|
NOTE:
The information contained herein is accurate
except for mammals suspected or reported without substantive verification, these are noted
in the notes column. I am working on inputting the status and distribution as well as
habitat information. I also have not input all of the contributors to this effort yet (and
there have been many). All contributors will be acknowledged. Any comments on
distribution, taxonomy, personal observations, collections, or historical information are
welcomed.
The following mammal list is from the upcoming book "Status and Distribution of
Kern County Mammals," by A. M. Sheehey. Nature Ali Publications. The purpose of this
work is to disseminate accurate information about the biogeographically diverse region
of Kern County. When finished it will include general status and
distribution information. The listing order follows what is found in "Walker's
Mammals of World" 1999, by R. M. Nowak; and subspecies nomenclature are mostly from
"The Mammals of North America," 2nd ed., 1981, by E. R. Hall. English names
refer to the species as a whole, unless individual subspecies have been given a common
name. Species range is described briefly. Asterisks specify that the mammal's occurrence
in Kern County is supported by specimens from at least one of many Natural History Museums
listed at the end of this document.
Taxa are presented in the phylogenetic sequence used in Walker's Mammals of the World.
This checklist contains 102 species, four species are listed as endangered by the US Fish
and Wildlife Service, one is a federal candidate species, two are currently listed as
endangered by the state of California and five are listed as threatened by the state.
Additionally twelve species are considered sensitive by the federal authorities and
sixteen are considered sensitive by the state of California. Two extirpated species have
been reintroduced to the wilds of the county. The list includes two extinct species.
Twenty taxa have been introduced and occur in sufficient numbers to be included
here.
Museum specimens have been used to develop the basic list, and review of scientific
literature have added to the number of species represented. Interviews with area
biologists and the author's personal field experience have added several species not
represented in any collection or literature found so far.
Although no works have been published on Kern County mammals, several significant works
on the recent mammals of California have been published. California Mammals (Stephens,
1906), Mammals of California (Ingles, 1947), Mammals of the Pacific States (Ingles, 1965),
and California's Wildlife, Volume III - Mammals (Zeiner et al., 1990) are major references
on the mammals of the state. Williams has written extensively about the rodents of the San
Joaquin Valley. Cypher has published many works on the urban kit fox. Brown-Berry has
studied distribution and ecology of bats. All species of mammals known to occur in the
state at the time were treated by Hall (1981). Books available for laypersons are A Field
Guide to the Mammals (Burt & Grossenheider, 1980) and California Mammals (Jameson
& Peeters 1989).
These works were used as reference for status and habitat information of Kern's
mammals. This compilation is presented to advance the work of many biologists, especially
students, as well as the general public. My devotion to the biological diversity of Kern
County and personal passion to save the flora and fauna from the developers blade or
farmers plow are the reason for making this information available without cost to
interested persons. This list like all living things will evolve as new information
becomes available. Please enjoy my labor of love.
Common Name |
Genus |
species |
subspecies |
Status
and distribution |
Notes |
MARSUPIALS:
ORDER MARSUPIALIA |
Opossums:
Family Didelphidae 1,1,1,1,1 |
|
Virginia opossum*
|
Didelphis
|
virginiana |
virginiana |
RANGE: All areas except desert.
HABITATS: Lacustrine, Fresh Emergent Wetland, riparian, parkland, suburban, mature
vegetation.
|
Introduced to CA 1890's to 1915.
First record in Bakersfield 1942. Found near water sources, brushy undergrowth,
semi-arboreal. Active yearlong; nocturnal. Common.
|
INSECTIVORES:
ORDER INSECTIVORA |
Shrews:
Family Soricidae 1,1,2,5,6 |
|
Dusky shrew*
|
Sorex
|
monticolus
|
obscurus
|
RANGE: East slope Sierras (NW
Desert) HABITATS: high elevation wetland, meadows
|
mostly crepuscular or nocturnal,
moist soil, active year-round
|
|
Ornate shrew*
|
Sorex
|
ornatus
|
ornatus
|
RANGE: East valley, foothills,
mountains. HABITATS: valley foothill, montane riparian woodland, chaparral, wetland,
marsh, grassland
|
Diurnal or nocturnal, may be found
in dry areas but prefers moist soil
|
|
Buena Vista Lake
shrew*
|
Sorex
|
ornatus
|
relictus
|
RANGE: Buena Vista to Tulare Lake
basin HABITATS: wetland, marsh, riparian areas
|
FC, CSC, VERY RARE diurnal or
nocturnal, prefers moist soil.
|
|
Water Shrew
|
Sorex
|
palustris
|
navigator
|
RANGE: not known HABITAT:
restricted to montane riparian areas
|
No documented sightings yet, but
expected in the higher elevations.
