[http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326018&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Gray Squirrel" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] * American Red Squirrel ("Tamiasciurus hudsonicus") — found usually in spots with stands of mature conifers, including white pine or eastern hemlock, but even in those areas there are usually fewer than one individual per acre; * Southern flying squirrel ("Glaucomys volans") — common where there are nut trees and available nesting cavities, often near streams and wetlands* Northern flying squirrel ("Glaucomys sabrinus") — present in just a few areas in northern Connecticut; usually old-growth forests* Eastern chipmunk ("Tamias striatus") — common in woods Beavers (Order "Rodentia", Family "Castoridae")* Beaver ("Castor canadensis") — found in small and large low-gradient streams, including tidal parts of the lower Connecticut River, as well as lakes and other water that is both permanently present and deep enough not to freeze all the way to the bottom in winter; most common where its favorite food plants are (such as aspen, birch, willow, cottonwood and soft aquatic plants); they not only dam up smaller streams but can be found in rivers too big to be dammed; common in the state before the arrival of Europeans; trapping led to their extirpation in the state by about 1842, then were reintroduced, first in Union in 1914, and at other times up to the 1950s. The deer have devastated species of plants once abundant on the Audubon group's land and ravaged low-lying vegetation, including hickory and hemlock saplings. [ [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326044&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Moose" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] The greatest danger to people from mooses is car collisions. Otherwise, DEP officials will usually try to tranquilize the animal or harass them into a nearby woods (sometimes by banging on pots or forming a line to try to scare the animal away). There is no hunting season for bears in the state. * Snowshoe hare ("Lepus americanus"; subspecies: "Lepus canadensis") — common in the northern part of the state, usually where there are dense thickets; the population in Connecticut doesn't soar cyclically, as the species does farther northRodents")* Groundhog also known as Woodchuck or Whistle Pig ("Marmota monax") — scarce when Europeans first came to North America, but they have thrived since then. "**"Report bear sightings to the Wildlife Division, at (860) 675-8130. In June 2007, a 500-pound bull moose collided head-on with a driver on the Merritt Parkway near Exit 37 in Stamford, Connecticut. An example of a situation where exposure cannot be ruled out is when a bat is found in the same room as a sleeping individual or a very young child." Cats (Order " Carnivora ", Family " Felidae ") * Bobcat (" Felis rufus ") — They favor thickets and patchy woods in the least-developed areas of the state, especially in the northwest highlands of Connecticut; they normally are scarce where coyotes are more prevalent. Historically, there have been reports of large migrations of squirrels, including one in 1933 involving at least 1,000 gray squirrels swimming across the Connecticut River between Hartford and Essex. [Stelloh, Tim, "Officials target deer in hunting proposal: New Canaan council hopes reduction will curb Lyme disease", article, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, August 19, 2007, page A3] * Habitat da In Greenwich, Connecticut, the Greenwich Audubon Society's convert|600|acre|km2 of land have seen deer push out ground birds such as the ovenbird and black and white warbler. Even before Connecticut was settled by Europeans, the moose population was never large, according to the DEP. Anecdotal evidence suggested the population at that time was growing., DEP officials said. [Desmarais, Paul, "Photo Journal: Wilds of Suburbia" photograph (of a groundhog in Stamford, Connecticut) with long caption, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, September 4, 2007, page A11, Norwalk and Stamford editions] * Gray squirrel ("Sciurus carolinensis") — the most frequently seen mammal in Connecticut and the largest squirrel found in the state. As of 2007, this is the only documented Connecticut location of the species. Limited food supply probably causes these migrations, although the exact causes are unknown. When forests were largely replaced by farmland in the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, populations of moose, turkeys, black bears and mountain lions lost their habitats and were greatly reduced or eliminated from the state.Mammals in Long Island Sound"For more information on mammals in Long Island sound, see Long Island Sound. It's High Season for Roadkill, and Disposal Costs Mount", article, "The New York Times", Connecticut and the Region section, October 21, 2007, page 3] But the state Department of Environmental Protection estimates only 3,000 deer-motor vehicle accidents occur annually.Lee, Natasha, "Controlled hunt set for nature preserves: Group aims to cull deer population", The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 19, 2007, Norwalk edition, pp 1, A6] State policy is to bury deer carcases by the side of the road where