This list of mammals of Connecticut includes both native and nonnative species (introduced or invasive) found in the
U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
state of
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...
now or in the past, but not domesticated or farm animals.
Many mammals formerly
extirpated
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, refers to a species (or other taxon) of plant or animal that ceases to exist in a chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinct ...
in the state have returned, sometimes with active human projects and sometimes through a natural expansion from neighboring states as Connecticut'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, starting in the 17th century with European colonization and continuing until the 19th 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 in Connecticut.
[ Pollution in the 19th and 20th 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 19th century, provide more welcoming homes to certain species; and mammals from Europe, including the house mouse and ]Norway rat
The brown rat (''Rattus norvegicus''), also known as the common rat, street rat, sewer rat, wharf rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, Norwegian rat and Parisian rat, is a widespread species of common rat. One of the largest muroids, it is a brown o ...
, 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).
To some extent, deforestation and fragmentation of forests has occurred in recent decades with expanded residential development. Some improvements have come with the removal of certain industries from Connecticut since the mid-20th 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, Connecticut also 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, , 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, opossums, raccoon
The raccoon ( or , ''Procyon lotor''), sometimes called the common raccoon to distinguish it from other species, is a mammal native to North America. It is the largest of the procyonid family, having a body length of , and a body weight of ...
s, and gray squirrels.[Hammerson, Geoffrey, ''Connecticut Wildlife: Biodiversity, Natural History, and Conservation'', University Press of New England: Hanover, New Hampshire, and London, 2004, , Chapter 21: "Mammals", pp 379–404]
Species
(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 can be found by following the links to Wikipedia articles on the individual species.)
Opossums (Order Didelphimorphia, Family Didelphidae)
* Virginia opossum
The Virginia opossum (''Didelphis virginiana''), also known as the North American opossum, is the only opossum living north of Mexico, its range extending south into Central America. It is the northernmost marsupial in the world. In the United S ...
(''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 20th 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.[
]
Shrews and moles
Shrews (Order Eulipotyphla
Eulipotyphla (, which means "truly fat and blind") is an order of mammals suggested by molecular methods of phylogenetic reconstruction, which includes the laurasiatherian members of the now-invalid polyphyletic order Lipotyphla, but not the ...
, Family Soricidae)
* Northern short-tailed shrew
The northern short-tailed shrew (''Blarina brevicauda'') is the largest shrew in the genus ''Blarina'', and occurs in the northeastern region of North America. It is a semifossorial, highly active, and voracious insectivore and is present in a v ...
(''Blarina brevicauda'') — very common in leafy or grassy ground (usually in wooded areas)[
* ]Smoky shrew
The smoky shrew (''Sorex fumeus'') is a medium-sized North American shrew found in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States and extends further south along the Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appal ...
(''Sorex fumeus'') — common, especially in moist, shady spots[
* Masked shrew (''Sorex cinereus'') — plentiful in the state, especially in moist, shady spots.][
* ]Water shrew Water shrew may refer to any of several species of semiaquatic red-toothed shrews:
*Asiatic water shrews ('' Chimarrogale'' spp.)
** Malayan water shrew (''C. hantu'')
** Himalayan water shrew (''C. himalayica'')
** Sunda water shrew (''C. phaeura'' ...
(''Sorex palustris'') — uncommon; found near water[
* ]Least shrew
The North American least shrew (''Cryptotis parvus'') is one of the smallest mammals, growing to be only up to 3 inches long. It has a long pointed snout and a tail never more than twice the length of its hind foot. The dense fur coat is e ...
(''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 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
Darien ( ) is a coastal town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. With a population of 21,499 and a land area of just under 13 square miles, it is the smallest town on Connecticut's Gold Coast. It has the youngest population of any ...
, 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 at the edge of a saltgrass meadow. The animal again went without documented sightings until it was found in 1989 in coastal Middlesex County in 1989. As of 2007, this is the only documented Connecticut location of the species.[
Moles (Order ]Eulipotyphla
Eulipotyphla (, which means "truly fat and blind") is an order of mammals suggested by molecular methods of phylogenetic reconstruction, which includes the laurasiatherian members of the now-invalid polyphyletic order Lipotyphla, but not the ...
