Key Points:
- An “endangered” classification means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
- Bats have the highest percentage of endangered species classifications among all mammals in the United States.
- The number one reason species become endangered is the loss of their native habitat.
Important note: this article focuses only on endangered mammals in each state. Endangered amphibians, birds, fish, insects, and other animals are not listed.
As the third largest nation in the world in terms of land area, the sprawling landscape of the United States is filled with a wide diversity of wildlife. There are over 400 mammals in the U.S. Some of those mammals are thriving, but other species are not as fortunate.
Endangered or Threatened: What’s the Difference?
Under the Endangered Species Act, plant and animal species may be listed as either endangered or threatened, but what’s the difference between the two?
An “endangered” classification means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
When a species is listed as “threatened,” that classification indicates the species is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.
This article lists only those U.S. mammalian species currently classified as endangered. California has the highest number of endangered mammals with 18. Meanwhile, there are 15 states with only one officially documented endangered mammal, and 13 with no endangered mammals, at all.
While the number of states with few or no endangered species may seem high, it must be noted that every U.S. state has species that are classified as threatened. Unless there are changes in the trajectory of these species, they will eventually reach endangered status.
For example, Alaska currently has no officially endangered mammals. That doesn’t mean there are no species under threat, though. The polar bear is classified as threatened but has not yet reached the threshold of endangered. Unless things change, though, the polar bear’s status will likely rise to endangered.

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Bats Are the Most Endangered Animal in the U.S.
When it comes to endangered U.S. mammals, bats clearly take the top spot. There are 27 states with at least one endangered bat species. The Indiana bat alone is considered endangered in 22 states, more than any other mammalian species on the list.
Bats have the highest percentage of endangered species classifications among all mammals in the United States. There are 40 bat species in the U.S. More than half are in severe decline or endangered. Along with habitat loss, a disease known as white-nose syndrome has decimated the U.S. bat population.
Here is a list of every endangered mammal species in the U.S., listed by state.

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Alabama – 4 Endangered Species
Alabama beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus ammobates)
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Perdido Key beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis)
Alaska – 0 Endangered Species
Alaska has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
Arizona – 7 Endangered Species
Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)
Jaguar (Panthera onca)
Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)
Mount Graham red squirrel (Tamiasciurus fremonti grahamensis)
New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus)
Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
Sonoran Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis)
Arkansas – 3 Endangered Species
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Ozark big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens)
California – 18 Endangered Species
Amargosa vole (Microtus californicus scirpensis)
Buena Vista Lake ornate shrew (Sorex ornatus relictus)
Fisher (Pekania pennanti)
Fresno kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides exilis)
Giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens)
Gray wolf (Canis lupus)
Morro Bay kangaroo rat (Dipodomys heermanni morroensis)
Pacific pocket mouse (Perognathus longimembris pacificus)
Peninsular bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni)
Point Arena mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa nigra)
Riparian brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius)
Riparian woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes riparia)
Salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris)
San Bernardino Merriam’s kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami parvus)
San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica)
Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae)
Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator)
Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides)

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Colorado – 2 Endangered Species
Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)
New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus)

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Connecticut – 1 Endangered Species
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Delaware – 0 Endangered Species
Delware has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
Florida – 13 Endangered Species
Anastasia Island beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus phasma)
Choctawhatchee beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus allophrys)
Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus)
Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi)
Florida salt marsh vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli)
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Key Deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium)
Key Largo cotton mouse (Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola)
Key Largo woodrat (Neotoma floridana smalli)
Lower Keys marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri)
Perdido Key beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis)
Silver rice rat (Oryzomys palustris natator)
St. Andrew beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus peninsularis)