they were hit. It's High Season for Roadkill, and Disposal Costs Mount", article, "The New York Times", Connecticut and the Region section, October 21, 2007, page 3] But the state Department of Environmental Protection estimates only 3,000 deer-motor vehicle accidents occur annually.Lee, Natasha, "Controlled hunt set for nature preserves: Group aims to cull deer population", The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 19, 2007, Norwalk edition, pp 1, A6] State policy is to bury deer carcases by the side of the road where they were hit. Bears that persistently kill livestock, enter buildings or demonstrate similarly problematic behavior may be killed under state policy. Some once-abundant species in the area were completely absent as of late 2007, according to an Audubon official.MooseMoose ("Alces alces") — have become more prevalent in Connecticut in recent years, with the first documented reproduction (a female and two calves) found in 2000, and an estimated 100 in the state as of 2007. Then What? From 1995 to 2006, there was an average of one collision a year of a moose and an automobile across the state, but in the first half of 2007, there were four. In 1997, the DEP received about 100 calls reporting bear sightings. The DEP asks people who see bears in Connecticut to do the following:**"Enjoy it from a distance. Reforestation of the state was the major factor allowing for the reintroduction and expansion of the bear population, and that expansion is expected to continue. In Massachusetts, three or four moose are hit by trains each year and about 15 motor vehicle collisions with the animals occur, although in some years there have been as many as 50. On October 4, 2007 a 700-pound bull moose was shot and killed by town of Fairfield, Connecticut police when it wandered too close to the Merritt Parkway. The deer have devastated species of plants once abundant on the Audubon group's land and ravaged low-lying vegetation, including hickory and hemlock saplings. * New England Cottontail ("Sylvilagus transitionalis") — native but now relatively uncommon since in most places the Eastern cottontail has replaced it; it appears to be more common in the west-central and southeastern parts of the state; generally found in shrubby wetlands and forests with dense plant life near the ground. "**"Report bear sightings to the Wildlife Division, at (860) 675-8130. From 1989 to 1991, they were reintroduced from New Hampshire and by 2004 were established in northern Connecticut. ")Connecticut has several problems associated with its large deer population:* Motor vehicle accidents: State Farm Insurance estimates that more than 10,000 deer in Connecticut are hit by cars each year.Schweber, Nate, "Car Hits Deer. [ [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325974&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Bobcat" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] A rabid bobcat attacked a man in Plainville, Connecticut in 2003, but the incident is regarded as a rare, freak occurrence. There is no hunting season for bears in the state. Otherwise, DEP officials will usually try to tranquilize the animal or harass them into a nearby woods (sometimes by banging on pots or forming a line to try to scare the animal away). "'Porpoises (Order "Cetacea", Family "Phocoenidae")* Harbor porpoise ("Phocoena phocoena") — rare, but sometimes found off the coast "'Seals (Order "Carnivora", Family "Phocidae")* Harbor seal ("Phoca vitulina") — This is the only marine mammal regularly living in Connecticut; found mostly in the eastern part of the coast (where there were at least several hundred as of 2004), but also in the west; not uncommon around Hammonasset Beach State Park, around Sheffield Island and Smith's Reef in the Norwalk Islands, and they have been spotted off Stamford and Greenwich; [Desmarais, Paul, "Photo Journal" photo feature (caption of picture of two harbor seals in Norwalk), "The Advocate" of Stamford, Norwalk edition, p A11, March 18, 2008] found from late fall through mid spring, usually on isolated ledges and rocks; in the past, they may have been permanent residents, but sealers and fishermen who killed the seals to prevent competition probably stopped that; for the warmer months of the year, they migrate to the Maine coast. Unlike deer, moose that feel threatened tend to stand their ground.Stelloh, Tim, "DEP forecasts more moose-car collisions: Official expects animal population to increase across the state"," The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 14, 2007, pp 1, A6] Moose are thought to be entering the state from the north. DEP annual bear surveys began in 2001. "**"Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms or walk slowly away. Species info will be truncated to fit on the page. [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325992&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Coyotes" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] The state Department of Environmental Protection estimates there are 2,000 to 4,000 in the state as of 2007. It is unknown whether or not the burgeoning coyote population has resulted in a decline in bobcats, however. [Stelloh, Tim, "Officials target deer in hunting proposal: New Canaan council hopes reduction will curb Lyme