, Family Talpidae
The family Talpidae () includes the moles (some of whom are called shrew moles and desmans) who are small insectivorous mammals of the order Eulipotyphla. Talpids are all digging animals to various degrees: moles are completely subterranean ...
)
* Eastern mole
The Eastern Mole or Common Mole (''Scalopus aquaticus'') is a medium-sized North American mole. It is the only member of genus ''Scalopus''. It is found in forested and open areas with moist sandy soils in northern Mexico, the eastern Unite ...
(''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
The star-nosed mole (''Condylura cristata'') is a small semiaquatic mole found in moist, low areas in the northern parts of North America. It is the only extant member of the tribe Condylurini and genus ''Condylura'', and it has more than 25, ...
(''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
The hairy-tailed mole (''Parascalops breweri''), also known as Brewer's mole, is a medium-sized North American mole. It is the only member of the genus ''Parascalops''. The species epithet ''breweri'' refers to Thomas Mayo Brewer, an American ...
(''Parascalops breweri'') — somewhat common in well-drained areas in northwestern part of the state[
]
Bats
Bats (Order Chiroptera
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most bir ...
, Family Vespertilionidae
Vespertilionidae is a family of microbats, of the order Chiroptera, flying, insect-eating mammals variously described as the common, vesper, or simple nosed bats. The vespertilionid family is the most diverse and widely distributed of bat famili ...
)
The state has eight extant species of bats, plus at least one which may now be extirpated
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, refers to a species (or other taxon) of plant or animal that ceases to exist in a chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere. Local extinctions are contrasted with global extinct ...
from the state.
Because some bats have rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes encephalitis in humans and other mammals. Early symptoms can include fever and tingling at the site of exposure. These symptoms are followed by one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, ...
, the state Department of Environmental Protection (now DEEP
Deep or The Deep may refer to:
Places United States
* Deep Creek (Appomattox River tributary), Virginia
* Deep Creek (Great Salt Lake), Idaho and Utah
* Deep Creek (Mahantango Creek tributary), Pennsylvania
* Deep Creek (Mojave River tributary), ...
) 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 (860) 424-3011 or DEP Emergency Dispatch at (860) 424-3333 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
The little brown bat or little brown myotis (''Myotis lucifugus'') is an endangered species of mouse-eared microbat found in North America. It has a small body size and glossy brown fur. It is similar in appearance to several other mouse-ea ...
(''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
The big brown bat (''Eptesicus fuscus'') is a species of vesper bat distributed widely throughout North America, the Caribbean, and the northern portion of South America. It was first described as a species in 1796. Compared to other microbat ...
(''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
The silver-haired bat (''Lasionycteris noctivagans'') is a solitary migratory species of vesper bat in the family Vespertilionidae and the only member of the genus ''Lasionycteris''.
Etymology
The species name translates as night-wandering, ref ...
(''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
The hoary bat (''Lasiurus cinereus'') is a species of bat in the vesper bat family, Vespertilionidae. It lives throughout most of North America (possibly including Hawaii, although this is disputed).
Taxonomy
The hoary bat was described as a ...
(''Lasiurus cinereus'')[ — seldom seen and listed as a Connecticut species of special concern][
* Northern long-eared myotis or long-eared bat][ (''Myotis septentrionalis'')][
Bats that hibernate in caves and tunnels:
* Northern long-eared myotis (see above)
* Little brown bat (see above)
* ]Eastern small-footed bat
The eastern small-footed bat (''Myotis leibii'') is a species of vesper bat. It can be found in southern Ontario and Quebec in Canada and in mountainous portions of the eastern United States from New England to northern Georgia, and westward to n ...
(''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
The Indiana bat (''Myotis sodalis'') is a medium-sized mouse-eared bat native to North America. It lives primarily in Southern and Midwestern U.S. states and is listed as an endangered species. The Indiana bat is grey, black, or chestnut in colo ...
(''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][
* ]Tricolored bat
The tricolored bat (''Perimyotis subflavus'') is a species of microbat native to eastern North America. Formerly known as the eastern pipistrelle, based on the incorrect belief that it was closely related to European '' Pipistrellus'' species, t ...
(''Perimyotis subflavus'' or ''Pipistrellus subflavus'')[
]
Rabbits and hares
Rabbits and hares (Order Lagomorpha
The lagomorphs are the members of the taxonomic order Lagomorpha, of which there are two living families: the Leporidae (hares and rabbits) and the Ochotonidae ( pikas). The name of the order is derived from the Ancient Greek ''lagos'' (λαγ ...
