List of mammals of Connecticut

This List of mammals in Connecticut includes both native and nonnative species (introduced or invasive) found in the state now or in the past, but not domesticated or farm animals.

Many mammals formerly extirpated in the state have returned, sometimes with active human projects and sometimes through a natural expansion from neighboring states as the state's natural environment has become more welcoming to them.

Many mammal species were removed from Connecticut or almost became extinct within the state through hunting and clearing forests to create farmland, which occurred in the state starting in the seventeenth century with European colonization and continuing until the nineteenth century, when most of the state's forest covering had been replaced with farmland. Populations of moose, turkeys, black bears and mountain lions lost their habitats and were greatly reduced or eliminated from the state. Pollution in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries also played a role in either greatly reducing or extirpating some species, such as the bald eagle.

With the collapse of farming in the 19th century and its continued decline in the state in the 20th century, forests spread back over much of the land. They are not the same forests, however: Chestnut trees, for instance, wiped out by a disease, are not nearly as prevalent as they once were, and the lack of their nuts affects the populations of various mammals. Stone walls, built largely in the nineteenth century, provide more welcoming homes to certain species, and mammals from Europe, including the house mouse and Norway rat, and from elsewhere (such as the coyote) can create a different competitive environment for some species and a different food source for some (the barn owl, for instance, can now feed on Norway rats).

Some deforestation and fragmentation of forests has occurred in recent decades with expanded residential development. Some improvements have come with the removal of some industries from Connecticut since the mid-twentieth century and the installation of more sewage treatment plants and improvements in their functioning. Residual industrial pollution remains, however, and prevailing winds keep Connecticut on the receiving end of pollution from the New York City metropolitan area and other areas south and west of the state, and Connecticut continues to produce some of its own pollution.Hammerson, Geoffrey, "Connecticut Wildlife: Biodiversity, Natural History, and Conservation", University Press of New England: Hanover, New Hampshire, and London, 2004, ISBN 1584653698, Chapter 1: "The Landacape", pp 1-10]

Dead animals killed by cars on the state's roads are one of the primary ways state residents see diverse varieties of local mammals. The more common roadkill in Connecticut consists of striped skunks, oppossums, raccoons, and gray squirrels.Hammerson, Geoffrey, "Connecticut Wildlife: Biodiversity, Natural History, and Conservation", University Press of New England: Hanover, New Hampshire, and London, 2004, ISBN 1584653698, Chapter 21: "Mammals", pp 379-404]

pecies

(This list of species concentrates on the habitats in the state in which they can be found, how prevalent they are or have been in the state, history of their prevalence in Connecticut and any other information directly related to the mammals' existence in the state — including laws and regulations, state-sponsored re-introductions, and notable sitings. Descriptions of the species or other, more general information not related to Connecticut should be found by following the links to Wikipedia articles on the individual species.)

Opossums (Order "Didelphimorphia", Family "Didelphidae")
* Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) — common in wooded areas, farmland, drier areas of wetlands, rural areas and in some other habitats in the state; came to Connecticut from the south in the early twentieth century, a movement likely helped by its attraction to human-created food sources such as crops and trash, although it eats just about anything, including carrion. Many are run over on Connecticut roads.

hrews and moles

Shrews (Order "Lipotyphla", Family "Soricidae"):
* Northern Short-tailed Shrew ("Blarina brevicauda") — very common in leafy or grassy ground (usually in wooded areas)

* Smoky Shrew ("Sorex fumeus") — common, especially in moist, shady spots

* The Masked Shrew ("Sorex cinereus") is plentiful in the state, [Desmarais, Paul, "Photo Journal: Wilds of Suburbia" photograph (of a masked shrew in Bethel, Connecticut) with long caption, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 30, 2007, page A11, Norwalk edition] especially in moist, shady spots.

* Water Shrew ("Sorex palustris") — uncommon; found near water

* Least Shrew ("Cryptotis parva") — rare in Connecticut, where the species reaches its eastern limit and close to its northern limit (it is also in central New York state); in this state, only found in coastal areas with high beach dunes and neighboring brackish marshes; [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326034&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Least Shrew", at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] ; all other shrews in the state have much longer tails (at least as long as the rest of their bodies) As of late 2007, the species was the only mammal listed on the Connecticut endangered species list, [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326210&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Endangered and Threatened Species Fact Sheets", at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] and it was the first mammal ever put on the list. The greatest threat facing least shrews in the state is is land development along the coast which limits the land available for the species and isolates breeding populations. Other threats are pesticides and pollutants contaminating food and habitat. The animal was first identified in Darien, Connecticut in 1840 by Reverend James H. Linsley, but not seen again for 100 years. In 1941, George Goodwin, assistant curator of mammals at the American Museum of Natural History, in New York City, found one in Westbrook, Connecticut at the edge of a saltgrass meadow. The animal again went without documented sightings until it was again found in 1989 in coastal Middlesex County, Connecticut in 1989. As of 2007, this is the only documented Connecticut location of the species.

