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Mammals are warm-blooded animals that are typically covered in fur. Over 50 different mammal species live within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Some of them are common and seen by most visitors, while others are rarely spotted. Mammals live in every ecosystem here, including Lake Michigan and the sky! Mammal sightings make for some special memories, so be on the lookout during your visit. Large Land Mammals
NPS Photo White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)One of the most common and widespread animals at Sleeping Bear Dunes is the white-tailed deer. They weigh over 100 pounds on average, though some can grow much larger. White-tailed deer have smooth red fur during spring and summer, and fluffy grey fur during fall and winter. They feed on seeds, leaves, and other plant matter. Acorns are a favorite food of this species, and they will dig up large patches of the forest to find them. Male deer grow antlers during summer, which they shed after the fall breeding season.
NPS Photo American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)The American black bear is the most iconic mammal found at Sleeping Bear Dunes. They have black fur overall and a brown snout. Black bears are very large, with some growing to over 400 pounds! Michigan black bears prefer to live in hilly forested areas, which offer places to hide and forage. Their diet is mainly composed of fruits, seeds, insects, and small animals. They survive winter by hibernating in an underground den, where they live off fat reserves. Sleeping Bear Dunes is named after an Anishinaabe legend about a black bear and her cubs.
NPS Photo Bobcat (Felis rufus)Bobcats are a medium-sized wild cat species that are named for their short “bobbed” tails. They have reddish brown spotted fur with black and white striped mutton chops. These cats can reach an adult weight of up to 30 pounds, with females being slightly smaller. Bobcats can be found in any habitat with trees and underbrush, which their fur blends into. They have excellent senses and padded feet, which help them sneak up on their prey. Rodents, rabbits, and even small deer find themselves on a bobcat’s menu.
NPS Photo Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes fulva)Sneaky red foxes may be spotted darting through bushy fields, which is their preferred habitat. The striking reddish-orange fur gives this species its name. Adult red foxes can reach a weight of between 10 to 15 pounds. This species is omnivorous, with a diet made of berries, seeds, and small animals. They have an excellent sense of hearing and smell, which helps them hunt during the night. This species is one of the few mammals native to North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe! Michigan’s red fox population is from the American subspecies, not the introduced European one.
NPS Photo / M. Adams Eastern Coyote (Canis lantrans)Coyotes are medium sized canines that are often mistaken for wolves. You can be certain of identification at Sleeping Bear Dunes because wolves do not live here. Coyotes are the size of a large dog, growing to around 40 pounds. They have tannish-gray fur, a drooping tail, and have a distinct bouncing trot. Coyotes mostly eat meat in the form of rabbits, rodents, deer, and birds, but will also eat plant matter. They often hunt small prey alone but will form packs to take down larger animals like deer. If you hear a chorus of howls late at night, you are probably hearing coyotes.
USFWS Photo / K. Theule Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)One of the most feared and misunderstood mammals at Sleeping Bear Dunes is the striped skunk. Skunks are best known for spraying a stinky musk on predators and other threats. Staying a safe distance away from a skunk is the best way to avoid being sprayed. They have distinct bushy tails, and they are covered in black fur with two white stripes on their backs. A skunk’s diet is mostly made of insects and small fruits. They have many friends, and will hibernate with raccoons, possums, and groundhogs!
NPS Photo Raccoon (Procyon lotor)Many visitors can be charmed by the nimble hands and expressive faces of a raccoon. Don't let them fool you, these iconic mammals are extremely crafty and intelligent. They have gray fur with a black eye mask and a banded tail, and they grow to around 25 pounds. Raccoons are omnivores and will eat pretty much anything they come across. They are sometimes called “trash pandas” because of their habit to raid garbage bins. Be sure to lock away food and use our animal-proof trash bins to keep wildlife healthy.
NPS Photo Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)Possums, or opossums, are another classic mammal that most visitors have encountered before. They have gray fur, white faces, bare tails, and grow to around 5 pounds. Like raccoons, possums are omnivores and are not afraid to steal food from humans. Possums have 50 teeth, a prehensile tail, and they are the only American marsupial! This means that newborns are held in the mother’s pouch until they are old enough to cling to her fur. They use their tails to pick up leaves and grab onto branches.
NPS Photo North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)Porcupines can be spotted on high tree branches, where they feast on twigs, bark, leaves, and nuts. They are covered in dark brown fur with longer white hairs across their bodies. The average weight of an adult porcupine is around 15 pounds. Porcupines are best known for their quills, which they use as a defense against predators. These quills detach easily and have sharp barbs, which allow them to stick into attackers. Decorating containers with quills is a traditional craft of the Anishinaabek.Small Land Mammals
NPS Photo / T. Withers Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)Eastern cottontails are a common species that lives all across Sleeping Bear Dunes. They have long ears, long hind legs, and gray fur that blends into vegetation. When fleeing an attacker, they run away in a zig-zag pattern and show off their white tails. Cottontails are herbivores and feed on a variety of plants, which are digested several times. Most native predators hunt and eat cottontails, but their populations rebound rapidly. Female cottontails in Michigan can have up to 4 litters of 5 kits every year!
