List of wild mammal species of Florida

This is a list of mammal species found in the wild on the American State of Florida. In total, 98 species of mammals are known to inhabit, or recently to have inhabited, the state and its surrounding waters. This includes a few species, such as the Black-tailed Jackrabbit and Red Deer, that were introduced after the European colonization of the Americas. It also includes the extinct Caribbean Monk Seal. Rodents account for roughly one quarter of all species, followed closely by mammals from the Cetacea and Carnivora families.

The species included in this list are drawn from the work of The American Society of Mammalogists, which compiled information from five different publications.cite web
url=http://www.mammalsociety.org/statelists/flmammals.html
title=State Lists:Mammals of Florida
publisher=The American Society of Mammalogists
date=2001-05-22
accessdate=2007-07-18 The Silver rice rat is not in this list because he was reclassified as a subspecies of the Marsh Rat (changed from "Oryzomys argentatus" to "Oryzomys palustris natator"). Besides that, the classification for animals was updated to reflect current nomenclature, and the common names of animals changed to the names used in Wikipedia articles.] Information on the international status of species has been drawn from the IUCN Red List.

Florida mammals by order

Florida terrestrial mammals

Carnivora

The Coyote arrived in northern Florida in the 1970s as its natural range expanded. Illegal releases were another factor in its occupation of the state. Coyotes are extremely adaptable, living in all types of forests and farms. [cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/critters/coyote.asp|title=Coyote|publisher=State of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-19]

Florida has two types of foxes. The native Gray Fox can be found in the United States almost anywhere, except northern plains and Rockies. It is sometimes confounded with the Red Fox due to having patches of red hair. [cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/critters/grayfox.asp|title=Gray Fox|publisher=State of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-19] The red fox was introduced in Florida by hunting clubs, although it may have been native in the northern panhandle. Her preferred habitats are open areas, while the gray fox prefers woods. [cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/critters/redfox.asp|title=Red Fox|publisher=State of Florida|month=August | year=2006|accessdate=2007-07-19]

Red wolves were once common throughout the southeastern US, including Florida. Extinct in the wild in 1980, it has been progressively introduced to select nature preserves. The present population was introduced as part of this recovery program in 1997 to the Saint Vincent National Refuge; [cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/southeast/news/1997/r97-11.html|publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service|title=Public Hearing Scheduled on Expanding Red Wolf Program to Northwest Florida's Little George Island|date=February 4, 1997|accessdate=2007-07-19] once red wolf pups reach 18 months, they are relocated to the North Carolina portion of the program. [cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/SVWildlifeList.pdf|format=pdf|title=St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge Fish, Amphibian, Reptile and Mammal List|author=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service|accessdate=2007-07-19]

Bobcats are well adapted to urban development and are not a conservation concern. They make their home in hammocks, forests or swamps. [cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/critters/bobcat.asp|title=Bobcat|publisher=State of Florida|month=August | year=2006|accessdate=2007-07-19]

The Florida Panther ("Puma concolor coryi") is one of the subspecies of cougar. Its main differences from other subspecies are longer legs, smaller size and a shorter darker coat. The skull of the Florida panther is broader and flatter with highly arched nasal bones. [cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/panther/handbook/natural/physical.html|title=Physical description|publisher=State of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-19] Reportedly only seventy adult animals are alive, [cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/panther/handbook/natural/rangepanther.html|title=Range of the Panther|publisher=State of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-19] and a 1992 study estimated that the subspecies would become extinct between 2016 and 2055. [cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/panther/handbook/threats/inbreeding.html|title=Inbreeding|publisher=State of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-19] It was chosen in 1982 as the Florida State Animal by the state's schoolchildren. [cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/panther/handbook/conserve/1980.html|title=1980|publisher=State of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-19]

It is believed that some Jaguarundis were unintentionally released in the wild in the 1940s. [cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/bicy/exotic.htm|title=Jaguarundi, Felis yagouaroundi|publisher=National Park Service] There is no evidence besides witness accounts, and the existence of Jaguarandis in the state is dubious. [cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/12/Hernando/A_debate_over_zoning_.shtml|date=August 12, 2004|title=A debate over zoning brings out the big cat|author=Dan DeWitt|accessdate=2007-07-19]

Two of the eleven species of skunks live in Florida. Both the Eastern Spotted Skunk and the Striped Skunk can be found statewide (except for the Keys).

