Animals of Yellowstone - Small Mammals

Small Mammals

There are at least 50 small mammal species known to occur in Yellowstone National Park, including four common species of bats: Big Brown Bat, Little Brown Bat, Long-legged Bat, and Silver-haired bat. Squirrel, Rabbit, vole, mice, and shrew species are common, but many are nocturnal and rarely seen by visitors. The Uinta ground squirrel, Least Chipmunk, Golden-mantled ground squirrel and American Red Squirrel are commonly encountered by park visitors.

Weasel species, including the North American River Otter are prevalent in the park. Beaver were almost trapped out of the park region prior to its creation. In 1998, beaver populations are making a comeback and an estimated 500 beavers were living in the park with the densest colonial in the Bechler River and Fall River region, the Yellowstone River delta above Yellowstone Lake and the lower Madison River and its tributarys