Shenandoah National Park National Park Service

 U.S. Department of the Interior

Full Species List of Mammals

Shenandoah National Park is home to 57 mammal species. Most 

park visitors will see some mammals, such as white-tailed deer 

(Odocoileus virginianus) and gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). 

Others, like the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) and striped and 

spotted skunks (Mephitis mephitis, Spilogale putorius), are more 

elusive and remain largely out of sight until darkness falls. Black 

bears (Ursus americanus) and bobcats (Lynx rufus) are sometimes 

active during the day, but often remain hidden deep in the forest. 

The smallest mammals found in the park (moles, voles, and 

shrews) are rarely seen because they spend much of their lives 

underground or hidden under leaves and low-growing plants. 

Threats to mammals include habitat destruction, land use 

changes, and motor vehicle activity. Other threats exist that are 

specific to particular species. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a 

contagious disease of the nervous system that affects white-tailed 

deer and is generally fatal. Bat populations are in decline because 

of a fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS). 

One of the most popular activities in Shenandoah National Park is 

viewing and photographing wildlife. The excitement of seeing an 

animal sometimes triggers visitor behaviors that are unhealthy for 

the wildlife, and that pose serious risks to the public. Maintain a 

distance of at least 200 feet when viewing wildlife, and make sure 

that food and garbage are stored or disposed of properly. If 

pausing to view wildlife along Skyline Drive, please pull your car 

completely off of the paved surface. 

This checklist was compiled on March 10, 2015 using data 

exported from the National Park Service NPSpecies database. The 

database can be accessed at https://irma.nps.gov/NPSpecies/.

Here you will find search tools that make it possible to create 

updated or customized lists. This checklist and others are found 

at https://irma.nps.gov/NPSpecies/Search/SpeciesList/SHEN. 

Please be advised that Latin scientific names often change as a 

result of new research; therefore, scientific names used here may 

not reflect the most current accepted nomenclature.

Vulpes vulpes

Odocoileus virginianus

Ursus americanus

Sylvilagus floridanus
 Scientific Name Common Names Occ Abd Nat NPS 

Tags

Park Tags GRank SRank

Mammals

Blarina brevicauda Northern Short-tailed 

Shrew

P U N B PW G5 VA: S5

Canis latrans Coyote P Uc U EC, MP; 

B

PW G5 VA: S5

Castor canadensis Beaver P R N B WL G5 VA: S5

Clethrionomys gapperi Southern Red-backed 

Vole

P U N B MF, WL

Condylura cristata Star-nosed Mole P U N B WL G5 VA: S4

Cryptotis parva Least Shrew P Uc N B ME, WL G5 VA: S5

Didelphis virginiana Virginia Opossum P C N B PW G5 VA: S5

Eptesicus fuscus Big Brown Bat P C N MP; B CU, MF, XF G5 VA: S5

Glaucomys volans Southern Flying Squirrel P Uc N MP; B MF G5 VA: S5

Lasionycteris noctivagans Silver-haired Bat P U N MF, XF G5 VA: 

SUB,S4N

Lasiurus borealis Red Bat, eastern red bat P U N CU, MF G5 VA: S4

Lasiurus cinereus Hoary Bat P U N S CU, MF, XF G5 VA: 

SUB,S3N

Lontra canadensis River Otter P R N WL G5 VA: S4

Lynx rufus Bobcat P Uc N MP; B PW G5 VA: S4

Marmota monax Woodchuck P C N B ME, WL G5 VA: S5

Martes pennanti Fisher P R N MF, XF

Mephitis mephitis Striped Skunk P C N MP; B PW G5 VA: S5

Microtus pennsylvanicus Meadow Vole P C N B CU, ME, WL G5 VA: S5

Microtus pinetorum Woodland Vole, pine 

vole

P U N B PW G5 VA: S5

Mus musculus House Mouse P Uc Nn MP; B CU, ME G5 VA: SNA

Mustela frenata Long-tailed Weasel P Uc N B PW G5 VA: S5

Mustela nivalis Least Weasel P R N PW G5 VA: S3

Myotis leibii Small-footed Myotis, 

Eastern Small-footed 

Myotis

P R N MF, RO G1G3 VA: S2

Bookmark this report: https://irma.nps.gov/NPSpecies/Reports/Park/Species List/SHEN?