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Georgia – 2 Endangered Species
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Hawaii – 1 Endangered Species
Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus semotus)
Idaho – 1 Endangered Species
Southern Mountain Caribou DPS (Rangifer tarandus ssp. caribou)
Illinois – 2 Endangered Species
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Indiana – 2 Endangered Species
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Iowa – 1 Endangered Species
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Kansas – 2 Endangered Species
Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Kentucky – 3 Endangered Species
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)
Louisiana – 0 Endangered Species
Louisiana has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
Maine – 0 Endangered Species
Maine has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
Maryland – 1 Endangered Species
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Massachusetts – 0 Endangered Species
Massachusetts has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
Michigan – 2 Endangered Species
Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)

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Minnesota – 0 Endangered Species
Minnesota has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
Mississippi – 2 Endangered Species
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Missouri – 3 Endangered Species
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Ozark big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens)
Montana – 1 Endangered Species
Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)
Nebraska – 0 Endangered Species
Nebraska has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
Nevada – 1 Endangered Species
Sierra Nevada red fox (Vulpes vulpes necator)

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New Hampshire – 0 Endangered Species
New Hampshire has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
New Jersey – 1 Endangered Species
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
New Mexico – 5 Endangered Species
Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)
Jaguar (Panthera onca)
Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis)
Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)
New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus)

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New York – 1 Endangered Species
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
North Carolina – 4 Endangered Species
Carolina northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus)
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)
North Dakota – 0 Endangered Species
North Dakota has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
Ohio – 1 Endangered Species
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Oklahoma – 3 Endangered Species
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Ozark big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens)
Oregon – 1 Endangered Species
Gray wolf (Canis lupus)
Pennsylvania – 1 Endangered Species
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Rhode Island – 0 Endangered Species
Rhode Island has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
South Carolina – 0 Endangered Species
South Carolina has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
South Dakota – 1 Endangered Species
Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes)
Tennessee – 4 Endangered Species
Carolina northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus)
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)
Texas – 4 Endangered Species
Gulf Coast jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi cacomitli)
Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis)
Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)
Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)

©Saad315/Shutterstock.com
Utah – 0 Endangered Species
Utah has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
Vermont – 1 Endangered Species
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Virginia – 4 Endangered Species
Carolina northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus)
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)
Washington – 2 Endangered Species
Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis)
Gray wolf (Canis lupus)
West Virginia – 3 Endangered Species
Gray bat (Myotis grisescens)
Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis)
Virginia big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)
Wisconsin – 1 Endangered Species
Gray wolf (Canis lupus)
Wyoming – 0 Endangered Species
Wyoming has no mammalian species currently classified as endangered.
We Can All Help Endangered Animals
Awareness
It is critical to be aware of the endangered species in your region. While awareness won’t solve the problem, the problem will never be solved without It. Learning and teaching others (along with combatting misinformation that is so pervasive in our digital world) is a powerful way to protect endangered species.
Habitat Protection
Experts generally agree the most important step in helping endangered animals is protecting their habitat. The number one reason species become endangered is the loss of their native habitat. Volunteering at a wildlife refuge, nature center, or other protected space is a great way to help protect these vital habitats.
Recycle and Properly Dispose of Waste
Reduce, reuse, recycle. You’ve heard it so much that it almost sounds hackneyed at this point, but it really does make a huge environmental impact. When it’s better for the environment, it’s better for endangered animals.
Dispose of waste properly and clean up litter. Again, this seems like such a small thing. But if everyone does the small things, it yields big results. Litter and improperly discarded waste can have all kinds of deleterious impacts on the environment and the animals that live in it.
Limit Chemical Pesticides
Limit or eliminate your use of synthetic pesticides. These chemicals can be harmful to pollinators. They also seep into the water and can have a harmful impact on the overall ecosystem. If pests are a problem in your lawn or garden, consider a natural alternative. For example, neem oil can be used to get rid of pests on garden plants without the harmful effects of synthetic pesticides.
Visit Parks and Wildlife Refuges
Visit a National Park or wildlife refuge. Not only is it fun and educational, but the funds from your visit go directly to help protect the areas and animals of the park, many of which are likely threatened or endangered.
Purchase a Zoo Membership
Become a member of an accredited zoo or aquarium. These organizations do so much to help conserve endangered species. Plus, you and your family will love the experiences at these wonderful places!

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