Mammal Photos

Living in coniferous forests of the North and high elevations, this is an energetic & feisty species. In NC, they're found only in the mountains, and this is near the southernmost edge of their range in the Eastern U.S.

The largest squirrel in the eastern U.S., they are abundant in some parts of their range and are found begging at every park bench. In NC, however, they are considered rare and are found primarily in dry remnant longleaf pine habitats. Their body coloration is variable from grayish and/or rufous to quite blackish with white on the face.

Appropriately named, this is one of the smallest chipmunks and is found from Michigan's upper peninsula west throughout Canada and down into much of the mountainous areas of the western U.S.

Endemic to the Cascade Mountains of Washington and British Columbia

Found in rocky habitats at high altitudes from the northwestern U.S., through Canada, and into Alaska

The only marmot in the eastern U.S. and absent from most of the western U.S., groundhogs range from Alabama & Georgia to northeastern Canada and west through Canada all the way to Alaska! In NC,they're found only in the western half of the state.

Introduced to North America in the 1940s, Nutrias have become a pest in parts of the southeastern U.S. They thrive in both fresh and saltwater habitats eating vegetation and invertebrates.

Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Native to and widespread throughout the American tropics north to desert southwestern U.S., peccaries resemble pigs but are actually in different families. It's best to observe them from a safe distance as they can give a vicious bite when annoyed.