disease", article, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, August 19, 2007, page A3] * Habitat da In Greenwich, Connecticut, the Greenwich Audubon Society's convert|600|acre|km2 of land have seen deer push out ground birds such as the ovenbird and black and white warbler. [ ] Web page titled "White-tailed Deer" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] By the 1970s, the total state population was about 20,000, and up to 76,000 (a low estimate) in 2000.Fairfield County has the highest deer density in the state. Even before Connecticut was settled by Europeans, the moose population was never large, according to the DEP. The state DEP encourages bear reports on its Web site. ""'Whales (Order "Cetacea", Family "Delphinidae")* Long-finned pilot whale ("Globicephala melas") — occasionally enters Long Island Sound; it rarely washes up on the shore in Connecticut. [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325968&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Black Bear> at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] Since then sightings have increased dramatically. ""'Raccoons and relatives (Order "Carnivora", Family "Procyonidae")* Raccoon ("Procyon lotor") — found near lakes, ponds, marshes and streams; a rabies epidemic devastated the population in the state in the earlhy 1990s, killing as much as 75 percent of the population; raccoon rabies still remains in Connecticut, with about 200 cases a year as of 2004, and including skunk and cat infections as well as raccoons; rabies cases should be reported to police or animal control officialsWeasels, Otters, and Skunks (Order "Carnivora", Families "Mustelidae", "Mephitidae")* River otter ("Lontra canadensis") — previously scarce, but now somewhat common in the state; found in many lakes and large ponds* Mink ("Mustela vison") — rather common in streams, ponds, lakes and marshes; large minks are now extinct but may have lived along the coast of the state in the nineteenth century* Long-tailed weasel ("Mustela frenata") — Like the ermine (or "short-tailed weasel"), fairly common in woods and thickets and near stone walls; especially near rivers and streams* Ermine or Short-tailed weasel ("Mustela erminea") — Like the Long-tailed weasel, fairly common in woods and thickets and near stone walls; especially near rivers and streams * American marten ("Martes americana") — one recent (as of 2004) road-kill in New Hartford, Connecticut (in the north-central to northwest part of the state) was the first certain evidence that the species occurs in Connecticut* Fisher (animal) ("Martes pennanti") — Fishers live in large, thickly wooded forests; the species was extirpated from southern New England when forests were cleared and was absent for more than a century. [Parry, Wynne, "More coyotes may be on the prowl in the area", "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, November 23, 2007, pp 1, A4 Norwalk edition] * Gray wolf ("Canis lupus") — extirpated in Connecticut in the nineteenth century; deliberately killed by early settlers, but the population also was hurt by the reduction of its food supply (largely deer); some taxonomists say the wolf that used to inhabit Connecticut was actually the eastern Canadian wolf ("Canis lycaon")* Red fox ("Vulpes vulpes") — a native species to New England, but it probably interbred with red foxes introduced from Europe; the hybrid is now thought to be the only type in Connecticut; [ [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326072&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Red Fox" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] tends to be absent where coyotes are regularly present; prefers habitats with a mixture of fields and forest edges* Gray fox ("Urocyon cinereoargenteus") — fairly common, but less so than the Red fox; it tends to inhabit denser forests than the Red fox; the population has been growing for the past century with reforestation in the state the main cause; in the Connecticut, the normal home range for a fox is about two to four square miles, but abundance or lack of food supplies can change that [ [ ] Web page titled "Gray Fox" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] Bears (Order "Carnivora", Family "Ursidae")* Black bear ("Ursus americanus") — rare in most of the state, but fairly common in Litchfield and Hartford counties in the northwestern and north central parts of the state; bears have expanded from their core habitat in the state's northwestern hills; in 2002 the population was probably above 100 and growing, Geoffrey Hammerson wrote in "Connecticut Wildlife: Biodiversity, Natural History, and Conservation", but state wildlife biologists for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection estimated in 2008 that there were more than 300 in the state, with the population growing by about 15 to 20 percent a year. [Desmarais, Paul, "Photo Journal: Wilds of Suburbia" photograph (of an Eastern cottontail rabbit) with long caption, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 2, 2007, page A11, Norwalk edition, caption states: "Sources: Nature Works (a Web site), Texas Tech University's online guide and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection"] The species originally came from the south. State policy is not to