Identification of Mammals

aberts squirrel in tree — photo by sally king

ABERT'S SQUIRREL (Sciurus aberti)
Common in any area where there are lots of Ponderosa pines. Can be seen on the Main Pueblo Loop Trail, Alcove House Trail, Falls Trail, and Cottonwood Picnic Area. Can have a tendency to beg for food. PLEASE DON'T FEED THEM. Don't get too close. They can bite.

Printable Abert's Squirrel Fact Sheet (PDF)

RED SQUIRREL (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
Common in the higher elevations of the park. Can be seen on the Alamo Boundary, Ski, or Cerro Grande Trails. Rarely along the Main Pueblo Loop Trail in Frijoles Canyon. Have a unique bark when they feel their territory is in danger.

ROCK SQUIRREL (Spermophilus variegatus)
Very common throughout the park. Hibernates in winter but can be seen on warm spring days sunning itself on rocks near Long House on the Main Pueblo Loop Trail. Some tendency to beg for food. Please do not feed them.

GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus lateralis)
Common in the higher elevations of the park. Occasionally in canyons. Often seen on Cerro Grande, Alamo Boundary, and Ski Trails.

colorado chipmunk 2 — Photo by Sally King

COLORADO CHIPMUNK (Eutamis quadriwittatus)
Common in the canyons, lower elevations, and along Rio Grande. Can be seen in Cottonwood Picnic Grounds and on the Falls Trail.

least chipmunk eats — Photo by Sally King

LEAST CHIPMUNK (Eutamis minimus)
Common in higher elevations of the park. Can be seen on Alamo Boundary, Cerro Grande, and Ski Trails.

pocket gopher face — Photo by Sally King

POCKET GOPHER (Thomomys spp)
Common throughout the park. Burrow underground looking for food and can be very damaging to archeological sites. Can easily be seen along the Main Pueblo Loop Trail or in front of the visitor center.

full mountain lion 2 — Photo by Sally King

MOUNTAIN LION (Felix concolor)
Uncommon but may be seen in the park, usually along or crossing roadways. Each mountain lion requires a fair bit of territory so numbers within the park are probably small.

BOBCAT (Lunx rufus)
Uncommon but can be seen usually along or crossing park roadways.

MULE DEER (Ococoileus hemionus)
Extremely common throughout the park year-round. Very often seen on the Main Pueblo Loop Trail, entrance road, and Alcove House Trail.

ELK (Cervus canadenis)
Common in the park in the winter on the mesatops and rarely in the canyons. Can be seen on the entrance road in the winter.

black bear walking on log — Photo by Sally King

BLACK BEAR (Ursus americanus)
Uncommon and rarely seen. Most often seen during dry years when lack of food forces them closer to the developed areas in Frijoles Canyon. Be sure to use bear-proof containers so our bears don't become used to eating human food.

Printable Black Bear Fact Sheet (PDF)

COYOTE (Canis latrans)
Fairly common throughout the park. Rarely seen and then most often along roadways.

Printable Coyote Fact Sheet (PDF)

GRAY FOX (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Uncommon but can be seen along the Main Pueblo Loop Trail on occasion.

TOWNSEND'S BIG-EARED BAT (Plecotus townsendii)
Uncommon and even more rarely seen. One of thirteen species of bats found in the park.

BIG BROWN BAT (Eptesicus fuscus)
Uncommon and even more rarely seen. One of 13 species of bats found in the park.

silver haired bat 2 — photo by sally king

SILVER-HAIRED BAT (Lasionycteris noctivagans) Common in the park but rarely seen. Nocturnal consumer of insects.

AUDUBON'S DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus auduboni)
Very common throughout most areas of the park. Rarely seen except in the early morning or early evening.

COMMON MUSKRAT (Ondatra zibethicus)
Uncommon but can be seen in marshy areas along the Rio Grande.

AMERICAN BADGER (Taxidea taxus)
Uncommon but seen in grassy meadows in some higher elevation areas of the park and more common in the nearby Valles Caldera National Preserve.

Printable American Badger Fact Sheet (PDF)

MEXICAN RACCOON (Procyon lotor)
Common in park but most active at night so rarely seen.

AMERICAN PIKA (Ochotona princeps)
These animals are closely related to rabbits. Until recently their presence in the park was undocumented. In their southern range, pika live in isolated communities at high elevations. In Bandelier, there are several small colonies located in specific geologic areas in the highest elevations. Pika live in cold environments and these isolated communities may be in jeopardy due to climate change.

Printable American Pika Fact Sheet (PDF)

LONG-TAILED WEASEL (Mustela frenata)
Uncommon but has been seen in the higher elevations of the park such as Cerro Grande Route. Secretive and rarely seen.