|
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
|
bottae
|
bottae
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Buena Vista Lake pocket gopher*
|
Thomomys
|
bottae
|
ingens
|
RANGE: Buena Vista
Lake HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Thomomys
|
bottae
|
mewa
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Thomomys
|
bottae
|
mohavensis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Thomomys
|
bottae
|
neglectus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Thomomys
|
bottae
|
pascalis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Thomomys
|
bottae
|
perpallidus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Thomomys
|
bottae
|
perpes
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Thomomys
|
bottae
|
piutensis
|
RANGE: Piute
Mtns.
HABITAT:
|
|
Pocket
Mice and Kangaroo Rats: Family Heteromyidae 0,1,3,14,19 |
|
Yellow-eared
Pocket mouse*
|
Perognathus
|
parvus
|
xanthonotus
|
RANGE: Walker Pass
HABITAT:
|
|
|
Tehachapi
pocket mouse*
|
Perognathus
|
alticola
|
inexpectatus
|
RANGE: Tehachapi
HABITAT:
|
FSC, CSC
|
|
Little
pocket mouse*
|
Perognathus
|
longimembris
|
longimembris
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
San
Joaquin pocket mouse*
|
Perognathus
|
inornatus
|
inornatus
|
RANGE: west valley
HABITAT: grassland, saltbush scrub
|
FSC
|
|
|
Perognathus
|
inornatus
|
neglectus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
California
pocket mouse*
|
Chaetodipus
|
californicus
|
ochrus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Desert
pocket mouse
|
Chaetodipus
|
penicillatus
|
stephensi
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
***** no records but expected in
county
|
|
Long-tailed
pocket mouse*
|
Chaetodipus
|
formosus
|
mohavensis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Chisel-toothed
kangaroo rat*
|
Dipodomys
|
microps
|
microps
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Panamint
kangaroo rat*
|
Dipodomys
|
panamintinus
|
mohavensis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Pacific
kangaroo rat*
|
Dipodomys
|
agilis
|
agilis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Dipodomys
|
agilis
|
perplexus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Heermann's
kangaroo rat*
|
Dipodomys
|
heermanni
|
swarthi
|
RANGE: valley, foothills HABITAT:
grassland, oak woodland, saltbush scrub
|
|
|
|
Dipodomys
|
heermanni
|
tularensis
|
RANGE: Valley HABITAT: saltbush scrub,
grassland
|
|
|
Giant
kangaroo rat*
|
Dipodomys
|
ingens
|
|
RANGE: west valley
HABITAT: saltbush scrub
|
FE, CE
|
|
Merriam's
kangaroo rat*
|
Dipodomys
|
merriami
|
merriami
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Short-nosed
kangaroo rat*
|
Dipodomys
|
nitratoides
|
brevinasus
|
RANGE: west valley
HABITAT: grassland, saltbush scrub
|
FSC, CSC
|
|
Tipton
kangaroo rat*
|
Dipodomys
|
nitratoides
|
nitratoides
|
RANGE: central/east
valley HABITAT: grassland, saltbush scrub
|
FE, CE
|
|
Desert
kangaroo rat*
|
Dipodomys
|
deserti
|
deserti
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
Rats
and Mice: Family Muridae 0,1,8,15,26 |
|
Desert
woodrat*
|
Neotoma
|
lepida
|
gilva
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Neotoma
|
lepida
|
intermedia
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Neotoma
|
lepida
|
lepida
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Dusky-footed
woodrat*
|
Neotoma
|
fuscipes
|
bullatior
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Neotoma
|
fuscipes
|
simplex
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Southern
grasshopper mouse*
|
Onychomys
|
torridus
|
clarus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Onychomys
|
torridus
|
longicaudus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Onychomys
|
torridus
|
pulcher
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Tulare
grasshopper mouse*
|
Onychomys
|
torridus
|
tularensis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
FSC, CSC
|
|
Parasitic
mouse*
|
Peromyscus
|
californicus
|
mariposae
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Cactus
mouse*
|
Peromyscus
|
eremicus
|
eremicus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Canyon
mouse*
|
Peromyscus
|
crinitus
|
stephensi
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Deer mouse*
|
Peromyscus
|
maniculatus
|
gambelii
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Peromyscus
|
maniculatus
|
sonoriensis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Abundant
|
|
Brush
mouse*
|
Peromyscus
|
boylii
|
rowleyi
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Pinyon
mouse*
|
Peromyscus
|
truei
|
montipinoris