Moles (Order "Lipotyphla", Family "Talpidae"):
* Eastern Mole ("Scalopus aquaticus") — common in the state; usually found in fields, lawns and wooded areas that aren't too wet; much less prevalent in higher elevations in the northern parts of the state

* Star-nosed Mole ("Condylura cristata") — common in wet or moist soils near water, less common in upland areas that are moist; apparently active at ground level during the night (when wildlife expert Geoffrey A. Hammerson found 583 samples of food items in a sample of barn owl pellets in central Connecticut, 24 of them were star-nosed moles; none were eastern moles)

* Hairy-tailed Mole ("Parascalops breweri") — somewhat common in well-drained areas in northwestern part of the state

Bats

"):

The state has eight species of bats and at least one may now be extinct in the state.

Because some bats have rabies, the state Department of Environmental Protection advises on its Web site: :"If a bat has bitten or scratched a person or a pet, or is found in a situation where exposure cannot be ruled out, contact the DEP Wildlife Division at [phone] or DEP Emergency Dispatch at [phone] for advice. An example of a situation where exposure cannot be ruled out is when a bat is found in the same room as a sleeping individual or a very young child." [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2222&q=320792&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Dealing with Distressed Bats" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007]

Bats that occupy buildings:
* Little brown bat ("Myotis lucifugus") — common and widespread in the state This and the big brown bat are the two most common bat species in the state [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325964&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Bats" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007]

* Big brown bat ("Eptesicus fuscus") — winters in the state, often hibernating in buildings, occasionally caves; a bat seen in winter is probably this species; in summer it often roosts in attics; it breeds in the state.

Bats that roost in trees in summer:
* Silver-haired bat ("Lasionycteris noctivagans") — uncommon; usually seen near water; listed as a Connecticut species of special concern

* Red bat ("Lasiurus borealis") — usually found at lower elevations; seldom seen and listed as a Connecticut species of special concern

* Hoary bat ("Lasiurus cinereus") — seldom seen andlisted as a Connecticut species of special concern

* Northern bat, also known as the Long-eared Bat ("Myotis septentrionalis")

Bats that hibernate in caves and tunnels:
* Northern bat (see above)
* Little brown bat (see above)
* Eastern Small-footed Bat ("Myotis leibii") — believed to have been extirpated in the state, and it was probably always scarce; no confirmed sightings have been recorded in the state for several decades; listed by the state as a "species of special concern"

* Indiana bat ("Myotis sodalis") — in the several decades up to 2004, only one was ever found in the state, the bat is on both state and federal lists of endangered species

* Eastern pipistrelle ("Pipistrellus subflavus")

Rabbits and Hares

"):
* The Eastern cottontail ("Sylvilagus floridanus") was introduced to New England in the late 1800s and has expanded its range at the expense of the native New England Cottontail. [Desmarais, Paul, "Photo Journal: Wilds of Suburbia" photograph (of an Eastern cottontail rabbit) with long caption, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 2, 2007, page A11, Norwalk edition, caption states: "Sources: Nature Works (a Web site), Texas Tech University's online guide and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection"] The species originally came from the south. By the 1930s, New England cottontails were still considered more numerous than the Eastern cottontail, but both species were declining as farms reverted to forests; [ ] Web page titled "Cottontail Rabbits" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] found in shrubby and open areas, often in disturbed areas. Hammonasset Beach State Park has many of them; in the early evening, 30 to 40 can be found along the entrance road.

* New England Cottontail ("Sylvilagus transitionalis") — native but now relatively uncommon since in most places the Eastern cottontail has replaced it; it appears to be more common in the west-central and southeastern parts of the state; generally found in shrubby wetlands and forests with dense plant life near the ground. Another possible reason for the decline of this species could be the loss of areas with suitable ground cover, which protects the animals from predators. Loss of farmland to forests is thought to have reduced the population since the 1930s, when New England cottontails were still thought to outnumber Eastern cottontails.