, Family Leporidae
Leporidae is the family of rabbits and hares, containing over 60 species of extant mammals in all. The Latin word ''Leporidae'' means "those that resemble ''lepus''" (hare). Together with the pikas, the Leporidae constitute the mammalian order ...
)
* Eastern cottontail
The eastern cottontail (''Sylvilagus floridanus'') is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. It is the most common rabbit species in North America.
Distribution
The eastern cottontail can be found in meadows and shrubb ...
(''Sylvilagus floridanus'') — introduced to New England in the late 1800s and has expanded its range at the expense of the native New England cottontail
The New England cottontail (''Sylvilagus transitionalis''), also called the gray rabbit, brush rabbit, wood hare, wood rabbit, or cooney, is a species of cottontail rabbit represented by fragmented populations in areas of New England, specificall ...
. 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;][ eb 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
Hammonasset Beach State Park is a public recreation area occupying two miles of beach front on Long Island Sound in the town of Madison, Connecticut. It is the state's largest shoreline park and one of the most popular attractions in the state ...
has many of them; in the early evening, 30 to 40 can be found along the entrance road.[
* ]New England cottontail
The New England cottontail (''Sylvilagus transitionalis''), also called the gray rabbit, brush rabbit, wood hare, wood rabbit, or cooney, is a species of cottontail rabbit represented by fragmented populations in areas of New England, specificall ...
(''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
The snowshoe hare (''Lepus americanus''), also called the varying hare or snowshoe rabbit, is a species of hare found in North America. It has the name "snowshoe" because of the large size of its hind feet. The animal's feet prevent it from sin ...
(''Lepus americanus'') — 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
Squirrel family (Order Rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...
ia, Family Sciuridae
Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrels. Squ ...
)
* Groundhog
The groundhog (''Marmota monax''), also known as a woodchuck, is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, belonging to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots.
The groundhog is a lowland creature of North America; it is found through mu ...
, woodchuck or whistle pig (''Marmota monax'') — scarce when Europeans first came to North America, but they have thrived since then.
* Eastern gray squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel (''Sciurus carolinensis''), also known, particularly outside of North America, as simply the grey squirrel, is a tree squirrel in the genus ''Sciurus''. It is native to eastern North America, where it is the most prodi ...
(''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
Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since t ...
and Essex
Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and Grea ...
. 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] In Stratford, white squirrel
Tree squirrels are the members of the squirrel family (Sciuridae) commonly just referred to as "squirrels." They include more than 100 arboreal species native to all continents except Antarctica and Oceania.
They do not form a single natural, or ...
s, a local variant of the species, had been seen for years as of 2010 in different sections of town. Many had some light gray or reddish color and black eyes, indicating they were not albinos.
* Fox squirrel
The fox squirrel (''Sciurus niger''), also known as the eastern fox squirrel or Bryant's fox squirrel, is the largest species of tree squirrel native to North America. Despite the differences in size and coloration, it is sometimes mistaken for A ...
(''Sciurus niger'') - extirpated
* 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;[
* ]Northern flying squirrel
The northern flying squirrel (''Glaucomys sabrinus'') is one of three species of the genus '' Glaucomys'', the only flying squirrels found in North America.Walker EP, Paradiso JL. 1975. ''Mammals of the World''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Universit ...
(''Glaucomys sabrinus'') — present in just a few areas in northern Connecticut; usually old-growth forests[
* ]Southern flying squirrel
The southern flying squirrel or the assapan (''Glaucomys volans'') is one of three species of the genus '' Glaucomys'' and one of three flying squirrel species found in North America. It is found in deciduous and mixed woods in the eastern half o ...
(''Glaucomys volans'') — common where there are nut trees and available nesting cavities, often near streams and wetlands[
* ]Eastern chipmunk
The eastern chipmunk (''Tamias striatus'') is a chipmunk species found in eastern North America. It is the only living member of the chipmunk genus ''Tamias''.
Etymology
The name "chipmunk" comes from the Ojibwe word ''ajidamoo'' (or possibl ...