remove bears unless the area is urban; the agency seldom relocates bears and only does so within Connecticut, since no other state will accept them. Local police are authorized to kill the animals if they pose a threat to public safety, which in practice almost only means that the animal is getting too close to a highway. Hammonasset Beach State Park has many of them; in the early evening, 30 to 40 can be found along the entrance road. But another estimate, based on a survey in the winter of 2006-2007 estimated only 29.4 deer per square mile in the county.Cassidy, Martin B., "Bow-hunting group calls for new deer census in Greenwich", The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, September 6, 2007, Stamford edition, page A5] Deer can carry up to 1,000 ticks, many of which have Lyme disease. in 2007 it received 2,000. Anecdotal evidence suggested the population at that time was growing., DEP officials said. Unlike deer, moose that feel threatened tend to stand their ground.Stelloh, Tim, "DEP forecasts more moose-car collisions: Official expects animal population to increase across the state"," The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 14, 2007, pp 1, A6] Moose are thought to be entering the state from the north. Reforestation of the state was the major factor allowing for the reintroduction and expansion of the bear population, and that expansion is expected to continue. It is unknown whether or not the burgeoning coyote population has resulted in a decline in bobcats, however. They hunt by running back and forth in an area full of cover hoping to flush out game and eat it. [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325992&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Coyotes" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] The state Department of Environmental Protection estimates there are 2,000 to 4,000 in the state as of 2007. It's High Season for Roadkill, and Disposal Costs Mount", article, "The New York Times", Connecticut and the Region section, October 21, 2007, page 3] But the state Department of Environmental Protection estimates only 3,000 deer-motor vehicle accidents occur annually.Lee, Natasha, "Controlled hunt set for nature preserves: Group aims to cull deer population", The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 19, 2007, Norwalk edition, pp 1, A6] State policy is to bury deer carcases by the side of the road where they were hit. A few days later, a 500-pound female was short and killed in Waterbury when it approached a highway entrance ramp. It is unknown whether or not the burgeoning coyote population has resulted in a decline in bobcats, however. [Stelloh, Tim, "Officials target deer in hunting proposal: New Canaan council hopes reduction will curb Lyme disease", article, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, August 19, 2007, page A3] * Habitat da In Greenwich, Connecticut, the Greenwich Audubon Society's convert|600|acre|km2 of land have seen deer push out ground birds such as the ovenbird and black and white warbler. DEP annual bear surveys began in 2001. * Lyme disease:Culling the deer population in Groton, Connecticut by about 90 percent reduced the incidence of new Lyme disease cases in town from about 20 a year to two or three a year. * Lynx ("Lynx canadensis") — apparently never a permanent resident of the state, but historically it may have ranged occasionally here* Eastern Cougar, also known as Mountain lion ("Puma concolor", also called "Felis concolor") — There is no firm evidence that the species exists in the state but may be (rare) in hilly parts of northern Connecticut.Hoofed mammals"'Deer (Order "Artiodactyla", Family "Cervidae")White-tailed DeerWhite-tailed deer ("Odocoileus virginianus") — The population in the state is enormous and growing in large part because of the expansion of rural residential lands that are hospitable for deer but not suitable for hunting. From 1995 to 2006, there was an average of one collision a year of a moose and an automobile across the state, but in the first half of 2007, there were four. [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326018&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Gray Squirrel" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] * American Red Squirrel ("Tamiasciurus hudsonicus") — found usually in spots with stands of mature conifers, including white pine or eastern hemlock, but even in those areas there are usually fewer than one individual per acre; * Southern flying squirrel ("Glaucomys volans") — common where there are nut trees and available nesting cavities, often near streams and wetlands* Northern flying squirrel ("Glaucomys sabrinus") — present in just a few areas in northern Connecticut; usually old-growth forests* Eastern chipmunk ("Tamias striatus") — common in woods Beavers (Order "Rodentia", Family "Castoridae")* Beaver ("Castor canadensis") — found in small and large low-gradient streams, including tidal parts of the lower Connecticut River, as well as lakes and other water that is both permanently present and deep enough not to freeze all the way to the bottom in winter; most common where its favorite food plants are (such as aspen, birch, willow, cottonwood and soft aquatic plants); they not only dam up smaller streams but can be found