* Snowshoe hare ("Lepus americanus"; subspecies: "Lepus canadensis") — common in the northern part of the state, usually where there are dense thickets; the population in Connecticut doesn't soar cyclically, as the species does farther north

Rodents

")

* Groundhog also known as Woodchuck or Whistle Pig ("Marmota monax") — scarce when Europeans first came to North America, but they have thrived since then. [Desmarais, Paul, "Photo Journal: Wilds of Suburbia" photograph (of a groundhog in Stamford, Connecticut) with long caption, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, September 4, 2007, page A11, Norwalk and Stamford editions]

* Gray squirrel ("Sciurus carolinensis") — the most frequently seen mammal in Connecticut and the largest squirrel found in the state. Acorn production can fluctuate greatly from year to year, affecting the squirrel population. Historically, there have been reports of large migrations of squirrels, including one in 1933 involving at least 1,000 gray squirrels swimming across the Connecticut River between Hartford and Essex. Limited food supply probably causes these migrations, although the exact causes are unknown. [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326018&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Gray Squirrel" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007]

* American Red Squirrel ("Tamiasciurus hudsonicus") — found usually in spots with stands of mature conifers, including white pine or eastern hemlock, but even in those areas there are usually fewer than one individual per acre;

* Southern flying squirrel ("Glaucomys volans") — common where there are nut trees and available nesting cavities, often near streams and wetlands

* Northern flying squirrel ("Glaucomys sabrinus") — present in just a few areas in northern Connecticut; usually old-growth forests

* Eastern chipmunk ("Tamias striatus") — common in woods Beavers (Order "Rodentia", Family "Castoridae")
* Beaver ("Castor canadensis") — found in small and large low-gradient streams, including tidal parts of the lower Connecticut River, as well as lakes and other water that is both permanently present and deep enough not to freeze all the way to the bottom in winter; most common where its favorite food plants are (such as aspen, birch, willow, cottonwood and soft aquatic plants); they not only dam up smaller streams but can be found in rivers too big to be dammed; common in the state before the arrival of Europeans; trapping led to their extirpation in the state by about 1842, then were reintroduced, first in Union in 1914, and at other times up to the 1950s. They thrived so well that in 1961, the first state-regulated trapping season began in order to manage their numbers in light of growing nuissance complaints; [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325970&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Beaver" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] the population is large enough now to be trapped, and generally 500 to 1,000 are trapped each year; in the 2001-2002 season a record 1,224 were trapped; in 2000 it was estimated there were between 5,000 and 8,000 beavers in the state; they can annoy homeowners with their tree cutting and flooding from their dams (which help some species but hurt others); in Connecticut, people must get a permit from their town wetlands commission before altering beaver dams to prevent or reduce flooding

"'Mice, rats, voles, lemmings (Order "Rodentia", Family "Muridae")
* White-footed mouse ("Peromyscus leucopus") — common in woods and especially along forest edges; particularly where there are plenty of nuts or large seeds;

* Deer mouse ("Peromyscus maniculatus") — found in the northern part of the state

* Allegheny woodrat ("Neotoma magister") — once existed at one site in western part of the state but now extirpated; it has also disappeared from many areas in the Northwestern United States

* Red-backed vole ("Clethrionomys gapperi") — common in the state, especially in forests with plenty of ground cover such as logs, rocks or old stone walls

* Meadow vole ("Microtus pennsylvanicus") — often found in abundance in pastures, meadows, marshes or wherever there is thick, unmowed grasses or sedges

* Woodland Vole ("Microtus pinetorum") — common in the state; found mostly in partly wooded uplands

* Muskrat ("Ondatra zibethicus") — common in ponds, lakes, slow-moviing streams, canals, swamps and marshes

* Southern bog lemming ("Synaptomys cooperi") — usually lives along the edges of bogs, but also sometimes found in shady uplands with thick humus soil

* House mouse ("Mus musculus") common in cities and farms, associated with people and farmland; comes from Europe—

* Norway rat ("Rattus norvegicus") — common wherever it can find food, such as at farms, in cities, near garbage dumps or waterfront areas; comes from Europe; Barn owls near the New Haven landfill often feed on them

"'Jumping mice (Order "Rodentia", Family "Dipodidae", Subfamily "Zapodinae")
* Meadow jumping mouse ("Zapus hudsonius") — rather common in Connecticut in areas with thick vegetation, including meadows but also old fields, forest edges, often near water

