Mammals of Pinnacles

Merriam's chipmunk eating an oak acorn.

NPS / Gavin Emmons

Spotting Mammals: A Guide to Pinnacles’ Wildlife

Pinnacles National Park is home to over forty-eight mammalian species, excluding humans. Some of the animals frequently spotted and enjoyed by visitors and staff include black-tailed deer, bobcat, gray fox, raccoon, jackrabbit, brush rabbit, ground squirrel, chipmunk, and various species of bat. These animals are commonly reported due to their visibility and charismatic nature. Other mammals like badgers, coyotes, a variety of rodents, and mountain lionsalso inhabit the park but are less commonly seen. The infrequent sightings of some species highlight a challenge in studying them, as extensive monitoring is needed to establish baseline data on all mammalian species. This work is ongoing, and updates will be provided as it progresses.

The mammals at Pinnacles belong to the following orders:

• Marsupialia (1 species)
• Insectivora (3 species)
• Chiroptera (16 species)
• Lagomorpha (3 species)
• Rodentia (15 species)
• Carnivora (9 species)
• Artiodactyla (2 species)

Included among these are three introduced species: the house mouse, opossum, and feral pig. The house mouse (Mus musculus) and opossum (Didelphis virginiana) are rare and do not pose significant threats to Pinnacles’ native ecosystems. However, feral pigs (Sus scrofa) once caused extensive damage to native vegetation and were abundant within the park. After years of research, a decision was made to construct a perimeter fence around the park. The pigs within the fence were removed, and new incursions have been effectively prevented.