(''Tamias striatus'') — common in woods[
Beavers (Order ]Rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...
ia, Family Castoridae
The family Castoridae contains the two living species of beavers and their fossil relatives. A highly diverse group of rodents within this family once roamed the earth, but only a single genus is extant today, '' Castor''.
Characteristics
Ca ...
)
* North American beaver
The North American beaver (''Castor canadensis'') is one of two extant beaver species, along with the Eurasian beaver (''Castor fiber''). It is native to North America and introduced in South America ( Patagonia) and Europe (primarily Finland ...
(''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 reintroduced, first in Union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
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 nuisance 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 ]Rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...
ia, Family Muridae)
* White-footed mouse
The white-footed mouse (''Peromyscus leucopus'') is a rodent native to North America from Ontario, Quebec, Labrador, and the Maritime Provinces (excluding the island of Newfoundland) to the southwestern United States and Mexico. In the Maritimes, ...
(''Peromyscus leucopus'') — common in woods and especially along forest edges; particularly where there are plenty of nuts or large seeds;[
* Eastern deer mouse (''Peromyscus maniculatus'') — found in the northern part of the state][
* ]Allegheny woodrat
The Allegheny woodrat (''Neotoma magister''), is a species of " pack rat" in the genus ''Neotoma''. Once believed to be a subspecies of the eastern woodrat (''Neotoma floridana''), extensive DNA analysis has proven it to be a distinct species.
...
(''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 Northeastern United States[
* Southern 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
The eastern meadow vole (''Microtus pennsylvanicus''), sometimes called the field mouse or meadow mouse, is a North American vole found in eastern Canada and the United States. Its range extends farther south along the Atlantic coast.
The west ...
(''Microtus pennsylvanicus'') — often found in abundance in pastures, meadows, marshes or wherever there is thick, unmowed grasses or sedges[
* ]Woodland vole
The woodland vole (''Microtus pinetorum'') is a small vole found in eastern North America. It is also known as the pine vole.
Characteristics
The woodland vole has a head and body length ranging between with a short tail. Its weight ranges be ...
(''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
The southern bog lemming (''Synaptomys cooperi'') is a small North American lemming
A lemming is a small rodent, usually found in or near the Arctic in tundra biomes. Lemmings form the subfamily Arvicolinae (also known as Microtinae) together ...
(''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
The brown rat (''Rattus norvegicus''), also known as the common rat, street rat, sewer rat, wharf rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, Norwegian rat and Parisian rat, is a widespread species of common rat. One of the largest muroids, it is a brown o ...
(''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 ]Rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...
ia, Family Dipodidae
Jerboas (from ar, جربوع ') are hopping desert rodents found throughout North Africa and Asia, and are members of the family Dipodidae. They tend to live in hot deserts.
When chased, jerboas can run at up to . Some species are preyed on b ...
, Subfamily Zapodinae)
* Meadow jumping mouse
The meadow jumping mouse (''Zapus hudsonius'') is the most widely distributed mouse in the family Zapodidae. Its range extends from the Atlantic coast in the east to the Great Plains west, and from the arctic tree lines in Canada and Alaska to ...
(''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
The woodland jumping mouse (''Napaeozapus insignis'') is a species of jumping mouse found in North America. It can jump up to using its extremely strong feet and long tail.
Taxonomy
Representatives of the family Dipodidae are found in the nor ...
(''Napaeozapus insignis'') — rather common in Connecticut in moist, forested areas or spots with thick shrubs, usually along streams[
New World porcupines (Order ]Rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...
ia, Family Erethizontidae)
* North American porcupine
The North American porcupine (''Erethizon dorsatum''), also known as the Canadian porcupine, is a large quill-covered rodent in the New World porcupine family. It is the second largest rodent in North America, after the North American beaver ('' ...
(''Erethizon dorsatum'') — uncommon in forested areas in the northern part of the state; usually found in mixed forests including eastern hemlock.[ Porcupines are most common in northern ]Litchfield County
Litchfield County is in northwestern Connecticut. As of the 2020 census, the population was 185,186. The county was named after Lichfield, in England. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut and is the ...
, especially the towns of Hartland, Colebrook, and Norfolk
Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...
. It is not uncommon to see them as roadkill along Route 8 through the towns of Winchester and Colebrook.
Carnivorans
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.