* Woodland jumping mouse ("Napaeozapus insignis") — rather common in Connecticut in moist, forested areas or spots with thick shrubs, usually along streams

"'New World porcupines (Order "Rodentia", Family "Erethizontidae")
* North American porcupine ("Erethizon dorsatum") — uncommon in forested areas in the northern part of the state; usually found in mixed forests including eastern hemlock

Carnivores

Dogs, Wolves, Coyotes, and Foxes (Order "Carnivora", Family "Canidae")

* Coyote ("Canis latrans") — first spotted in Connecticut in the mid-1950s, with the first 10 years of reports only in the northwestern part of the state, although they have since spread across the entire state. [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325992&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Coyotes" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] The state Department of Environmental Protection estimates there are 2,000 to 4,000 in the state as of 2007. Anecdotal evidence suggested the population at that time was growing., DEP officials said. [Parry, Wynne, "More coyotes may be on the prowl in the area", "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, November 23, 2007, pp 1, A4 Norwalk edition]

* Gray wolf ("Canis lupus") — extirpated in Connecticut in the nineteenth century; deliberately killed by early settlers, but the population also was hurt by the reduction of its food supply (largely deer); some taxonomists say the wolf that used to inhabit Connecticut was actually the eastern Canadian wolf ("Canis lycaon")

* Red fox ("Vulpes vulpes") — a native species to New England, but it probably interbred with red foxes introduced from Europe; the hybrid is now thought to be the only type in Connecticut; [ [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326072&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Red Fox" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] tends to be absent where coyotes are regularly present; prefers habitats with a mixture of fields and forest edges

* Gray fox ("Urocyon cinereoargenteus") — fairly common, but less so than the Red fox; it tends to inhabit denser forests than the Red fox; the population has been growing for the past century with reforestation in the state the main cause; in the Connecticut, the normal home range for a fox is about two to four square miles, but abundance or lack of food supplies can change that [ [ ] Web page titled "Gray Fox" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007]

Bears (Order "Carnivora", Family "Ursidae")

* Black bear ("Ursus americanus") — rare in most of the state, but fairly common in Litchfield and Hartford counties in the northwestern and north central parts of the state; bears have expanded from their core habitat in the state's northwestern hills; in 2002 the population was probably above 100 and growing, Geoffrey Hammerson wrote in "Connecticut Wildlife: Biodiversity, Natural History, and Conservation", but state wildlife biologists for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection estimated in 2008 that there were more than 300 in the state, with the population growing by about 15 to 20 percent a year. DEP annual bear surveys began in 2001. Benson, Judy, "State biologists keep track of bear population", article originally published by "Hartford Courant"; distributed by the Associated Press; article found in "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, March 23, 2008, p A14] they were extirpated from the state by 1840, but the DEP had hard evidence of a resident population in the 1980s. [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325968&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Black Bear> at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] Since then sightings have increased dramatically. In 1997, the DEP received about 100 calls reporting bear sightings. in 2007 it received 2,000. The state DEP encourages bear reports on its Web site. Reforestation of the state was the major factor allowing for the reintroduction and expansion of the bear population, and that expansion is expected to continue. State policy is not to remove bears unless the area is urban; the agency seldom relocates bears and only does so within Connecticut, since no other state will accept them. Bears that persistently kill livestock, enter buildings or demonstrate similarly problematic behavior may be killed under state policy. There is no hunting season for bears in the state. The DEP asks people who see bears in Connecticut to do the following:
**"Enjoy it from a distance."
**"Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms or walk slowly away."
**"Never attempt to feed or attract bears."
**"Report bear sightings to the Wildlife Division, at [phone]."

"'Raccoons and relatives (Order "Carnivora", Family "Procyonidae")

* Raccoon ("Procyon lotor") — found near lakes, ponds, marshes and streams; a rabies epidemic devastated the population in the state in the earlhy 1990s, killing as much as 75 percent of the population; raccoon rabies still remains in Connecticut, with about 200 cases a year as of 2004, and including skunk and cat infections as well as raccoons; rabies cases should be reported to police or animal control officials

Weasels, Otters, and Skunks (Order "Carnivora", Families "Mustelidae", "Mephitidae")

* River otter ("Lontra canadensis") — previously scarce, but now somewhat common in the state; found in many lakes and large ponds