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Peromyscus
|
truei
|
truei
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Western
harvest mouse*
|
Reithrodontomys
|
megalotis
|
longicaudus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Reithrodontomys
|
megalotis
|
megalotis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
California
vole*
|
Microtus
|
californicus
|
aestuarinus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Microtus
|
californicus
|
kernensis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Muskrat*
|
Ondatra
|
zibethicus
|
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Norway
rat
|
Rattus
|
norvegicus
|
norvegicus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Introduced
|
|
Black
rat*
|
Rattus
|
rattus*
|
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Introduced
|
|
House
mouse*
|
Mus
|
musculus
|
brevirostris
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Introduced
|
|
|
Mus
|
musculus
|
domesticus
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Introduced
|
Coypu:
Family Myocastoridae 0,1,1,1,1 |
|
Nutria
|
Myocastor
|
coypus
|
bonariensis
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
introduced if present
|
RABBITS AND PIKAS:
ORDER LAGOMORPHA |
Rabbits and Hares:
Family Leporidae 1,1,3,4,8 |
|
Brush rabbit*
|
Sylvilagus
|
bachmani
|
cinerascens
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
|
Sylvilagus
|
bachmani
|
mariposae
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
|
|
Desert cottontail*
|
Sylvilagus
|
audubonii
|
arizonae
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Game species
|
|
|
Sylvilagus
|
audubonii
|
vallicola
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Game species
|
|
European rabbit
|
Oryctolagus
|
cuniculus
|
|
RANGE: Kern River HABITAT: brush
|
Introduced
|
|
Black-tailed
jackrabbit*
|
Lepus
|
californicus
|
bennettii
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
FSC,
CSC Game
species
|
|
|
Lepus
|
californicus
|
deserticola
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Game species
|
|
|
Lepus
|
californicus
|
richardsonii
|
RANGE: HABITAT:
|
Game species
|
Legend for Status and Distribution:
Special Status Codes
FE - Endangered: listed through the federal Endangered Species Act by the U. S. Fish
& Wildlife Service
CE - Endangered: listed through the federal Endangered Species Act by the CA Dept.
of Fish & Game
FT - Threatened: listed through the federal Endangered Species Act by the U. S.
Fish & Wildlife Service
CT - Threatened: listed through the state Endangered Species Act by the CA Dept. of
Fish & Game
FC - Candidate: listing petition under review by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife
Service
FSC - Sensitive: listed by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service as a special
species
CSC - Sensitive: listed by the CA Dept. of Fish & Game as a special species
Region Distribution Key
Geographical regions of Kern County.
D
— Desert region. west Mojave desert - eastern Kern County.
SJV — Valley
district. Southern San Joaquin Valley to 1000' elevation.
F
— Foothill region. Area ringing eastern and southern San Joaquin Valley,
elevation range from 1000' to 3000' including the Kern River Canyon
KRV — Kern River Valley. Lake
Isabella and surrounding communities to 3500' elevation
S
— Southern Sierra region. Includes the coniferous forests of Sequoia
National Forest.
TH —
Tehachapi
Mountain Region, Includes Tehachapi mountains and valley, Tejon Ranch and Frazier Park/Mt.
Pinos areas.
TB —
Temblor Complex Region –Temblor Range from the northern edge of the Bittercreek
National Wildlife Refuge to the Annette region.
General Status
Abundant = Almost always present in high numbers within the range and suitable habitat
of the species.
Common = Often present in moderate numbers with the range and suitable habitat of
the species.
Uncommon = Occurs in low numbers or only locally within the range and a suitable
habitat of the species.
Rare = Very rare or extremely restricted to localized areas within suitable habitat
of the species.
Habitat Codes
The broad categories below are listed in order of preference for every species on the
checklist.
d = desert scrub, sparse
vegetation of desert flats, slopes, and washes.
f = forest, dominated by conifers.
g = grasslands, fields, and agricultural areas.
j = Joshua Tree woodland
l = lakes, reservoirs,
sewage ponds, large streams, rivers, and the margins of these areas.
m = marshland.
o = woodland, including oaks, oak-conifer, pinyon-juniper.
p = parks and suburban
woodland.
r = riparian woodlands and thickets, including irrigated oases.
s = sagebrush, scrub, chaparral and other brushy vegetation.