* Gray wolf (''Canis lupus'') — extirpated in Connecticut in the 19th 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 wolf
The eastern wolf (''Canis lycaon'' or ''Canis lupus lycaon'' or ''Canis rufus lycaon'') also known as the timber wolf, Algonquin wolf or eastern timber wolf, is a canine of debated taxonomy native to the Great Lakes region and southeastern Canad ...
(''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; tends to be absent where coyotes are regularly present; prefers habitats with a mixture of fields and forest edges][
* ]Gray fox
The gray fox (''Urocyon cinereoargenteus''), or grey fox, is an omnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, widespread throughout North America and Central America. This species and its only congener, the diminutive island fox (''Urocyon littor ...
(''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
]
Bears (Order Carnivora, Family
Ursidae
Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Nort ...
)
* Black bear
Black bear or Blackbear may refer to:
Animals
* American black bear (''Ursus americanus''), a North American bear species
* Asian black bear (''Ursus thibetanus''), an Asian bear species
Music
* Black Bear (band), a Canadian First Nations group ...
(''Ursus americanus'') — rare in most of the state, but fairly common in Litchfield and Hartford
Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since t ...
counties in the northwestern and north central parts of the state; bears have expanded from their core habitat in the state's northwestern hills,[ and they have been seen for several years (as of 2010) as far south as ]Greenwich
Greenwich ( , ,) is a town in south-east London, England, within the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is situated east-southeast of Charing Cross.
Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich ...
, in the southwestern corner of the state; 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.][The total population as of 2015 is expected at 80]
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."
**"Never attempt to feed or attract bears."
**"Report bear sightings to the Wildlife Division, at (860) 675-8130."
]
Raccoons and relatives (Order Carnivora, Family Procyonidae)
* Raccoon
The raccoon ( or , ''Procyon lotor''), sometimes called the common raccoon to distinguish it from other species, is a mammal native to North America. It is the largest of the procyonid family, having a body length of , and a body weight of ...
(''Procyon lotor'') — found near lakes, ponds, marshes and streams; a rabies epidemic devastated the population in the state in the early 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 and otters (Order Carnivora, Family
Mustelidae
The Mustelidae (; from Latin ''mustela'', weasel) are a family of carnivorous mammals, including weasels, badgers, otters, ferrets, martens, minks and wolverines, among others. Mustelids () are a diverse group and form the largest family in th ...
)
* River otter (''Lontra canadensis'') — previously scarce, but now somewhat common in the state; found in many lakes and large ponds[
* American marten (''Martes americana'') — one recent (as of 2004) road-kill in New Hartford, ]Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...
(in the north-central to northwest part of the state) was the first certain evidence that the species occurs in Connecticut[
* American ermine (''Mustela erminea'') — Like the long-tailed weasel, fairly common in woods and thickets and near stone walls; especially near rivers and streams][
* ]Long-tailed weasel
The long-tailed weasel (''Neogale frenata''), also known as the bridled weasel, masked ermine, or big stoat, is a species of mustelid distributed from southern Canada throughout all the United States and Mexico, southward through all of Central A ...
(''Neogale frenata'') — Like the ermine, fairly common in woods and thickets and near stone walls; especially near rivers and streams[
* Mink (''Neogale vison'') — rather common in streams, ponds, lakes and marshes
* ]Fisher
Fisher is an archaic term for a fisherman, revived as gender-neutral.
Fisher, Fishers or The Fisher may also refer to:
Places
Australia
*Division of Fisher, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives, in Queensland
*Elect ...
(''Pekania 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.[
]
Skunks (Order Carnivora, Family
Mephitidae
Mephitidae is a family of mammals comprising the skunks and stink badgers. They are noted for the great development of their anal scent glands, which they use to deter predators. Skunks were formerly classified as a subfamily of the Mustelidae ...
)
* Striped skunk (''Mephitis mephitis'') — common in the state and in various habitats[
]
Cats (Order Carnivora, Family Felidae)
* Canada lynx
The Canada lynx (''Lynx canadensis''), or Canadian lynx, is a medium-sized North American lynx that ranges across Alaska, Canada, and northern areas of the contiguous United States. It is characterized by its long, dense fur, triangular ears ...