Small populations of the Everglades mink ("Mustela vison evergladensis"), a subspecies of Mink, are encountered near Lake Okeechobee, and in the Big Cypress Swamp-Everglades National Park area. [cite web|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/muvi/all.html|title=Mustela Vison|publisher=USDA Forest Service]

Northern River Otters are a common sight close to freshwater streams across Florida. The population is increasing. [cite web|url=http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/luca/all.html#DISTRIBUTION%20AND%20OCCURRENCE|title=Lutra Canadensis|publisher=USDA Forest Service|accessdate=2007-07-19]

Raccoons are prevalent in the lower 48 states, including Florida. Adaptable to almost all kinds of habitats, the animals are among the few who actually benefit from human development, since food becomes more available. Attacks by predators like the bobcat cause minimum mortality, and the main reason for raccoon deaths is considered to be car accidents. [cite web|url=http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW033|title=Raccoons|publisher=University of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-19] They are regarded as predators of sea turtles nests. [cite web|url=http://www.cccturtle.org/velador.php?page=velart47|title=2003 Florida Sea Turtle Nesting Trends & News from the Archie Carr Refuge|publisher=Caribbean Conservation Corporation|accessdate=2007-07-19]

All bears in Florida are part of the subspecies "Ursus americanus floridanus". Differences between subspecies are very small; the Florida black bear differs from other subspecies by its highly arched forehead and its long and narrow braincase. [cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/bear/appearance.htm|title=The "Bear" Facts - Appearance|publisher=State of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-19] Estimates for 2002 indicated the number of bears statewide to be between 2,000 and 3,200 individuals, indicating an increase from the previous census in 1998. The biggest cause of concern is roadkill, although the rates of mortality are equivalent to other areas in the country. [cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/bear/Reports/RoadImpactOnBearStudyFAQs-7-05.pdf|title=Statewide Assessment of Road Impacts on Bears in Six Study Areas in Florida from May 2001 - September 2003|publisher=State of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-19|format=PDF]

Rodentia

Of the several species of rodents in Florida, the subspecies of Oldfield Mouse are the biggest conservation concern, along with the Florida Mouse. Six of eight subspecies of the Oldfield mouse (commonly named "Beach Mice") are in endangered status, and one is extinct. Given causes for their demise is predators like cats and red foxes and destruction of their natural habitats. [cite web|url=http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW173|title=Beach Mice|author=Brittany L. Bird, Lyn C. Branch, Mark E. Hostetler|publisher=University of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-20] The Florida Mouse is on the endangered species list because of destruction of their habitat. The mouse is the only mammal that lives only in Florida. The rodent depends on the Gopher Tortoise(also endangered) for its survival, because it makes his burrows from Tortoises burrows, or in absence of those Oldfield mouse burrows. [cite web|url=http://www.unitedstatesfauna.com/floridamouse.php|title=Florida Mouse (Gopher Mouse) (Podomys floridanus)|publisher=United States fauna|accessdate=2007-07-20]

Non-native species brought in boats by colonizers are the House Mouse, Brown Rat and the Black Rat. Other non-natives are the Capybara, the Nutria and the Mexican Gray Squirrel. cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/critters/exotics/resultsClass.asp?taxclass=M|title=Florida's Exotic Wildlife: status for 31 Mammal species|publisher=State of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-20]

Not listed below, but with reported sightings, are the biggest rat in the world, the Gambian Pouch Rat, which arrived in 2002; and the Prairie Dog. Both are wild releases of animals kept as pets.