* Mink ("Mustela vison") — rather common in streams, ponds, lakes and marshes; large minks are now extinct but may have lived along the coast of the state in the nineteenth century
* Long-tailed weasel ("Mustela frenata") — Like the ermine (or "short-tailed weasel"), fairly common in woods and thickets and near stone walls; especially near rivers and streams

* Ermine or Short-tailed weasel ("Mustela erminea") — Like the Long-tailed weasel, fairly common in woods and thickets and near stone walls; especially near rivers and streams

* American marten ("Martes americana") — one recent (as of 2004) road-kill in New Hartford, Connecticut (in the north-central to northwest part of the state) was the first certain evidence that the species occurs in Connecticut

* Fisher (animal) ("Martes pennanti") — Fishers live in large, thickly wooded forests; the species was extirpated from southern New England when forests were cleared and was absent for more than a century. From 1989 to 1991, they were reintroduced from New Hampshire and by 2004 were established in northern Connecticut. Population density is normally no more than one fisher per several hundred acres. In 2007 they were sighted as far south as North Stamford in the extreme southwest corner of the state (they have also been seen increasingly in Rhode Island.Fact|date=December 2007

* Striped skunk ("Mephitis mephitis") — common in the state and in various habitats

Cats (Order "Carnivora", Family "Felidae")

* Bobcat ("Felis rufus") — They favor thickets and patchy woods in the least-developed areas of the state, especially in the northwest highlands of Connecticut; they normally are scarce where coyotes are more prevalent. It is unknown whether or not the burgeoning coyote population has resulted in a decline in bobcats, however. Unlike coyotes, bobcats do not adapt well to nearby human populations; they prefer immature forests with a thick understory. In the 1970s the price of bobcat pelts rose so much that state officials became concerned they would be overharvested and reclassified the bobcat as a protected furbearer, with no hunting or trapping seasons. [ [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325974&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Bobcat" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] A rabid bobcat attacked a man in Plainville, Connecticut in 2003, but the incident is regarded as a rare, freak occurrence.

* Lynx ("Lynx canadensis") — apparently never a permanent resident of the state, but historically it may have ranged occasionally here

* Eastern Cougar, also known as Mountain lion ("Puma concolor", also called "Felis concolor") — There is no firm evidence that the species exists in the state but may be (rare) in hilly parts of northern Connecticut.

Hoofed mammals

"'Deer (Order "Artiodactyla", Family "Cervidae")

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed deer ("Odocoileus virginianus") — The population in the state is enormous and growing in large part because of the expansion of rural residential lands that are hospitable for deer but not suitable for hunting. Other factors are the mixture of young and mature forests, milder winters, and fewer predators. Deer were nearly eliminated from the state by the end of the nineteenth century, with fewer than 20 in all of Connecticut, although they were on the rebound by that point, in part due to state regulations to protect them. In 1907 the state allowed landowners to shoot deer causing crop damage.l In 1974, the state passed its first deer management act and regular, licensed deer hunting began the next year. [ ] Web page titled "White-tailed Deer" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] By the 1970s, the total state population was about 20,000, and up to 76,000 (a low estimate) in 2000.

Fairfield County has the highest deer density in the state. According to one estimate, the county has 59 per square mile, more than double the density in the rest of the state, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. But another estimate, based on a survey in the winter of 2006-2007 estimated only 29.4 deer per square mile in the county.Cassidy, Martin B., "Bow-hunting group calls for new deer census in Greenwich", The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, September 6, 2007, Stamford edition, page A5] Deer can carry up to 1,000 ticks, many of which have Lyme disease. The state allows bowhunting for deers from September 15 to January 31. (According to an estimate in "Connecticut Wildlife", published in 2004, "Winter density ranges up to about 40 per square mile in southwestern Connecticut, with a statewide mean of 21 per square mile.")

Connecticut has several problems associated with its large deer population:

* Motor vehicle accidents: State Farm Insurance estimates that more than 10,000 deer in Connecticut are hit by cars each year.Schweber, Nate, "Car Hits Deer. Then What? It's High Season for Roadkill, and Disposal Costs Mount", article, "The New York Times", Connecticut and the Region section, October 21, 2007, page 3] But the state Department of Environmental Protection estimates only 3,000 deer-motor vehicle accidents occur annually.Lee, Natasha, "Controlled hunt set for nature preserves: Group aims to cull deer population", The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 19, 2007, Norwalk edition, pp 1, A6] State policy is to bury deer carcases by the side of the road where they were hit.

