Mammal List

Common Name Scientific	Detail
Moose Alces alces		Movie of a wild moose
Population fluctuates with the decades, age class demography, and wolf predation	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Common
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native
Caribou Rangifer tarandus Extinct at Isle Royale
Last records from Isle Royale are from around 1927.	Park Status	Historic
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native
Coyote Canis latrans Extinct at Isle Royale
Believed that coyotes arrived on ISRO in early 1900's until early 1950's, when they were extirpated by gray wolf, which immigrated during late 1940's.Common on ISRO until wolves arrived. Known from northern Lake Superior since the early 1900's.	Park Status	Historic
	Abundance	Common
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Unknown
Gray wolf Canis lupus
First known from ISRO during late 1940's. Thought to have walked across ice bridge from mainland.Population changes with moose demography. Inbreeding may affect breeding success.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Uncommon
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native
Red fox Vulpes vulpes
	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Common
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native
Lynx Lynx canadensis
No known breeding since 1930's. Occasional immigrants likely. Common enough on ISRO to be trapped in 1930's. Kurta, Allen. 1998. Mammals of the Great Lakes Region. Univ. of Mich. Press. Ann Arbor, MI. p.252.	Park Status	Probably Present
	Abundance	Occasional
	Residency	Resident
	Nativity	Native
Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis
Only one sighting in 1977 between Duncan Bay and Tobin Harbor by visitor (?). No suggestion of breeding population.	Park Status	Unconfirmed
	Abundance	Occasional
	Residency	Resident
	Nativity	Unknown
River Otter Lutra canadensis
First known recent sighting by P. C. Shelton and D. E. Murray in 1963. Previously known around 1790.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native
Marten Martes americana
Not reported for ISRO since early 1900's, but uncertainty exists whether it ever was present and, if so, whether it was extirpated by man. Nativity to ISRO unknown. Found on N shore of Lake Superior.	Park Status	Unconfirmed
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Unknown
	Nativity	Unknown
Ermine Mustela erminea
Periodic sightings around docks.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Uncommon
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native
Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata
Two skins from 1903 and 1905 supposedly came from Isle Royale. No other records exist.	Park Status	Unconfirmed
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Unknown
	Nativity	Unknown
Mink Mustela vison
Found along lake shores.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Occasional
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native
Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus
May hibernate in buildings.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native

Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans
Harvey et al. (1999) indicate that this species could be present on ISRO, but Kurta (1998) does not. Typical day roost is under tree bark, may use open buildings, occasionally caves. Solitary. Emerges early, flies low, and feeds among trees. If present, the species probably migrates south.	Park Status	Probably Present
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Unknown
	Nativity	Native
Red Bat Lasiurus borealis
One set of remains was collected at nest of Merlin on Raspberry Island in 1966 by W. J. Johnson. Breeding status is unknown, since this individual may have been in migration.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Occasional
	Residency	Unknown
	Nativity	Native
Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus
If present, found in wooded areas, range in trees, occasionally in caves, rarely in houses. Solitary. Flies late and high. Very large bat, swift flier. Migrates south.	Park Status	Probably Present
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Unknown
	Nativity	Native
Keen's myotis Myotis keenii
May migrate to caves elsewhere for winter or it may remain on ISRO to hibernate. Perhaps less inclined to use buildings that Little brown bat.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Unknown
	Nativity	Native
Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus
Found roosting in buildings in summer. May migrate to caves elsewhere for winter or it may hibernate in caves on ISRO overwinter.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Unknown
	Nativity	Native
Northern long-eared bat Myotis septentrionalis
If present, found in caves mines, hollow trees, buildings, forests. May use separate day and night roosts. Maternity sites are warm places. colonies are small and scattered, often associated with M. lucifugus. Female groups less than 20 during maternity.. Feeds on soft insects over trees, ponds, and streams. If found, present during summer and winter.	Park Status	Probably Present
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Unknown
	Nativity	Native
Snowshoe hare Lepus americanus
Moderately common in forest habitats, particularly in burned over areas where birch and aspen twigs are abundant or in swamps or off-shore islands. Moose herbivory decreases both food and cover for hares.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Common
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native
Beaver Castor canadensis
Found on island lakes, protected harbors and in ponds that they create by damming streams. Abundance varies from a few dozen to over 300 colonies. Preyed upon by wolves. Apparently trapped to extinction by mid- 19th century but reappeared in 1920's.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Common
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native
Southern Red-backed Vole Clethrionomys gapperi
Reported only before 1900, but valildity of the 2 records is uncertain.	Park Status	Unconfirmed
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Unknown
	Nativity	Native
Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus
Seen in ponds created by beavers.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Uncommon
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native
Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus
Occurs widely but not abundantly in various habitats. More abundant on off-shore islands than on main island.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Common
	Residency	Breeder
	Nativity	Native
Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus
Rats came ashore from old grain freighter teid up near Rock Harbor Lighthouse about 1915 but did not survive the winter.	Park Status	Historic
	Abundance	Uncommon
	Residency	Vagrant
	Nativity	Non-Native
Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus
One sighting by experienced naturalist in 1977 near Siskiwit Lake. No evidence of breeding population.	Park Status	Probably Present
	Abundance	Unknown
	Residency	Vagrant
	Nativity	Native
Isle Royale Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus regalis
Most commonly seen and heard mammal.	Park Status	Present in Park
	Abundance	Common
	Residency	Breeder
Other parks in which this species has been reported	Nativity	Native
None

Last Updated: Monday, October 28, 2002 10:35 AM