UnitCode=SHEN&CategoryCode=1&SortOrder=Sci&ShowSyonyms=False&ShowInReview=False

This report is filtered by the following Taxonomic Categories: Mammals

Species List Page 1 of 5 6/23/2015 2:17:34 PM

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Species List for Shenandoah National Park (SHEN)

This represents information currently in the NPSpecies data system at the date and time the list was generated. Records are continually 

being added or updated by National Park Service staff. There is a key with definitions at the bottom of the report. To report an error or 

make a suggestion, go to https://irma.nps.gov/npspecies/suggest. 
 Scientific Name Common Names Occ Abd Nat NPS 

Tags

Park Tags GRank SRank

Myotis lucifugus Little Brown Bat P C N B CU, MF, XF G3 VA: S3

Myotis septentrionalis Northern Long-eared 

Bat

P Uc N B CU, MF, XF G2G3 VA: S3

Myotis sodalis Indiana Bat P U N MF, XF G2 VA: S1

Napaeozapus insignis Woodland Jumping 

Mouse

P U N B MF G5 VA: S5

Neotoma magister Allegheny woodrat, 

Appalachian woodrat

P Uc N MP; B MF, RO, XF G3G4 VA: S3

Neovison vison American Mink P Uc N B WL G5 VA: S5

Odocoileus virginianus White-tailed Deer P A N EC, MP; 

B

PW G5 VA: S5

Ondatra zibethicus Muskrat P U N B WL G5 VA: S5

Parascalops breweri Hairy-tailed Mole P U N B ME, MF G5 VA: S5

Perimyotis subflavus Eastern Pipistrelle P R N PW G3 VA: S3

Peromyscus leucopus White-footed Mouse P C N MP; B PW G5 VA: S5

Peromyscus maniculatus Deer Mouse P C N MP; B PW G5 VA: S5

Procyon lotor Raccoon P C N B PW G5 VA: S5

Rattus norvegicus Norway Rat P R Nn MP; B PW G5 VA: SNA

Rattus rattus Black Rat P R Nn MP; B CU G5 VA: SNA

Reithrodontomys humulis Harvest Mouse PP N ME, WL G5 VA: S5

Scalopus aquaticus Eastern Mole P Uc N B CU, ME, MF G5 VA: S5

Sciurus carolinensis Gray Squirrel, northern 

gray squirrel

P A N MP; B CU, MF, XF G5 VA: S5

Sciurus niger Fox Squirrel P R N B CU, MF, XF G5 VA: S4

Sorex cinereus Masked Shrew P U N B ME, MF, WL G5 VA: S5

Sorex dispar long-tailed shrew PP N B MF, RO G4 VA: S3

Sorex fumeus Smoky Shrew P U N B MF G5 VA: S5

Sorex hoyi Pygmy Shrew P U N B PW G5 VA: S4

Sorex longirostris Southeastern Shrew P U N B CU, ME, MF, WL G5 VA: S5

Sorex palustris Water Shrew P U N B WL G5 VA: S1

Spilogale putorius Spotted Skunk P Uc N MP; B PW G4 VA: S3S4

Sylvilagus floridanus Eastern Cottontail P C N B PW G5 VA: S5

Sylvilagus obscurus Appalachian Cottontail P U N MF G4 VA: S4?

Tamias striatus Eastern Chipmunk P A N B MF, XF G5 VA: S5

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Red Squirrel P R N B MF, XF G5 VA: S5

Urocyon cinereoargenteus Gray Fox P Uc N B PW G5 VA: S5

Species List Page 2 of 5 6/23/2015 2:17:34 PM

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Species List for Shenandoah National Park (SHEN)

This represents information currently in the NPSpecies data system at the date and time the list was generated. Records are continually 

being added or updated by National Park Service staff. There is a key with definitions at the bottom of the report. To report an error or 

make a suggestion, go to https://irma.nps.gov/npspecies/suggest. 
 Scientific Name Common Names Occ Abd Nat NPS 

Tags

Park Tags GRank SRank

Ursus americanus Black Bear P C N EC, MP; 

B

PW G5 VA: S4

Vulpes vulpes Red Fox P Uc N B PW G5 VA: S5

Zapus hudsonius Meadow Jumping 

Mouse

P U N B CU, ME, WL G5 VA: S5

Report Species Count: 57

Key

Code Term Definition

Occurrence (Occ) P Present Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

PP Probably Present High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Un Unconfirmed Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

NP Not In Park Species is not known to occur in park.

Occurrence Tags A Adjacent Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

FR False Report Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates 

the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer 

accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

H Historical Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on 

judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent 

evidence.

