Squirrel's Tale

DIDELPHIMORPHIA: Didelphidae (New World Opossums)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Virginia Opossum	Didelphis virginiana	Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties.

 

INSECTIVORA: Soricidae (Shrews)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Masked Shrew	Sorex cinereus	Statewide.
Rock (Long-tailed) Shrew*	Sorex dispar	Reported only from Berkshire County. Listed as Special Concern.
Smoky Shrew	Sorex fumeus	Central and western Massachusetts.
Pygmy Shrew	Sorex hoyi	One record, Berkshire County, 1991.
Common Water Shrew*	Sorex palustris	Reported from Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester counties. Listed as Special Concern.
Northern Short-tailed Shrew	Blarina brevicauda	Statewide

 

Talpidae (Moles and Shrew-moles)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Hairy-tailed Mole	Parascalops breweri	Northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts. The putative type locality of "Martha's Vineyard"is undoubtedly erroneous.
Eastern Mole	Scalopus aquaticus	Southern Connecticut River Valley, southern Plymouth County, and Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties.
Star-nosed Mole	Condylura cristata	Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties.

 

CHIROPTERA: Vespertilionidae (Vesper Bats)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Eastern Small-footed Bat*	Myotis leibii	Reported only from Hampden County. Listed as Special Concern.
Little Brown Bat	Myotis lucifugus	Statewide.
Northern Long-eared Bat	Myotis septentrionalis	Probably occurs statewide; hypothetical on Nantucket.
Indiana Bat*	Myotis sodalis	Probably extirpated from Massachusetts; last recorded 1939. Reported from Berkshire, Hampden, and Worcester counties. Listed as Endangered.
Eastern Red Bat	Lasiurus borealis	Migratory. May occur statewide.
Hoary Bat	Lasiurus cinereus	Migratory. Apparently occurs statewide; we have records for 8 counties.
Silver-haired Bat	Lasionycteris noctivagans	Migratory. May occur statewide.
Eastern Pipistrelle	Pipistrellus subflavus	Statewide. Status hypothetical in Dukes and Nantucket counties.
Big Brown Bat	Eptesicus fuscus	Statewide. Status hypothetical in Dukes and Nantucket counties.

 

LAGOMORPHA: Leporidae (Hares and Rabbits)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Eastern Cottontail	Sylvilagus floridanus	Statewide. Introduced, principally S. f. mallurus and S. f. mearnsii.
New England Cottontail	Sylvilagus transitionalis	Formerly occurred statewide; distribution now spotty. Probably extirpated from Dukes and Nantucket counties.
European Rabbit	Oryctolagus cuniculus	Widely introduced in the 1920's and 1930's. Feral populations still exist on certain islands in Boston Harbor.
Snowshoe Hare	Lepus americanus	Statewide except Dukes and Suffolk counties. Also widely introduced, principally L. a. americanus.
Black-tailed Jackrabbit	Lepus californicus	Introduced. Now found only on Nantucket island.
European Hare	Lepus europaeus	Unsuccessfully introduced in Berkshire County and elsewhere prior to the 1930's. Now apparently absent.

 

RODENTIA: Sciuridae (Tree Squirrels and Marmots)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Eastern Chipmunk	Tamias striatus	Statewide except Nantucket County.
Woodchuck	Marmota monax	Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties.
Eastern Gray Squirrel	Sciurus carolinensis	Statewide. Recently introduced to Nantucket.
Red Squirrel	Tamiasciurus hudsonicus	Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties.
Northern Flying Squirrel	Glaucomys sabrinus	Northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts.
Southern Flying Squirrel	Glaucomys volans	Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties.

 

Castoridae (Beavers)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
American Beaver	Castor canadensis	Northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts.

 

Muridae (Mice, Rats, Voles, and Lemmings)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
White-footed Mouse	Peromyscus leucopus	Statewide.
Deer Mouse	Peromyscus maniculatus	Central and western Massachusetts.
Norway Rat	Rattus norvegicus	Introduced. Statewide.
Black Rat	Rattus rattus	Introduced. Formerly occurred in the vicinity of large cities and seaports. Now eradicated.
House Mouse	Mus musculus	Introduced. Statewide; distribution spotty. Apparently absent from Martha's Vineyard.
Southern Red-backed Vole	Clethrionomys gapperi	Statewide except Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
Meadow Vole	Microtus pennsylvanicus	Statewide. The vole of Muskeget Island, Nantucket County, is sometimes considered a separate species, M. breweri.
Woodland Vole	Microtus pinetorum	Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties.
Common Muskrat	Ondatra zibethicus	Statewide except Nantucket County.
Southern Bog Lemming*	Synaptomys cooperi	Reported from Franklin, Hampshire, Plymouth, and Worcester counties. Probably occurs elsewhere in the state in areas of suitable habitat. Listed as Special Concern.