|
|
Trowbridge's
shrew*
|
Sorex
|
trowbridgii
|
mariposae
|
RANGE: Greenhorn Mountains
HABITATS: coniferous forests, foothill woodlands, montane riparian, red fir
|
Active day or night, year-round
|
|
Crawford's desert
or gray shrew
|
Notiosorex
|
crawfordi
|
crawfordi
|
RANGE: Mojave desert HABITATS:
chaparral, sagebrush, desert scrub, riparian, pinyon juniper
|
no records, Nocturnal, active
year-round, dry alluvial fans, arid environments.
|
Moles:
Family Talpidae 0,1,1,1,1 |
|
Broad-handed mole*
|
Scapanus
|
latimanus
|
occultus
|
RANGE: Mountains, Walker Basin
HABITATS: meadows, riparian, pasture, grassland.
|
sandy soil, day or night activity.
Most active after rain.
|
BATS:
ORDER CHIROPTERA |
Vespertilionid
Bats: Family Vespertilionidae 1,1,7,15,20 |
|
Long-eared myotis*
|
Myotis
|
evotis
|
evotis
|
RANGE: Tehachapis to Walker Pass
HABITATS: forests, parks,. lives in caves, trees, and buildings
|
nocturnal, aerial, wide ranging,
hibernates
|
|
Fringed myotis*
|
Myotis
|
thysanodes
|
thysanodes
|
RANGE: Mountains from Frazier Park
to Walker Pass HABITATS: caves, old buildings
|
colonial, nocturnal, aerial.
|
|
Western
small-footed myotis*
|
Myotis
|
ciliolabrum
|
melanorhinus
|
RANGE: San Joaquin and Kern
Valley. HABITATS: caves, rock crevices, mine tunnels, buildings, near trees
|
FSC, crepuscular, feeds low over
trees or brush.
|
|
California myotis*
|
Myotis
|
californicus
|
californicus
|
RANGE: County-wide HABITAT: desert
scrub, chaparral, forest, woodland
|
Nocturnal, hibernating, small
social groups
|
|
|
Myotis
|
californicus
|
stephensi
|
RANGE: Desert HABITAT: desert
scrub
|
|
|
Little brown
myotis*
|
Myotis
|
lucifugus
|
carissima
|
RANGE: Sierran Mountains HABITAT:
forests, meadow, desert scrub
|
nocturnal, hibernates, migratory
|
|
Yuma myotis*
|
Myotis
|
yumanensis
|
sociabilis
|
RANGE: County-wide HABITAT: open
forests
|
FSC, hibernates, downslope
migration.
|
|
|
Myotis
|
yumanensis
|
californicus
|
RANGE: Valley HABITAT:
|
FSC, near watersource, colonial
roosts
|
|
Long-legged
myotis*
|
Myotis
|
volans
|
interior
|
RANGE: mountains, foothills
HABITAT: woodlands, forests
|
nocturnal, hibernates, colonial
|
|
Silver-haired bat
|
Lasionycteris
|
noctivagans
|
|
RANGE: migratory countywide
HABITAT:
|
non-resident migratory, roosts in
hollow trees, under bark, buildings, rocks, and caves
|
|
Western
pipistrelle*
|
Pipistrellus
|
hesperus
|
hesperus
|
RANGE: County-wide HABITAT: brush,
woodlands, desert scrub
|
common in brush, abundant in
desert, nocturnal
|
|
Big brown bat*
|
Eptesicus
|
fuscus
|
bernardinus
|
RANGE: County-wide HABITAT: all
habitats
|
nocturnal, hibernates, roosts in
small groups, caves, buildings
|
|
|
Eptesicus
|
fuscus
|
pallidus
|
RANGE: Kern River Valley HABITAT:
|
colonial roosting, nocturnal
|
|
Hoary bat*
|
Lasiurus
|
cinereus
|
cinereus
|
RANGE: mountains, valley HABITAT:
woodlands, forests
|
nocturnal, hibernates, roosts in
trees, long distance migration
|
|
Western red bat*
|
Lasiurus
|
blossevillii
|
teliotis
|
RANGE: mountains, valley HABITAT:
grassland, woodland, shrubland, forest
|
hibernates, nocturnal, migrates
short distances spring and fall.
