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| Douglas Squirrel, photo by David Blevins | Coyote, photo by David Blevins | Black-tailed Deer, photo by B. Klinkenberg |
Mammals of Richmond
The following checklist of mammals has been compiled data in the Lulu Island Bog inventory report, photo records and observations from the Richmond Nature Park, and personal observations. It is not comprehensive, and further research is needed, but it does document the majority of species found in the municipality. It includes historical records, where available, and observational data provided by serveral expert observers. Accidental species, such as the Yellow-bellied Marmot, which has been reported in Richmond and other areas of the Lower Mainland a few times, are not included as these do not represent viable populations. Nomenclature in the list follows Nagorsen's checklist for the Mammals of British Columbia, found on E-Fauna BC. |
Visit the E-Fauna BC mammal atlas pages for more details on these species in BC.
| Castor canadensis Kuhl | Beaver | Numerous colonies are found throughout Richmond, including Green Slough and Scotch Pond. |
| Canis latrans Say | Coyote | Scats regularly observed in the Richmond Nature Park, and frequently observed elsewhere in Richmond. |
| Eptesicus fuscus | Big-brown Bat | Minchkin 2006, Richmond Nature Park |
| Glaucomys sabrinus (Shaw) | Northern Flying Squirrel | Specimen records from Richmond have been reported (Gonzales, 2000, pers. com.). |
| Lasionycteris noctivagans | Silver-haired Bat | There is a specimen for this species from the Richmond Nature Park collection. |
Lepus americanus (possibly the washingtonii subspecies, although the existence of this subspecies remains to be confirmed) |
Washington Snowshoe Hare | This species requires confirmation in Richmond. Possible sightings in the Richmond Nature Park (pers. comm., Hugh Griffith, Richmond Nature Park Assistant Naturalist). Roadkill of possible young Snowshoe Hare 2006 (photo). |
| Mephitis mephitis (Schreber) | Striped Skunk | Trapped in the Richmond Nature Park (MacQueen 2004), and frequently observed elsewhere throughout Richmond. |
| Microtus monticolus | Townsend's Vole | Collected in the Richmond Nature Park, Macueen 2004 (trapped) |
| Mustela erminea | Short-tailed Weasel | Unconfirmed observation of tracks in the RNP in 1999/2000/2001 (Griffith, pers comm.) |
| Mustela vison | Mink | Unconfirmed sighting, Bauder 2005, Richmond Nature Park boardwalk (Bauder, personal communication to Neil Davis) |
| Odocoileus hemionus | Black-tailed Deer | Tracks observed in the DND property (Klinkenberg et al 2004), deer observed and photographed in the nature park property, tracks observed in the East Property (RNSC), periodic road kill on Hwy 99. |
| Ondatra zebethicus (Linnaeus) | Muskrat | Frequently observed throughout the municipality in sloughs and wetlands. |
| Peromyscus maniculatus artemisiae (Wagner) | Deer Mouse | Collected in the Richmond Nature Park, and elsewhere is frequently observed. |
| Procyon lotor (Linnaeus) | Raccoon | Common throughout Richmond. |
| Phoca vitulina | Harbour Seal | Frequently observed around Steveston. |
| Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout) | Norway Rat | Introduced and abundant. |
| Rattus rattus | Black Rat | Trapped in DND and RNP east (across from Richmond Automall) Lulu Island Bog Inventory |
| Scapanus townsendii (Bachman) | Coast Mole | Found throughout Richmond. |
| Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin | Eastern Grey Squirrel | Eastern Gray Squirrels are native to the eastern US and Canada, and were introduced to Stanley Park sometime prior to 1914 (Robinson and McTaggart-Cowan, 1954). It was not until the 1970's that they were seen outside of Stanley Park. Now they are spreading quickly throughout the lower mainland, and can be observed throughout Richmond. They can adapt to forested and non-forested areas, and appear to co-exist with the native Douglas Squirrel. |
| Sorex vagrans Baird | Dusky/Vagrant Shrew | Collected in the Richmond Nature Park (Bell 1984, MacQueen 2004 (trapped) |
| Sylvilagus nuttallii (Bachman) | Eastern Cottontail | The Eastern Cottontail first arrived in British Columbia in 1952, presumably from an introduced population in Washington State (McTaggart-Cowan and Guiguet 1965). Readily observed in Richmond, observed by nature park staff. |
| Tamiasciurus douglasii (Bachman) | Douglas Squirrel | This species persists in forested areas of the Richmond Nature Park, where it co-exists with the introduced Eastern Grey Squirrel. They do not appear to be competing. |
| Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus) | Red Fox | Historical records from the Richmond Nature Park, RNP files. Photos. |
| Zalophus californianus | California Sea Lion | Frequently observed around Steveston; Sea lion tours can be taken from Steveston harbour. |
Sources: Bauder, Kris. 2003. Personal Communiciation. Richmond Nature Park. Davis, Neil and R. Klinkenberg. 2007. The Mammals of the Lulu Island Bog. IN: A Biophysical Inventory and Evaluation of the Lulu Island Bog, Richmond, BC. Richmond Nature Park Society, Richmond. Gonzales, Emily. 2000. Personal Communication. Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia. Grifith, Hugh. 2002-2005. Personal Communication. Richmond Nature Park. Klinkenberg, Rose and Brian Klinkenberg. Personal Observations. McTaggart-Cowan and Guiguet 1965. Minchkin 2006 Nagorsen, David. 2007. Personal Communication. |
Links:
Eastern
Grey Squirrel expansion in Greater Vancouver
Eastern
Grey Squirrel Study in British Columbia
Bats
of the lower mainland
Page Updated March 2010.