies.
^ a b c Whether or not this species is a subspecies of D. groenlandicus is unclear.
^ The North American L. sibiricus are now recognized as a separate species. IUCN still treats both as L. sibiricus .
^ This species is now considered to include P. sitkensis and P. oreas , as well as several subspecies of P. maniculatus
^ Ranked as vulnerable in both provinces by the Nature Conservancy
^ a b The available evidence indicates that S. gaspensis is a junior synonym for S. dispar but regulatory regimes have not yet fully incorporated that finding.
^ Formerly considered special concern
^ Also Sorex obscurus in older sources.
^ Some authorities consider L. europaeus and L. capensis (Cape hare ) to be the same species.
Sources
Further reading
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