Mammals
Gray Squirrel
(Sciurus carolinensis)
Size: 9"-12"
Seasons: Year-round
Habitat: Everywhere there are trees
Description: Large gray-colored squirrel with a brownish tinge and a bushy tail. A melanistic form is entirely black.
American Beaver
(Castor canadensis)
Size About 45 lb and 3'-4' inc. tail
Seasons: Year-round
Habitat: Aquatic habitats and shorelines.
A large rodent with webbed feet and a flat, black tail. Most often seen swimming or feeding along the shoreline.
White-Tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Size: Up to 140 pounds and 34" at the shoulder for male bucks; the female does a little smaller.
Seasons: Year-round
Habitat: Larger greenspaces throughout Philadelphia
Description: Our only deer. Males grow antlers in the fall and shed them after breeding season.
Virginia Opossum
(Didelphis virginiana)
Size: About the size of a house cat
Seasons: Year-round
Habitat: Green spaces and neighborhoods across Philadelphia
Description: The opossum looks like a pale gray rat the size of a cat. They are primarily active at night.
Woodchuck (Groundhog)
(Marmota monax)
Size: About the size of a house cat
Season: Year-round
Habitat: Open areas throughout Philadelphia
Description: These tan-colored chunky ground squirrels have a short black tail. Look for them in open terrain, including vacant lots.
Red Fox
(Vulpes vulpes)
Size: About 10lb and 2' long.
Seasons: Year-round
Habitat: Green spaces and neighborhoods across Philadelphia.
Description: Like a leggy reddish dog with a fluffy, white-tipped tail, familiar in our parks and, at night, in our neighborhoods.
Common Raccoon
(Procyon lotor)
Size: 10-30lb
Seasons: Year-round
Habitat: Everywhere in Philadelphia
Description: Masked face and black-banded fluffy tail with hand-like paws.
Eastern Chipmunk
(Tamia striatus)
Size: about 9" long
Seasons: Mostly spring-fall
Habitat: Open forest and forest edges
Description: A chunky squirrel, brown with bold black and white stripes
Eastern Cottontail
(Sylvilagus floridanus)
Size: About 16" long
Season: Year-round
Habitat: Open areas throughout Philadelphia
Description: Our only rabbit or hare, particularly active dusk to dawn
Coyote
(Canis latrans)
Size: 35-55lb
Season: Year-round
Habitat: Potentially throughout Philadelphia greenspaces, ranging into neighborhoods
Description: Coyotes look like medium-sized dogs. Note the black-tipped, fluffy tail carried low—mostly active dusk-dawn.
Striped Skunk
(Mephitis mephitis)
Size: About 2' incl. tail (about the size of a house cat)
Seasons: Year-round
Habitat: Green spaces and neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia
Description: Black with white stripes, long fur, and, of course, a strong odor. Skunks shuffle along at an easygoing pace.
Brown Rat
(Rattus norvegicus)
Size: About 18" long incl. tail
Seasons: Year-round
Habitat: Neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia
Description: Brown with a long tail.
House Mouse
(Mus musculus)
Size: Body about 6" incl. tail
Seasons: Year-round
Habitat: Neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia
Description: The basic mouse of your house, restaurant, and subway platform.
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Big Brown Bat
(Eptesicus fuscus)
Size: About 4" long with 12" wingspan
Seasons: Spring-fall
Habitat: Green spaces and neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia
Description: These are particularly easy to observe flying in open spaces such as parks and cemeteries.