|
|
Pale Big-eared
Bat*
|
Corynorhinus
|
townsendii
|
pallescens
|
RANGE: Mountains - Desert HABITAT:
|
FSC, CSC
|
|
Townsend's Western
Big-eared Bat
|
Corynorhinus
|
townsendii
|
townsendii
|
RANGE: should be in valley
HABITAT:
|
CSC May be in county, no records
found yet
|
|
Spotted bat*
|
Euderma
|
maculatum
|
|
RANGE: Mountains - Desert HABITAT:
|
CSC
|
|
Pallid bat*
|
Antrozous
|
pallidus
|
pacificus
|
RANGE: S. Tehachapis HABITAT:
|
CSC
|
|
|
Antrozous
|
pallidus
|
pallidus
|
RANGE: Kern Valley HABITAT:
|
CSC
|
Free-tailed
Bats: Family Molossidae 0,1,2,2,2 |
|
Mexican
free-tailed bat*
|
Tadarida
|
brasiliensis
|
mexicana
|
RANGE: County-wide HABITAT:
|
|
|
Western mastiff
bat*
|
Eumops
|
perotis
|
californicus
|
RANGE: Mountains, valley HABITAT:
|
FSC, CSC
|
CARNIVORES: ORDER CARNIVORA
|
Dogs: Family Canidae 1,1,3,5,7 |
|
Red fox
|
Vulpes
|
vulpes
|
|
RANGE: Valley, mountains HABITAT:
forest, grassland, woodland, riparian
|
Introduced spreading direct
threat to kit fox
|
|
Sierra Nevada red fox
|
Vulpes
|
vulpes
|
necator
|
RANGE: S. Sierra HABITAT:
|
CT, Hall lists record from Piutes
|
|
Desert kit fox*
|
Vulpes
|
macrotis
|
arsipus
|
RANGE: Desert HABITAT: desert
scrub
|
|
|
San
Joaquin kit fox*
|
Vulpes
|
macrotis
|
mutica
|
RANGE: Valley HABITAT: desert
scrub, grassland
|
FE, CT
|
|
Gray fox*
|
Urocyon
|
cinereoargenteus
|
californicus
|
RANGE: Mountains, Foothills
HABITAT: oak woodland
|
|
|
Coyote*
|
Canis
|
latrans
|
ochropus
|
RANGE: valley, mountains.
HABITAT:
|
|
|
Feral dog*
|
Canis
|
familiaris
|
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Introduced
|
Bears: Family Ursidae 0,1,1,1,1 |
|
Black bear*
|
Ursus
|
americanus
|
californiensis
|
RANGE: Mountains HABITAT: forest,
foothill woodland
|
Game species. Occupies niche left
by grizzly bear
|
|
California grizzly
bear
|
Ursus
|
arctos
|
californicus
|
RANGE: Mountains last record from
Tehachapi Mtns.1918
|
Extinct
|
Raccoons and Relatives: Family Procyonidae 0,1,2,2,2 |
|
Ringtail*
|
Bassariscus
|
astutus
|
raptor
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
CSC
|
|
Raccoon*
|
Procyon
|
lotor
|
psora
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
Weasels and Relatives: Family Mustelidae 0,1,7,9,12 |
|
Long-tailed
weasel*
|
Mustela
|
frenata
|
latirostra
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Mustela
|
frenata
|
pulchra
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Mink
|
Mustela
|
vison
|
aestuarina
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
* range maps show strong
possibility in mtn streams
|
|
American marten
|
Martes
|
americana
|
sierrae
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
CSC ** no county records but the
habitat is right in the Sunday Peak/Tiger Flat area
|
|
Fisher*
|
Martes
|
pennanti
|
pacifica
|
RANGE: Greenhorn, Piutes HABITAT:
|
FSC, CSC
|
|
Wolverine*
|
Gulo
|
gulo
|
luteus
|
RANGE: Piutes HABITAT:
|
FSC, CT. no recent records
|
|
Badger*
|
Taxidea
|
taxus
|
berlandieri
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
CSC
|
|
|
Taxidea
|
taxus
|
jeffersoni
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
CSC
|
|
Western spotted
skunk*
|
Spilogale
|
gracilis
|
phenax
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Striped skunk*
|
Mephitis
|
mephitis
|
occidentalis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Mephitis
|
mephitis
|
holzneri
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
Cats: Family Felidae 0,1,2,4,5 |
|
Feral cat
|
Felis
|
catus
|
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
introduced
|
|
Bobcat
|
Lynx
|
rufus
|
baileyi
|
RANGE:Mojave desert HABITAT:
|
* by Hall's map in desert
|
|
Bobcat*
|
Lynx
|
rufus
|
californica
|
RANGE: valley mountains HABITAT:
|
|
|
Mountain lion*
|
Puma
|
concolor
|
californica
|
RANGE: Mountains foothills
HABITAT: rocky talus, riparian, conifers, oak woodlands
|
protected
|
|
Jaguar*
|
Panthera
|
