Mammals of Whiskeytown

A ring-tailed cat can be seen in the bushes.

NPS photo.

Wild Inhabitants of Whiskeytown

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is a sanctuary for a diverse array of mammal species, from elusive predators to tiny insectivores. Here, you can find a variety of rare and common mammals thriving within its habitats.

Rare and Protected Species

The park is home to several rare species, including:

• Pacific Fisher – A federal candidate species
• Federal Species of Concern – Long-eared, fringed, Yuma myotis, and western big-eared bats
• California Species of Concern – Pallid bat

Additionally, black bears, coyotes, mountain lions, and foxes can be spotted in the park, alongside many smaller mammals like rodents, rabbits, and insectivores. Bats are particularly diverse, with 13 documented species.

Mammal Species Found at Whiskeytown

Hooved Animals

• Black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus)

Carnivores

• Coyote (Canis latrans)
• Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
• Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
• Mountain lion (Puma concolor)
• Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
• Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
• Spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius)
• River otter (Lutra canadensis)
• Marten (Martes americana)
• Pacific fisher (Martes pennanti)
• Ermine (Mustela erminea)
• Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata)
• Mink (Mustela vison)
• Badger (Taxidea taxus)
• Ringtail (Bassariscus astutus)
• Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
• Black bear (Ursus americanus)

Insectivores

• Northern water shrew (Sorex palustris)
• Trowbridge's shrew (Sorex trowbridgii)
• Vagrant shrew (Sorex vagrans)
• Shrew-mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii)
• Broad-footed mole (Scapanus latimanus)

Bats

• Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)
• Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus)
• Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus)
• Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)
• Red bat (Lasiurus blossevillii)
• Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus)
• California myotis (Myotis californicus)
• Long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis)
• Little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus)
• Fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes)
• Long-legged myotis (Myotis volans)
• Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis)
• Pacific western big-eared bat (Plecotus corynorhinus)

Marsupials

• Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Rabbits and Hares

• Black-tailed jack rabbit (Lepus californicus)
• Brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani)

Rodents

Squirrels, Gophers, and Beavers

• Northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus)
• Western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus)
• California ground squirrel (Spermophilus beecheyi)
• Yellow-pine chipmunk (Tamias amoenus)
• Allen's chipmunk (Tamias senex)
• Sonoma chipmunk (Tamias sonomae)
• Douglas' squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii)
• Botta's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae)
• California kangaroo rat (Dipodomys californicus)
• Beaver (Castor canadensis)

Mice

• House mouse (Mus musculus)
• Bushy-tailed woodrat (Neotoma cinerea)
• Dusky-footed woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes)
• Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
• Brush mouse (Peromyscus boylii)
• Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)
• Pinyon mouse (Peromyscus truei)
• Black rat (Rattus rattus)
• Western harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis)
• Western red-backed vole (Clethrionomys californicus)
• California vole (Microtus californicus)
• Long-tailed vole (Microtus longicaudus)

Porcupines

• Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)