(''Lynx canadensis'') — apparently never a permanent resident of the state, but historically it may have been in the state. They are now considered extirpated.[
* Bobcat (''Lynx 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
Overexploitation, also called overharvesting, refers to harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns. Continued overexploitation can lead to the destruction of the resource, as it will be unable to replenish. The term ap ...
and reclassified the bobcat as a protected furbearer, with no hunting or trapping seasons. A rabid bobcat attacked a man in Plainville in 2003, but the incident is regarded as a rare, freak occurrence.[
* Cougar (''Puma concolor'') — There is no firm evidence that the species exists in the state but it may be rare in hilly parts of northern Connecticut. Officially considered extirpated.][ A state ]DEEP
Deep or The Deep may refer to:
Places United States
* Deep Creek (Appomattox River tributary), Virginia
* Deep Creek (Great Salt Lake), Idaho and Utah
* Deep Creek (Mahantango Creek tributary), Pennsylvania
* Deep Creek (Mojave River tributary), ...
official documented a live cougar in Durham in October 2011. A cougar was killed on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Milford in June 2011.
Hoofed mammals
Deer (Order Artiodactyla
The even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla , ) are ungulates—hoofed animals—which bear weight equally on two (an even number) of their five toes: the third and fourth. The other three toes are either present, absent, vestigial, or pointing poster ...
, Family Cervidae
Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the reind ...
)
White-tailed deer
White-tailed deer
The white-tailed deer (''Odocoileus virginianus''), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer, is a medium-sized deer native to North America, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced t ...
(''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 19th 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. In 1974, the state passed its first deer management act and regular, licensed deer hunting began the next year.][ eb 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
Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a vector-borne disease caused by the ''Borrelia'' bacterium, which is spread by ticks in the genus ''Ixodes''. The most common sign of infection is an expanding red rash, known as erythema migran ...
. 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
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'', 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
Groton is a town in New London County, Connecticut located on the Thames River. It is the home of General Dynamics Electric Boat, which is the major contractor for submarine work for the United States Navy. The Naval Submarine Base New London i ...
, by about 90 percent reduced the incidence of new Lyme disease
Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a vector-borne disease caused by the ''Borrelia'' bacterium, which is spread by ticks in the genus ''Ixodes''. The most common sign of infection is an expanding red rash, known as erythema migran ...
cases in town from about twenty a year to two or three a year.
* Habitat damage: In Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich (, ) is a town in southwestern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. At the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 63,518. The largest town on Connecticut's Gold Coast, Greenwich is home to many hedge funds and other ...
, the Greenwich Audubon Society's of land have seen deer push out ground birds such as the ovenbird
The ovenbird (''Seiurus aurocapilla'') is a small songbird of the New World warbler family (Parulidae). This migratory bird breeds in eastern North America and winters in Central America, many Caribbean islands, Florida and northern Venezuela.
...
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
The moose (in North America) or elk (in Eurasia) (''Alces alces'') is a member of the New World deer subfamily and is the only species in the genus ''Alces''. It is the largest and heaviest extant species in the deer family. Most adult ma ...
(''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. As of 2015, they come from Massachusetts whose population is rising dramatically over 1000, the population could be over 200][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] Most of these moose now live in northern Litchfield County
Litchfield County is in northwestern Connecticut. As of the 2020 census, the population was 185,186. The county was named after Lichfield, in England. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut and is the ...
, especially the towns of Hartland, Colebrook and Granby. They can occasionally be found throughout northern Litchfield and northwestern Hartford Counties and are known to wander throughout the state. When forests were largely replaced by farmland in the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, populations of moose (along with animals such as turkeys, black bears and mountain lions) lost their habitats and were greatly reduced or eliminated from the state.[ But even before Connecticut was settled by Europeans, the moose population was never large, according to the DEP.][ Moose are thought to be entering the state from the north (but have roamed as far south as Stamford and Fairfield, communities on Long Island Sound). 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.