 

Zapodidae (Jumping Mice)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Meadow Jumping Mouse	Zapus hudsonius	Statewide.
Woodland Jumping Mouse	Napaeozapus insignis	Central and western Massachusetts.

 

Erethizontidae (New World Porcupines)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Common Porcupine	Erethizon dorsatum	Northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts.

 

CARNIVORA: Canidae (Dogs, Foxes, and Wolves)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Domestic Dog	Canis familiaris	Statewide; feral.
Coyote	Canis latrans	Nearly statewide, including the Elizabeth Islands. Absent from Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
Gray Wolf	Canis lupus	Extirpated from the state by about 1840; one later record, Berkshire County, 1918, probably an escaped captive. U.S. Endangered as C. l. lycaon.
Red Fox	Vulpes vulpes	Distribution in presettlement period not well known. Widely introduced from Europe in the 1700's. Now statewide except Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.
Common Gray Fox	Urocyon cinereoargenteus	Statewide except Dukes, Nantucket, and possibly Suffolk counties.

 

Ursidae (Bears)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Black Bear	Ursus americanus	Central and western Massachusetts.

 

Odobenidae (Walruses)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Walrus	Odobenus rosmarus	Accidental vagrant. Recorded in Essex (1937) and Plymouth (1734) counties.

 

Phocidae (Earless or Hair Seals)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Harp Seal	Phoca groenlandica	Annual vagrant; recorded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, Plymouth and Suffolk counties.
Ringed Seal	Phoca hispida	Rare vagrant along coast, Essex to Middlesex counties.
Harbor Seal	Phoca vitulina	Coastal Massachusetts.
Gray Seal*	Halichoerus grypus	Resident in Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket county waters. Also recorded elsewhere in the state as a northern vagrant. Listed as Special Concern.
Hooded Seal	Cystophora cristata	Annual vagrant; recorded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, and Plymouth counties.

 

Procyonidae (Raccoons, Coatis, and Ringtails)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Common Raccoon	Procyon lotor	Statewide except Nantucket County.

 

Mustelidae (Weasels, Minks, Martens, and Otters)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
American Marten	Martes americana	Extirpated. Formerly central and western Massachusetts. Last known record, Worcester County, 1880. One vagrant from Vermont taken in Worcester County, 1992. A 1993 Worcester County record is believed to have been an escape from a fur farm.
Fisher	Martes pennanti	Northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts. Range expansions into Bristol, Norfolk, and Plymouth counties occurred recently.
Ermine	Mustela erminea	Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties.
Long-tailed Weasel	Mustela frenata	Statewide except Dukes and Nantucket counties.
American Mink	Mustela vison	Statewide except Nantucket and possibly Suffolk counties. The Sea Mink, M. v. macrodon, now extinct, formerly occurred in coastal Massachusetts.
Wolverine	Gulo gulo	Extirpated. Reported to occur in western Massachusetts prior to 1835.
Northern River Otter	Lutra canadensis	Statewide except Nantucket and possibly Suffolk counties. One record on Nantucket, 1984.

 

Mephitidae (Skunks)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Striped Skunk	Mephitis mephitis	Statewide except Nantucket County.

 

Felidae (Cats)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Domestic Cat	Felis catus	Statewide; feral.
Mountain Lion (Cougar)	Puma concolor	Extirpated; last known record, Hampshire County, ca. 1858. Recent sight records are suspicious and unverified. U.S. Endangered as F. c. couguar.
Canada Lynx	Lynx canadensis	Extirpated. Recorded Hampshire County (1866) and Worcester County (1884-85). Questionable reports from 1930's may be misidentified bobcats. At least 2 records in 1991 were wandering lynx released in New York.
Bobcat	Lynx rufus	Northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts.