onca
|
arizonensis
|
RANGE: extirpated HABITAT:
|
** last reported in Tehachapi
Mtns. 1919
|
ODD-TOED
UNGULATES: ORDER PERISSODACTYLA |
Horses
and Burros: Family Equidae 1,1,1,1,1 |
|
Wild burro
|
Equus
|
asinus
|
|
RANGE: China Lake area HABITAT:
|
Introduced
|
Pigs:
Family Suidae 0,1,1,1,1 |
|
Wild pig*
|
Sus
|
scrofa
|
|
RANGE: foothills mountains
HABITAT:
|
Introduced Game species
|
EVEN-TOED
UNGULATES: ORDER ARTIODACTYLA |
Deer
and Relatives: Family Cervidae 1,1,2,2,3 |
|
Tule Elk*
|
Cervus
|
elaphus
|
nannoides
|
RANGE: Tupman, Temblors, San
Emigdio HABITAT:
|
Reintroduced from captive
population at Tupman
|
|
Rocky Mountain Elk
|
Cervus
|
elaphus
|
nelsoni
|
RANGE: Tehachapis HABITAT:
|
introduced
|
|
Mule deer*
|
Odocoileus
|
hemionus
|
californicus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Game species
|
Pronghorn:
Family Antilocapridae 0,1,1,1,1 |
|
Pronghorn*
|
Antilocapra
|
americana
|
americana
|
RANGE: Antelope Plain south to San
Emigdio HABITAT:
|
*reintroduced
|
Cattle,
Sheep, and Relatives: Family Bovidae 0,1,2,3,4 |
|
Cattle
|
Bos
|
taurus
|
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
* no records of feral populations
|
|
Domestic goat*
|
Ovis
|
aries
|
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
California bighorn
sheep*
|
Ovis
|
canadensis
|
californiana
|
RANGE: extirpated HABITAT:
|
FE, CT
|
|
Desert bighorn
sheep*
|
Ovis
|
canadensis
|
nelsoni
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
* introduced in Los Padres and El
Paso Mtns.
|
RODENTS:
ORDER RODENTIA |
Squirrels:
Family Sciuridae 1,1,6,11,17 |
|
Merriam's
chipmunk*
|
Tamias
|
merriami
|
kernensis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Tamias
|
merriami
|
merriami
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Mt. Pinos
chipmunk*
|
Tamias
|
speciosus
|
callipeplus
|
RANGE: Mt. Pinos HABITAT:
|
|
|
Lodgepole chipmunk*
|
Tamias
|
speciosus
|
frater
|
RANGE: mountains HABITAT:
coniferous forest
|
|
|
|
Tamias
|
speciosus
|
sequoiensis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Tamias
|
speciosus
|
speciosus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Least chipmunk*
|
Tamias
|
minimus
|
scrutator
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
questionable record White
Mtn. Inyo County species
|
|
White-tailed
antelope squirrel*
|
Ammospermophilus
|
leucurus
|
leucurus
|
RANGE: Kern Valley, Mojave
Desert
HABITAT: scrubland
|
|
|
San
Joaquin antelope squirrel*
|
Ammospermophilus
|
nelsoni
|
|
RANGE: West Valley
HABITAT: Saltbush
scrublands
|
FSC, CT
|
|
California ground squirrel*
|
Spermophilus
|
beecheyi
|
fisheri
|
RANGE: Entire county HABITAT:
Grassland, forest,
|
|
|
|
Spermophilus
|
beecheyi
|
parvulus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Mohave ground
squirrel*
|
Spermophilus
|
mohavensis
|
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
FSC, CSC
|
|
Fox squirrel*
|
Sciurus
|
niger
|
|
RANGE: Bakersfield HABITAT:
parklands, suburban neighborhoods
|
Introduced
|
|
Western gray
squirrel*
|
Sciurus
|
griseus
|
anthonyi
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Game species
|
|
|
Sciurus
|
griseus
|
griseus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Game species
|
|
Douglas' squirrel*
|
Tamiasciurus
|
douglasii
|
albolimbatus
|
RANGE: Northern Greenhorn
Mtns.
HABITAT: coniferous forest
|
|
|
Northern flying
squirrel*
|
Glaucomys
|
sabrinus
|
lascivus
|
RANGE: Breckenridge Mountain
HABITAT:
|
1999 record: Wm. Van Herweg
|
Beaver:
Family Castoridae 0,1,1,1,2 |
|
Beaver*
|
Castor
|
canadensis
|
|
RANGE: Kernville, Kern
River HABITAT: riparian
|
Introduced
|
|
|
Castor
|
canadensis
|
subauratus
|
RANGE: Tulare Lake
Basin HABITAT: streamsides
|
most likely extirpated |
Pocket
Gophers: Family Geomyidae 0,1,1,1,10 |
|
Southwestern
pocket gopher*
|
Thomomys
|
bottae
|
angularis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Thomomys
|
| |