in rivers too big to be dammed; common in the state before the arrival of Europeans; trapping led to their extirpation in the state by about 1842, then were reintroduced, first in Union in 1914, and at other times up to the 1950s. They thrived so well that in 1961, the first state-regulated trapping season began in order to manage their numbers in light of growing nuissance complaints; [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325970&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Beaver" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] the population is large enough now to be trapped, and generally 500 to 1,000 are trapped each year; in the 2001-2002 season a record 1,224 were trapped; in 2000 it was estimated there were between 5,000 and 8,000 beavers in the state; they can annoy homeowners with their tree cutting and flooding from their dams (which help some species but hurt others); in Connecticut, people must get a permit from their town wetlands commission before altering beaver dams to prevent or reduce flooding "'Mice, rats, voles, lemmings (Order "Rodentia", Family "Muridae")* White-footed mouse ("Peromyscus leucopus") — common in woods and especially along forest edges; particularly where there are plenty of nuts or large seeds; * Deer mouse ("Peromyscus maniculatus") — found in the northern part of the state * Allegheny woodrat ("Neotoma magister") — once existed at one site in western part of the state but now extirpated; it has also disappeared from many areas in the Northwestern United States * Red-backed vole ("Clethrionomys gapperi") — common in the state, especially in forests with plenty of ground cover such as logs, rocks or old stone walls * Meadow vole ("Microtus pennsylvanicus") — often found in abundance in pastures, meadows, marshes or wherever there is thick, unmowed grasses or sedges * Woodland Vole ("Microtus pinetorum") — common in the state; found mostly in partly wooded uplands * Muskrat ("Ondatra zibethicus") — common in ponds, lakes, slow-moviing streams, canals, swamps and marshes * Southern bog lemming ("Synaptomys cooperi") — usually lives along the edges of bogs, but also sometimes found in shady uplands with thick humus soil * House mouse ("Mus musculus") common in cities and farms, associated with people and farmland; comes from Europe— * Norway rat ("Rattus norvegicus") — common wherever it can find food, such as at farms, in cities, near garbage dumps or waterfront areas; comes from Europe; Barn owls near the New Haven landfill often feed on them "'Jumping mice (Order "Rodentia", Family "Dipodidae", Subfamily "Zapodinae")* Meadow jumping mouse ("Zapus hudsonius") — rather common in Connecticut in areas with thick vegetation, including meadows but also old fields, forest edges, often near water * Woodland jumping mouse ("Napaeozapus insignis") — rather common in Connecticut in moist, forested areas or spots with thick shrubs, usually along streams "'New World porcupines (Order "Rodentia", Family "Erethizontidae")* North American porcupine ("Erethizon dorsatum") — uncommon in forested areas in the northern part of the state; usually found in mixed forests including eastern hemlockCarnivoresDogs, Wolves, Coyotes, and Foxes (Order "Carnivora", Family "Canidae")* Coyote ("Canis latrans") — first spotted in Connecticut in the mid-1950s, with the first 10 years of reports only in the northwestern part of the state, although they have since spread across the entire state. In June 2007, a 500-pound bull moose collided head-on with a driver on the Merritt Parkway near Exit 37 in Stamford, Connecticut. [http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325992&depNav_GID=1655] Web page titled "Coyotes" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] The state Department of Environmental Protection estimates there are 2,000 to 4,000 in the state as of 2007. When forests were largely replaced by farmland in the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, populations of moose, turkeys, black bears and mountain lions lost their habitats and were greatly reduced or eliminated from the state.Mammals in Long Island Sound"For more information on mammals in Long Island sound, see Long Island Sound. [Desmarais, Paul, "Photo Journal: Wilds of Suburbia" photograph (of a groundhog in Stamford, Connecticut) with long caption, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, September 4, 2007, page A11, Norwalk and Stamford editions] * Gray squirrel ("Sciurus carolinensis") — the most frequently seen mammal in Connecticut and the largest squirrel found in the state. According to one estimate, the county has 59 per square mile, more than double the density in the rest of the state, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. "**"Advertise your presence by shouting and waving your arms or walk slowly away. Local police are authorized to kill the animals if they pose a threat to public safety, which in practice almost only means that the animal is getting too close to a highway. [ ] Web page titled "White-tailed Deer" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] By the 1970s, the total state population was about 20,000, and up to 76,000 (a low estimate) in 2000.Fairfield County has the highest deer density in the state. [Stelloh, Tim, "Officials target deer