 

CETACEA: Balaenopteridae (Rorqual Whales)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Minke Whale	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	Inshore waters; stranded Barnstable, Essex, Norfolk, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties.
Sei Whale*	Balaenoptera borealis	Stranded in Barnstable (1910 & 1974) and Plymouth (1948) counties. Listed as Endangered.
Blue Whale*	Balaenoptera musculus	One questionable stranding, Essex County, 1755. Recent near-shore records. Listed as Endangered.
Fin Whale*	Balaenoptera physalus	Formerly common offshore. Stranded Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, and Plymouth counties. Listed as Endangered.
Humpback Whale*	Megaptera novaeangliae	Stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, Norfolk, and Suffolk counties. Listed as Endangered.

 

Balaenidae (Right and Bowhead Whales)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Northern [Black] Right Whale*	Eubalaena glacialis	Formerly stranded frequently. Now observed in waters of Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket, and Plymouth counties. Listed as Endangered.

 

Monodontidae (Belugas and Narwhals)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
White Whale (Beluga)	Delphinapterus leucas	Observed in waters of Barnstable, Dukes and Essex counties; killed in Barnstable County (prior to 1904) and stranded in Dukes County (1983).

 

Delphinidae (Dolphins and Pilot Whales)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Bottle-nosed Dolphin	Tursiops truncatus	Inshore waters; stranded Barnstable and Plymouth counties.
Pantropical Spotted Dolphin	Stenella attenuata	Two records, coastal Massachusetts.
Striped Dolphin	Stenella coeruleoalba	Pelagic; reported from Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket and Plymouth counties.
Saddle-backed (Common) Dolphin	Delphinus delphis	Reported from Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties.
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin	Lagenorhynchus acutus	Coastal waters; stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Nantucket and Norfolk counties.
White-beaked Dolphin	Lagenorhychus albirostris	Coastal waters; reported from Barnstable and Essex counties.
Risso's Dolphin (Grampus)	Grampus griseus	Offshore; stranded Barnstable, Dukes and Norfolk counties.
False Killer Whale	Pseudorca crassidens	One record, Barnstable County, 1997.
Short-finned Pilot Whale	Globicephala macrorhychus	One record, Dukes County, 1980.
Long-finned Pilot Whale	Globicephala melas	Occurs in schools, frequently stranded. Reported from Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, and Nantucket counties.
Killer Whale	Orcinus orca	Offshore waters; stranded in Barnstable and Dukes counties and observed in Plymouth and Suffolk county waters.

 

Phocoenidae (Porpoises)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Harbor Porpoise	Phocoena phocoena	Coastal waters; reported from Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Plymouth, and Suffolk counties.

 

Ziphiidae (Beaked Whales)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Goose-beaked Whale	Ziphius cavirostris	Pelagic; strandings in Barnstable (1958 & 1961) and Dukes (1963) counties.
North Atlantic Bottle-nosed Whale	Hyperoodon ampullatus	Pelagic; stranded in Barnstable (1869) and Essex (1923) counties.
North Atlantic Beaked Whale	Mesoplodon bidens	Two records, Nantucket County (1867 & 1973).
Dense-beaked Whale	Mesoplodon densirostris	One record, Essex County, 1898.
Gervais' Beaked Whale	Mesoplodon europaeus	One record, Barnstable County, 1997.
True's Beaked Whale	Mesoplodon mirus	One record, Nantucket County, 1982.

 

Physeteridae (Sperm and Pygmy Sperm Whales)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Pygmy Sperm Whale	Kogia breviceps	Offshore waters; stranded in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, Norfolk and Plymouth counties and recorded in Bristol County waters.
Sperm Whale*	Physeter catodon	Formerly abundant offshore. Strandings in Barnstable, Dukes, Essex, and Nantucket counties. Listed as Endangered.

 

ARTIODACTYLA: Cervidae (Deer, Elk, and Moose)
Common Name	Scientific Name	Distribution
Fallow Deer	Dama dama	Introduced, Dukes County. None reported since the early 1980s.
Wapiti (Elk)	Cervus elaphus	Extirpated. Occurred infrequently in western Mass. in colonial times. Last known record, Worcester County, ca. 1732.
White-tailed Deer	Odocoileus virginianus	Statewide with the apparent exception of Suffolk County.
Moose	Alces alces	Now breeds locally in northeastern, central, and western Massachusetts; vagrants also occur.