County Count
Order - 9: Family - 23: Genus - 59: Species - 100 (2 extinct):
Subspecies - 163
Museum collections surveyed
Vertebrate Museum - Department of Biological Sciences - Humboldt State University -
Timothy E. Lawlor
Department of Biological Sciences - California State University, Long Beach - David
G. Huckaby.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County - Dr. David S. Janiger .
Peabody Museum of Natural History - Yale University.
Division of Mammals - National Museum of Natural History - Dr. Craig Ludwig.
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology - University of California, Berkeley - Dr. James L.
Patton.
Museum of Wildlife & Fisheries Biology - University of California, Davis - Dr.
Ronald E. Cole
Moore Laboratory of Zoology and Department of Biology, Occidental College - Dr. John C.
Hafner
Natural History Museum - University of Kansas - Curator of Mammals - Dr. Norm Slade
Museum of Zoology - University of Michigan - Phil Myers
Biologists - Laypersons Consulted
Teresa Ritter - USFS.
David Hardt - USFWS.
Bill Van Herweg .
Bill Asserson - CDFG.
Ted Murphy - CSUB.
David Germano - CSUB.
Brian Cypher - DOE.
Graciela Hinshaw - CNLM.
Bruce Garlinger - EREMICO Biological Services.
Bob Barnes - NAS.
John Lindsay - KCS.
David Clendenon - TWC.
Clark and Jean Moore - TBC.
Mike Foster - USFS.
Martin Potter - CDFG.
William Gannon - UNM.
Douglas Kelt - UC Davis.
Ken Kinman
Robert Parker - BLM
Tom Campbell - China Lake NWR
Karen Bates - CDFG
Scott Little
References and Resources
1993.
Mammal Species of Special Concern. Wildlife Management Division, California Dept. of Fish
& Game. Sacramento.
1997.
Draft Kern County Habitat Conservation Plan. County of Kern: Bakersfield, CA
Burt, W.
H. and R. P. Grossenheider. 1980. A Field Guide to the Mammals. Houghton Mifflin, New
York.
Hall, E.
R. 1981. The mammals of North America. Vol. I & II. Second ed. John Wiley & Sons,
New York.
Hall, E.
R. and K. R. Kelson. 1959. The Mammals of North America. I & II. Ronald Press, New
York.
Hickman,
J.(ed.). 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California. University of California
Press, Berkeley, CA.
Holland,
R.F. 1986. Preliminary Descriptions of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of California.
Nongame-Heritage Program. California Department of Fish
and Game. Sacramento, CA.
Ingles,
L.G. 1973. Mammals of the Pacific States. Stanford University Press. Stanford, California.
Jameson, E. and H. Peeters. 1989. California
Mammals. UC Press, Berkeley.
Jones, C.,
R. S. Hoffmann, D. W. Rice, M. D. Engstrom, R. D. Bradley, D. J. Schmidly, C. A. Jones,
and R. J. Baker. 1997. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 1997.
Occas. Papers Mus., Texas Tech Univ. 173:1-19.
Long, C.
A. 1973. Taxidea taxus. Mammalian Species, 26:1-4.
Mayer,
K.E., and W.F. Laudenslayer, Jr., editors. 1988. A guide to wildlife habitats in
California. State of California, The Resources Agency, Sacramento, CA
Nowak, R.
M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. 6th ed. Johns Hopkins UP, Baltimore.
Steinhart,
P. 1990. California's Wild Heritage: Threatened and Endangered Animals in the Golden
State. California Department of Fish and Game. Sacramento, CA
Stephens,
F.1906.California Mammals. West Coast Publishing Co. San Diego.
Twisselmann,
E. C. 1967. A Flora of Kern County, California. Wasmann Journal of Biology, 25:1-395.
Whitaker,
Jr., John O. 1992. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals. Alfred A.
Knopf Publishing. New York.
Williams,
D.F. 1986. Mammalian Species of Concern in California. State of California. The Resources
Agency. California Department of Fish and Game.
Sacramento, California.
Wilson, D.
. and S. 1999. The Mammals of North America. Smithsonian. Washington, DC
Zeiner, D.
C., et al. 1990. California's Wildlife. Volume III: Mammals. State of California. The
Resources Agency. Sacramento, California.
Address of author
Alison Marie Sheehey
P.O. Box 153
Weldon, CA 93283
email:
webmaster
Nature
Ali serving nature first.
For
information on ecotourism in the Kern River Valley
- check out the Kern
River Preserve
Website.
For
information on musculo-skeletal pain and
dysfunction - check out the NATURE
ALI MYOTHERAPY Website.
|