* Lyme disease:Culling the deer population in Groton, Connecticut by about 90 percent reduced the incidence of new Lyme disease cases in town from about 20 a year to two or three a year. [Stelloh, Tim, "Officials target deer in hunting proposal: New Canaan council hopes reduction will curb Lyme disease", article, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, August 19, 2007, page A3]

* Habitat da
In Greenwich, Connecticut, the Greenwich Audubon Society's convert|600|acre|km2 of land have seen deer push out ground birds such as the ovenbird and black and white warbler. The deer have devastated species of plants once abundant on the Audubon group's land and ravaged low-lying vegetation, including hickory and hemlock saplings. Some once-abundant species in the area were completely absent as of late 2007, according to an Audubon official.

Moose

Moose ("Alces alces") — have become more prevalent in Connecticut in recent years, with the first documented reproduction (a female and two calves) found in 2000, and an estimated 100 in the state as of 2007. From 1992 to 1998, two or three moose sightings were reported each year to the state Department of Environmental Protection, generally in the spring and fall. Moose are native to the state but driven out as forest land was converted into farmland. Even before Connecticut was settled by Europeans, the moose population was never large, according to the DEP. [ [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326044&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Moose" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] The greatest danger to people from mooses is car collisions. Local police are authorized to kill the animals if they pose a threat to public safety, which in practice almost only means that the animal is getting too close to a highway. Otherwise, DEP officials will usually try to tranquilize the animal or harass them into a nearby woods (sometimes by banging on pots or forming a line to try to scare the animal away). From 1995 to 2006, there was an average of one collision a year of a moose and an automobile across the state, but in the first half of 2007, there were four. On October 4, 2007 a 700-pound bull moose was shot and killed by town of Fairfield, Connecticut police when it wandered too close to the Merritt Parkway. A few days later, a 500-pound female was short and killed in Waterbury when it approached a highway entrance ramp. In June 2007, a 500-pound bull moose collided head-on with a driver on the Merritt Parkway near Exit 37 in Stamford, Connecticut. Unlike deer, moose that feel threatened tend to stand their ground.Stelloh, Tim, "DEP forecasts more moose-car collisions: Official expects animal population to increase across the state"," The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 14, 2007, pp 1, A6]

Moose are thought to be entering the state from the north. In Massachusetts, three or four moose are hit by trains each year and about 15 motor vehicle collisions with the animals occur, although in some years there have been as many as 50. One Massachusetts environmental official estimated there were about 1000 moose in Massachusetts. When forests were largely replaced by farmland in the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, populations of moose, turkeys, black bears and mountain lions lost their habitats and were greatly reduced or eliminated from the state.

Mammals in Long Island Sound

"For more information on mammals in Long Island sound, see Long Island Sound.""'Whales (Order "Cetacea", Family "Delphinidae")

* Long-finned pilot whale ("Globicephala melas") — occasionally enters Long Island Sound; it rarely washes up on the shore in Connecticut.

"'Porpoises (Order "Cetacea", Family "Phocoenidae")
* Harbor porpoise ("Phocoena phocoena") — rare, but sometimes found off the coast

"'Seals (Order "Carnivora", Family "Phocidae")

* Harbor seal ("Phoca vitulina") — This is the only marine mammal regularly living in Connecticut; found mostly in the eastern part of the coast (where there were at least several hundred as of 2004), but also in the west; not uncommon around Hammonasset Beach State Park, around Sheffield Island and Smith's Reef in the Norwalk Islands, and they have been spotted off Stamford and Greenwich; [Desmarais, Paul, "Photo Journal" photo feature (caption of picture of two harbor seals in Norwalk), "The Advocate" of Stamford, Norwalk edition, p A11, March 18, 2008] found from late fall through mid spring, usually on isolated ledges and rocks; in the past, they may have been permanent residents, but sealers and fishermen who killed the seals to prevent competition probably stopped that; for the warmer months of the year, they migrate to the Maine coast.

* Gray Seal ("Halichoerus grypus") — occasionally seen in Long Island Sound but usually lives farther north

ee also

* Fauna of Connecticut
* List of Connecticut birds
* Flora of Connecticut
* Long Island Sound for an extensive list of various species
* List of Massachusetts mammals
* List of mammals in North America
* Mammals of New England
* List of mammals
* List of regional mammals lists

Notes

External links

* [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325726&depNav_GID=1655&depNav=| Wildlife Web pages at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site]