The greatest danger to people from moose is car collisions. From 1995 to 2006, there was an average of one collision a year of a moose and an automobile across the state, although in the first half of 2007, there were four, including one in June on the ]Merritt Parkway
The Merritt Parkway (also known locally as "The Merritt") is a limited-access parkway in Fairfield County, Connecticut, with a small section at the northern end in New Haven County. Designed for Connecticut's Gold Coast, the parkway is known ...
in Stamford. Unlike deer, moose that feel threatened tend to stand their ground.[
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.][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] In 2007, police killed bull moose in separate incidents in Waterbury
Waterbury is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut on the Naugatuck River, southwest of Hartford and northeast of New York City. Waterbury is the second-largest city in New Haven County, Connecticut. According to the 2020 US Census, in 202 ...
and Fairfield when each moose came close to a highway.[ In cases where no threat to the public seems imminent, 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).][ In 2008, state authorities knocked out a year-old female moose in New Britain with a tranquilizer dart and released it on state forest land in northern Connecticut.][ Moose are generally reclusive, but male moose tend to wander about in the fall, during their mating season, and year-old moose tend to wander when their mothers get ready to give birth to new calves, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.][No byline]
"Wandering Moose Tranquilized In New Britain"
''Hartford Courant'', May 21, 2009, retrieved May 23, 2009 The 2008 New Britain moose, for example, was thought by officials to be the same animal seen in Avon and Farmington
Farmington may refer to:
Places Canada
*Farmington, British Columbia
* Farmington, Nova Scotia (disambiguation)
United States
*Farmington, Arkansas
*Farmington, California
*Farmington, Connecticut
*Farmington, Delaware
* Farmington, Georgia
* ...
the week before.[
]
Elk
Eastern elk
The eastern elk (''Cervus canadensis canadensis'') is an extinct subspecies or distinct population of elk that inhabited the northern and eastern United States, and southern Canada. The last eastern elk was shot in Pennsylvania on September 1, 18 ...
(''Cervus canadensis canadensis'') — extinct. Elk
The elk (''Cervus canadensis''), also known as the wapiti, is one of the largest species within the deer family, Cervidae, and one of the largest terrestrial mammals in its native range of North America and Central and East Asia. The common ...
are extirpated 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
Oceanic dolphins or Delphinidae are a widely distributed family of dolphins that live in the sea. Close to forty extant species are recognised. They include several big species whose common names contain "whale" rather than "dolphin", such as the ...
)
* Long-finned pilot whale
The long-finned pilot whale (''Globicephala melas'') is a large species of oceanic dolphin. It shares the genus '' Globicephala'' with the short-finned pilot whale (''Globicephala macrorhynchus''). Long-finned pilot whales are known as such bec ...
(''Globicephala melas'') — occasionally enters Long Island Sound; it rarely washes up on the shore in Connecticut.[
Porpoises (Order Cetacea, Family ]Phocoenidae
Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals, all of which are classified under the family Phocoenidae, parvorder Odontoceti (toothed whales). Although similar in appearance to dolphins, they are more closely related to narwhals ...
)
* Harbor porpoise (''Phocoena phocoena'') — rare, but sometimes found off the coast[
Seals (Order Carnivora, Family Phocidae)
* ]Harbor seal
The harbor (or harbour) seal (''Phoca vitulina''), also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinniped (walruses, eared se ...
(''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
Hammonasset Beach State Park is a public recreation area occupying two miles of beach front on Long Island Sound in the town of Madison, Connecticut. It is the state's largest shoreline park and one of the most popular attractions in the state ...
,[ around Sheffield Island and Smith's Reef in the ]Norwalk Islands
The Norwalk Islands are a chain of more than 25 islands amid partly submerged boulders, reefs and mudflats along a six-mile (10 km) stretch and mostly about a mile off the coast of Norwalk, Connecticut, and southwest Westport, Connecticut, i ...
, 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
The grey seal (''Halichoerus grypus'') is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. In Latin Halichoerus grypus means "hook-nosed sea pig". It is a large seal of the family Phocidae, which are commonly referred to as "true seals" or " ...
(''Halichoerus grypus'') — occasionally seen in Long Island Sound but usually lives farther north[
]
See also
* Fauna of Connecticut
* List of birds of Connecticut
This list of birds of Connecticut is a comprehensive account of all the bird species recorded from the U.S. state of Connecticut. Unless otherwise noted, this list is based on the checklist produced by the Avian Records Committee of Connectic ...
* Flora of Connecticut
* Long Island Sound for an extensive list of various species
* List of mammals of North America
This is a list of North American mammals. It includes all mammals currently found in the United States, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Canada, Greenland, Bermuda, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean region, whether resident or as animal migration, ...
* Mammals of New England
* Lists of mammals by region
Notes
External links
Wildlife information at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
{{DEFAULTSORT:Connecticut mammals
Mammals
Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur o ...
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...