Mammals

 

Many mammal species of the park are rarely seen except by very lucky or frequent visitors, but a keen eye and patience may allow for a sighting of one of the many mammals that call Mammoth Cave National Park.

 

A young white-tailed deer fawn (Odocoileus virginianus) has been hidden in a depression under a log by its mother. If you find a deer fawn in the park do not disturb it, its mother will be back soon.

NPS Photo/ Deb Spillman

Commonly Seen Mammals

white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus

One of the most common mammals seen in the park are white-tailed deer. They are herbivores that predominantly feed on grasses and shrubs. Male deer, known as bucks, will begin to grow antlers in late spring that are covered with a blood vessel filled tissue known as velvet. After the fall rut, bucks will shed their antlers, typically from late December to February. The next set of alters will begin to grow in the spring.

Female deer, known as does, give birth to one to three offspring, called fawns, in the late spring, typically form May to June. Young fawns are born with spots covering much of their body that act as camouflage from predators when their mothers leave them hidden in tall vegetation. At about a month of age, the fawns are strong enough to join their mothers on foraging trips.

White-tailed deer are often viewed in the park near the visitor center area or along roadsides. Unfortunately, every year deer in the park are the victims of vehicle collisions making it an important reminder to watch for wildlife on roadways and obey the posted speed limits.

 

An Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) sitting in a tree near the Historic Entrance to Mammoth Cave.

NPS Photo

Eastern grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

Seen scurrying up a tree or heard rustling through the leaves on the forest floor, the Eastern grey squirrel is one of the most seen animals in the park. As a prolific and adaptable species, the Eastern grey squirrel is a tree squirrel that can be found throughout Eastern North America.

In the nearby town of Bowling Green, Kentucky, there is a population of Eastern grey squirrels that are white in color rather than the typical grey. This white coloration is due to a condition called leucism.

 

What is Leucism?

Leucism is an abnormal condition of reduced pigmentation affecting various animals. Easily differentiated from albinism by the coloration in the animal's eyes. Albino animals will have red eyes while animals with leucism will have normal eye color.

 

Coyote (Canis latrans)

NPS Photo/ YELL/ © Jane Gamble

Lesser Seen Mammals

Bats

Bats make up a wide range of species around the world and it's no different at Mammoth Cave. The park is home to 13 species of bats, three of which are listed as threated or endangered on the federal endangered species list. Learn more about the incredibly diverse species of bats in the park.

coyote Canis latrans

While this versatile species usually keeps well hidden, coyotes have been spotted across North America in both rural and urban areas. Often seen darting across roadways in the evening throughout the park, coyotes can either be solitary or have a complex social system. Coyotes are opportunistic feeders known as omnivores, eating both animal protein and plant material such as fruits and vegetables.

 

American black bear Ursus americanus

Kentucky legend tells a story of a young pioneer boy named John Houchin, who one day while out hunting, shot and wounded a black bear. The bear took shelter in the wide natural entrance of Mammoth Cave now known as the Historic Entrance, and young Houchin went in after it. In doing so, Houchin has been credited with the discovery on Mammoth Cave. While this legend has been shared and reshared for decades, the first written account of the story happened nearly 20 years after the fact.

American black bears, which were once commonly seen in the area, are now rarely found in the park. This localized population decline was predominantly due to large increases in agricultural development and urbanization in the late 19th and early 20th century. Today, with increased conservation, reports and sightings of black bears in the counties surrounding the park may spark a sign of the return of black bears to the park in the near future.

 

Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister)

NPS Photo

Allegheny woodrat Neotoma magister

Commonly referred to simply as a packrat, the Allegheny woodrat is a trogloxene, meaning that it makes use of both cave and surface habitats. As the name “packrat” implies, this rodent will gather a collection of items to be used in part of its nest called the midden. Woodrats will use whatever supplies are easily found to build its midden, this may mean leaves, twigs, and pine needles, or it may mean ticket stubs, caution tape, and candy wrappers.

The Allegheny woodrat has gone locally extinct in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. In the park, packrat nests and middens can be seen just inside the Frozen Niagara entrance to Mammoth Cave. These timid mammals are occasionally spotted in and near other entrances and caves.

Mammals No longer Seen in the Park

American bison Bison bison

The American bison, also colloquially referred to as buffalo, historically used to range as far east as the Appalachian Mountains. This species nearly went extinct in the 1800s during European-American westward expansion. Today these massive animals are primarily seen on public lands like Yellowstone National Park or are raised on private land for commercial use. In western Kentucky a small herd of bison can still be seen at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

 

Park Species List

Explore a sortable database of species found in the park.

NPSpecies