NPS Photo / T. Withers Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)Chipmunks are one of the most common mammals at Sleeping Bear Dunes. They are very small, growing to around 3 ounces. Chipmunks have brown fur with distinct black and white stripes on their backs. This small species of squirrel is often found foraging on the forest floor. They feed on nuts, seeds, worms, insects, and mushrooms. This species does not hibernate often, so they must store up a lot of food to survive the cold. Chipmunks have cheek pouches that are used to move extra food to winter food caches.
NPS Photo / T. Withers Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)Another very common mammal at Sleeping Bear Dunes is the eastern gray squirrel. This species is covered in gray fur with a very busy tail, and they grow to around 1 pound. Gray squirrels feed on nuts, seeds, fruits, and insects, which they bury in food caches. Melanistic gray squirrels with all-black fur are very common locally. Black fur can absorb more heat, so melanistic squirrels may survive winter better than gray squirrels. Their fluffy tail aids in balance and can be used as a warm blanket.
NPS Photo Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)Thirteen-lined ground squirrels, also called gophers, can be found in fields with little plant cover. They construct deep, elaborate burrows that are used to shelter them from predators and the cold. These squirrels may emerge and sit upright, which allows them to spot predators. Ground squirrels are omnivores, with a diet made of insects and plant parts. They are covered in tan fur with a straight tail, and they grow to around 5 ounces. They have 7 dark stripes and 6 light stripes running down their backs, as the name implies.
NPS Photo / T. Withers Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans)Flying squirrels are unique mammals that many visitors are surprised to learn are native to Michigan. They have soft gray fur and grow to around 2 ounces. They have wide membranes on either side of their body, which allows them to glide. Flying squirrels cannot actually fly, but they can glide far distances from tree to tree. These squirrels are strictly nocturnal and are a rare sight for most visitors to Sleeping Bear Dunes. Their diet is made of nuts that are foraged in trees or the forest floor and stashed in tree holes.Semiaquatic Mammals
NPS Photo / C. Abendroth North American Beaver (Castor canadensis)Beavers are the largest North American rodent, growing to over 70 pounds! They have thick brown fur and are very round with short limbs. They are adapted to life in the water, with webbed feet, a paddle-like tail, and waterproof fur. Beavers are known for damming rivers and streams with logs, mud, and stones. They do this to create deep ponds that won’t freeze to the bottom during winter. These ponds are used to store food and hide from predators. Beavers also build complex lodges out of sticks and mud for shelter.
NPS Photo / M. Adams Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)Muskrats are a common sight on many of the swamps and marshes at Sleeping Bear Dunes. They have dark brown fur with a scaly rudder-like tail, and they grow to around 4 pounds. Muskrats are omnivores and feed mainly on reeds and small aquatic animals. They are very similar to beavers but are much smaller and make shelter in dry burrows. These burrows are very complex and sometimes have tunnels that lead to underwater food stores. Muskrats will often spend the winter in beaver lodges, where they share food.
NPS Photo North American River Otter (Lutra canadensis)The adorable face of a river otter hides the fact that they are very effective aquatic predators. Their streamlined shape, webbed paws, and rudder-like tail make them very agile underwater. River otters are carnivores that feed mostly on fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Otters are covered in sleek brown fur, and they grow to around 20 pounds on average. They prefer to live in deepwater lakes and ponds but can also be found near rivers. During winter, river otters move across frozen lakes by sliding on their bellies!Bats
NPS Photo Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)Many people have a fear of bats, but they are a very interesting and important group of mammals. The big brown bat is fairly common and can be found nesting in cavities across Sleeping Bear Dunes. They have brown fur with black faces, and a wingspan of around 13 inches. Adults of this species have an average weight of 0.5 ounces. Big brown bats are nocturnal and take to the sky at night to catch beetles, flies, and moths. This species is historically important because farmers have used them to control pest insects.
NPS Photo Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)Another common bat at Sleeping Bear Dunes is the silver-haired bat. These bats have dark fur with a silver-colored sheen. They have a weight of around 0.25 ounces and a wingspan of 12 inches. Silver-haired bats are nocturnal and spend the night chasing after small insects like moths and flies. Like most other bats, this species is affected by the spread of white nose syndrome. This is a lethal fungal disease spread between bats that has greatly reduced their populations. It is important to never disturb a bat roost because of this.Full Mammal List
The mammals described above are only a small selection of what can be found at Sleeping Bear Dunes. Use the tool below to generate a list of all mammal species found in the Lakeshore. Select "mammals" as the species category. A checklist will include all mammal species that are confirmed to live in the park. A full list will include all confirmed mammal species as well as false reports and locally extinct species.
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Last updated: September 5, 2025