Are you curious about wildlife in California and where to go for once-in-a-lifetime experiences? Read on to find out more about the diverse species of wildlife!
California's terrestrial mammal fauna includes about 160 species, with rodents making up more than half of this total. About 30 species are restricted to desert regions and thus not part of California's Mediterranean-climate region.
Bobcats and mountain lions are among the largest creatures now. Coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, weasels, rabbits and deer are additional land mammals that live in California.
Bobcats and mountain lions are among the largest creatures now. Coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, weasels, rabbits and deer are additional land mammals that live in California.
Bobcats, sometimes called wildcats, are roughly twice as big as the average housecat. They have long legs, large paws, and tufted ears similar to those of their larger relative, the Canada lynx.
Coyotes are named after the Aztec word coyotl and can be found throughout Alaska, Central America and on the Great Plains. They share many similarities with other members of their family—wolves, dogs foxes and jackals.
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes and one of the most widely distributed members of the order Carnivora, being present across the entire Northern Hemisphere, including most of North America.
The gray wolf is a native species that was likely extirpated from California in the 1920s. Wolves are now returning to California on their own through the dispersal of individuals from source populations in other states.
Presently, the statewide black bear population is conservatively estimated to be between 30,000 and 40,000. Two subspecies of black bear are recognized in California: the northern black bear and the California black bear.