Abundance (Abd) A Abundant Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in 

relatively large numbers. Plants, Chromista, Protozoa, and Fungi: Large number 

of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large 

portion of the park

C Common Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large 

numbers. Plants, Chromista, Protozoa, and Fungi: Large numbers of individuals 

predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering 

a large portion of the park

Uc Uncommon Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be 

locally common. Plants, Chromista, Protozoa, and Fungi: Few to moderate 

numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered 

habitats or in uncommon habitats

R Rare Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year. Plants, Chromista, 

Protozoa, and Fungi: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare 

habitat

O Occasional Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, 

but not necessarily every year. Plants, Chromista, Protozoa, and Fungi: 

Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants)

NPSpecies - The National Park Service biodiversity database. IRMA Portal version. https://irma.nps.gov/npspecies/. Accessed 6/23/2015 

2:17:34 PM

Species List Page 3 of 5 6/23/2015 2:17:34 PM

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Species List for Shenandoah National Park (SHEN)

This represents information currently in the NPSpecies data system at the date and time the list was generated. Records are continually 

being added or updated by National Park Service staff. There is a key with definitions at the bottom of the report. To report an error or 

make a suggestion, go to https://irma.nps.gov/npspecies/suggest. 
Abundance (Abd) U Unknown Abundance unknown

Nativeness (Nat) N Native Species naturally occurring in park or region.

Nn Non-native Species occurring on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human 

activities.

U Unknown Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

Nativeness Tags R Restoration Also refers to reintroductions. Native species that has been extirpated or 

substantially diminished from the park as a result of human-induced change, and 

that has been or is in the process of being restored.

C Cultivated Species has been introduced or is maintained as part of the park's mission, 

significance, or cultural landscape (e.g., orchards, crops, fields)

I Invasive Non-native species whose introduction is likely to cause economic or 

environmental harm.

N Noxious Designation by a governmental authority. Species grows aggressively and has 

broad environmental tolerance that allows it to establish in many locations.

Management Tags EC Exploitation 

Concern

Species is considered a target for collection, poaching, commercial harvesting, or 

other non-permitted or exploitative activities.

MP Management 

Priority

Species warrants particular management attention as determined by park 

management staff.

Seasonality Tags B Breeder Population reproduces in the park.

R Resident A significant population is maintained in the park but does not breed within park 

boundaries.

M Migratory Species occurs in the park only while in transition between breeding and 

wintering grounds.

S Summer Typically spending only summer months in the park.

W Winter Typically spending only winter months in the park.

V Vagrant Park is outside of species' usual range.

ParkTags Code Term Definition

Vegetation Life Form Form

Tr Tree Tree

Sh Shrub Shrub

Vi Vine Vine

He Herb Herb

Gr Graminoid Graminoid (grass)

Fe Fern Fern

Ly Lycopod Lycopod

Habitat Hab

AQ Aquatic Within rivers, streams and ponds

CU Cultural Planted by humans, either by pre-park residents or park employees/contractors

FE Forest Edge Forest borders and field margins

Species List Page 4 of 5 6/23/2015 2:17:34 PM

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Species List for Shenandoah National Park (SHEN)

This represents information currently in the NPSpecies data system at the date and time the list was generated. Records are continually 

being added or updated by National Park Service staff. There is a key with definitions at the bottom of the report. To report an error or 

make a suggestion, go to https://irma.nps.gov/npspecies/suggest. 
Habitat ME Meadow Meadows, fields, lawns, forest clearings, and ruderal habitats

MF Mesic forest Mesic and dry-mesic forests; represents a majority of park’s forested area

RO Rock outcrop Exposed and shaded outcrops, boulder fields, talus slopes, and rocky barrens

SS Shrub/Scrub Second growth forest and habitats dominated by shrubs

WL Wetland Riparian areas, seeps, springs, fens, swamps, and wetland hummocks

XF Xeric forest Dry forests, including heath woodlands and shrublands

PW Park wide Park wide

Seasons when the species 

is most easily 

encountered. 

Seas

Sp Spring Spring (Mar, Apr, May)

Su Summer Summer (Jun, Jul, Aug)

Fa Fall Fall (Sept, Oct)

Wi Winter Winter (Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb)

All All Year All Year Round

GRank and SRank information is provided by NatureServe (www.natureserve.org) and its network of natural heritage member programs, a 

leading source of information about rare and endangered species, and threatened ecosystems.

Species List Page 5 of 5 6/23/2015 2:17:34 PM

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Species List for Shenandoah National Park (SHEN)

This represents information currently in the NPSpecies data system at the date and time the list was generated. Records are continually 

being added or updated by National Park Service staff. There is a key with definitions at the bottom of the report. To report an error or 

make a suggestion, go to https://irma.nps.gov/npspecies/suggest.