Florida marine mammals

Carnivora and Sirenia

"Trichechus manatus latirostris" is one of the two subspecies of the West Indian Manatee. The herbivorous aquatic mammal lives in rivers, springs and shallow coastal waters. It was designated the state marine mammal in 1975 [cite web|title=Manatee|url=http://www.flheritage.com/facts/symbols/symbol.cfm?page=1&id=7|publisher=State of Florida|accessdate=2007-07-19] and is protected by federal and state laws. Threatened by habitat loss, entanglements in fishing gear and crab traps, or by being asphyxiated or crushed by canal locks and flood gates, the most common cause for manatee deaths is being struck by boats, which caused one quarter of all deaths recorded since 1974. The highest count recorded in statewide surveys was 3,276 in 2001. [cite web|url=http://research.myfwc.com/support/view_faqs.asp?id=17|title=Manatees|publisher=Fish and Wildlife Research Institute|accessdate=2007-07-19]

Florida does not have seal colonies, but stray seals wash ashore in Florida occasionally. The most prevalent of those species have been the Common Seal and the Hooded Seal, although a Bearded Seal was seen in 2007. [cite news|url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20070505-17382400-bc-us-seal.xml|title=Bearded seal strays from Arctic to Florida|date=May 5, 2007|publisher= Science Daily|author=United Press International|accessdate=2007-07-19] The Caribbean Monk Seal was native to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Once a popular prey for Bahamas fishermen, her numbers diminished greatly in the 1800s. Her last sighting in Florida was in 1922, and specimens have not been seen anywhere since 1952. [cite news|title=Ghost of a monk seal: has the Caribbean monk seal barked its final good-bye?
author= Animals|date=November-December, 1997|publisher=FindArticles.com|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FRO/is_n6_v130/ai_20088424|accessdate=2007-07-19]

Cetacea

Of the several whales seen close to Florida, the most frequent visitor is the Atlantic Northern Right Whale. Named as such because they were the "right" whales to kill, their only known calving ground is located off the coasts of Georgia and Florida. Pregnant females migrate from feeding grounds located far north and deliver calves from mid December to March. [cite web|url=http://www.floridamarine.org/features/view_article.asp?id=7188|title=North Atlantic Right Whales|publisher=Fish and Wildlife Research Institute|accessdate=2007-07-21]

The most common dolphin in the state is the Bottlenose Dolphin. Dolphins, like manatees, are vulnerable to red tide and have mass fatalities when one occurs. [cite web|url=http://research.myfwc.com/news/view_article.asp?id=25004|title=Red Tide Toxins Pose Lingering Threat to Marine Mammals|date=August 4, 2005|accessdate=2007-07-21] Dolphins were designated the Florida State Saltwater Mammal in 1975. [cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.fl.us/kids/symbols/index.html|title=State Symbols|publisher=The Florida Legislature|accessdate=2007-07-21]

References

General
*cite book|last=Brown|first=L. N.|year=1997|title=Mammals of Florida|publisher=Windward Publishing|location=Miami, Florida
*cite book|last=Burt|first=W. H.|coauthors=R. P. Grossenheider|year=1976|title=A field guide to the mammals of America north of Mexico|edition=Third ed.|publisher=Houghton Mifflin Company|location=Boston
*cite book|last=Nowak|first=R. M.|year=1991|title=Walker's mammals of the world|edition=Fifth ed.|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press|location=Baltimore, Maryland
*cite book|last=Stevenson|first=H. M.|year=1976|title=Vertebrates of Florida, identification and distribution|edition=Fifth ed.|publisher=University Presses of Florida|location=Gainesville, Florida
*cite book|last=Whitaker|first=J. O.|year=1998|coauthors=W. J. Hamilton|title=Mammals of the Eastern United States|edition=Third ed.|publisher=Cornell University Press|location=Ithaca, New York
*cite web
url=http://www.mammalsociety.org/statelists/flmammals.html
title=State Lists:Mammals of Florida
publisher=The American Society of Mammalogists
date=2001-05-22
accessdate=2007-07-18

Specific