Mammals
White-tailed deer are very common mammals found throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Image courtesy Mike Land
Mammals are an extremely diverse class of animals, ranging from bats to whales to human beings. All mammals are warm-blooded vertebrates that:
- Give birth to and nurse live young
- Have highly evolved skeletal structures
- Are covered with hair, either at maturity or at some stage of their embryonic development
- Generally have two pairs of limbs, although some aquatic mammals have evolved without hind limbs
What Types of Mammals Live in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed?
Many different types of mammals are found in the Bay watershed. Some live either on the land or in the water, while others spend time in both environments.
- Deer, squirrels, raccoons, rabbits and foxes are some of the most familiar land mammals.
- Some mammals divide their time between land and water. These semi-aquatic species include beavers, muskrats and river otters.
- The Bay is home to several species of aquatic mammals, including dolphins and the occasional wayward manatee.
Learn more about some common mammals found in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.