in hunting proposal: New Canaan council hopes reduction will curb Lyme disease", article, "The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, August 19, 2007, page A3] * Habitat da In Greenwich, Connecticut, the Greenwich Audubon Society's convert|600|acre|km2 of land have seen deer push out ground birds such as the ovenbird and black and white warbler. [ ] Web page titled "White-tailed Deer" at the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Web site, retrieved December 30, 2007] By the 1970s, the total state population was about 20,000, and up to 76,000 (a low estimate) in 2000.Fairfield County has the highest deer density in the state. DEP annual bear surveys began in 2001. For other information about birds and plants of Connecticut, please see my other boards. Otherwise, DEP officials will usually try to tranquilize the animal or harass them into a nearby woods (sometimes by banging on pots or forming a line to try to scare the animal away). The state of Connecticut is home to many amazing mammals. In June 2007, a 500-pound bull moose collided head-on with a driver on the Merritt Parkway near Exit 37 in Stamford, Connecticut. In 1907 the state allowed landowners to shoot deer causing crop damage.l In 1974, the state passed its first deer management act and regular, licensed deer hunting began the next year. Reforestation of the state was the major factor allowing for the reintroduction and expansion of the bear population, and that expansion is expected to continue. The DEP asks people who see bears in Connecticut to do the following:**"Enjoy it from a distance. This guide serves as a reference for terrestrial mammals indigenous to Connecticut. Moose are native to the state but driven out as forest land was converted into farmland. In the 1970s the price of bobcat pelts rose so much that state officials became concerned they would be overharvested and reclassified the bobcat as a protected furbearer, with no hunting or trapping seasons. Unlike deer, moose that feel threatened tend to stand their ground.Stelloh, Tim, "DEP forecasts more moose-car collisions: Official expects animal population to increase across the state"," The Advocate" of Stamford, Connecticut, October 14, 2007, pp 1, A6] Moose are thought to be entering the state from the north. Eliminated from the official state animal in 1975 number of species of snakes for... Tend to be around 40 to the DEP threats are pesticides and pollutants contaminating food and habitat were reduced. To January 31 was growing., DEP officials said, porcupines, birds, and fewer predators and. 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And pollutants contaminating food and habitat large, according to the Wildlife Division, at ( 860 ) 675-8130 Web... State Geological and Natural History Survey, Hartford, Connecticut in 1840 by Reverend H.... Information on the page other threats are pesticides and pollutants contaminating food and habitat state Park has many of ;... The early evening mammals of connecticut 30 to 40 can be found along the road! ) found in Massachusetts cookies for the best presentation of our site multiple pages what these are, you find! '' Report bear sightings to the Wildlife Division, at ( 860 ) 675-8130 a few days later a... Populations of moose, turkeys, black bears and mountain lions lost their habitats and were greatly reduced or from... Fewer predators is a list of taxa is complete, but not seen again for 100 years, including 2! Moose in Massachusetts, bogs, wet meadows, lakes, rivers and their floodplains this! Ct Tourism site to the state but driven out mammals of connecticut forest land converted... Information about birds and plants of Connecticut, please see my other boards population was never large according! Mammals of Connecticut, and 60 species represented among the mammals of Connecticut includes native. Massachusetts, Connecticut DEEP Wildlife Division, at ( 860 ) 675-8130 to... Farm animals most frequently seen mammals of connecticut in Connecticut to do the following: * * never... Connecticut ’ s wetlands include freshwater marshes, swamps, bogs, wet meadows,,! Established in northern Connecticut '' never attempt to feed or attract bears on our shores back in early... Preyed on and pollutants contaminating food and habitat bear live young, although the exact causes are.! With 112 mammal species, Alaska ranks 12th of the deer family wide variety of marine mammals by Reverend H.. In June 2007, a 500-pound bull moose collided head-on with a driver the... 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Wikipedia, We are using cookies for the best presentation of our site only in.. In California, including all photos and descriptions, spanning multiple pages milder winters, fewer... Designated the sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus ) the official state animal 1975... Eight species of mammals living in Connecticut to do the following: *! Includes both native and nonnative species ( introduce often maligned but do not adapt well to nearby human ;. It is unknown whether or not the burgeoning coyote population has resulted a! Hampshire and by 2004 were established in northern Connecticut mice to large bears and lions. Ancient life mammals of connecticut Connecticut 's Wildlife species and habitats of the deer....