black-footed ferret in meadow

Nongame Mammals

Over 80 mammal species in Wyoming are classified as nongame, including the iconic black-footed ferret. 

The statewide Nongame Section manages nongame mammal species with assistance from regional personnel. Species of special management interest in the state include the black-footed ferret, wolverine, and several bat species.  Most nongame mammals are rarely seen because of their small size, nocturnal behavior, or rarity. Further, over 40 nongame mammals are classified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in Wyoming’s State Wildlife Action Plan because of limited numbers or distribution or potential threats. The Wyoming Game Fish Department works with many partners to improve our understanding of the state’s nongame mammal populations and to increase public understanding of these taxa.

 

  • pika
  • river otter on a rock in the water
    river otter
  • little brown bat held with gloved hands
    little brown bat
  • Pygmy rabbit near sage brush
    pygmy rabbit
  • 2 praire dogs on mound
    praire dogs
  • wolverine in the snow
    wolverine
  • black-footed ferret
    black-footed ferret

Nongame Mammals in Wyoming

To view a list of all mammal species known to occur in Wyoming, with information on distribution and breeding status refer to Atlas of Birds, Mammals, Amphibians, and Reptiles.

 

For detailed species accounts of SGCN mammals, with Wyoming-specific information on natural history, conservation, and photos, visit the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD) and Game and Fish Mammal Field Guides.
 

To see occurrence records, range maps, and predicted distributions for Wyoming’s mammals, visit WYNDD's data explorer map

WYNDD Data Explorer

Management and Monitoring

Game and Fish manages Wyoming's nongame mammals to maintain healthy ecological communities. Some mammals can be taken for personal use without a permit. Learn which species can be collected, harvested, or possessed in Wyoming and which permits are required in this quick reference guide. 

 

Black-footed ferret

 

The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is the only ferret species native to North America and one of the original species listed under the original Endangered Species Act of 1967. They are members of the family Mustelidae. Mustelids are carnivorous mammals and include weasels, martens, badgers, otters, and wolverines. They are generally characterized by low-slung, elongated, and heavily muscled bodies which allow them to prey upon animals much larger than themselves. Habitat loss is the biggest threat to the species. They eat prairie dogs exclusively and the destruction of native grasslands has reduced and fragmented prairie dog habitat.

 

View the tale of black-footed ferret recovery 

Bats

 

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is responsible for the conservation of bats in the state. Bats are monitored using a variety of techniques to understand and mitigate the impacts of various threats such as wind energy development, climate change, whitenose syndrome, habitat degradation, and roosting habitat loss. 

 

Caves known to contain bats during the critical hibernation and maternity seasons may be closed to the public in either the summer or winter months. Your cooperation with these closures, and respect for bats at any time while cave, is important in helping us converse these species. To prevent the spread of whitenose syndrome (WNS), it is important that caving gear be decontaminated before and after entering any cave in the state.

 

Like all mammals, bats can carry rabies. Anyone having possible direct contact with a bat should contact a healthcare professional. If the bat is available, WGFD can assist with testing of the animal. 

 

The Nongame Section can advise homeowners in excluding bat colonies from inappropriate places such as attics. Whenever possible, we advise doing so outside of the maternity season, as this minimizes the risk of direct contact with a bat and bat mortality, and may result in a more effective exclusion. 

 

See plans to build your own bat house

 

Wolverine

 

The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is the largest member of the weasel family. The species generally appears as a small bear or large badger, with massive limbs, dark brown fur, bushy tail, and relatively large feet.  They have lighter fur on their head and a broad yellowish stripes from the shoulders to the tail. Wolverine are a strongly opportunistic feeder, eating berries, insect larvae, fish, birds and mammals of almost all sizes, and carrion of all types. An individual Wolverine requires a huge amount of subalpine and alpine habitat. In the Yellowstone Ecosystem, female home ranges averaged 303 km2, and male home ranges averaged 797 km2. 

 

The secretive nature, naturally low density, and high mobility of Wolverine make it difficult to precisely estimate population size. Recent management activities for wolverine include evaluating and implementing monitoring protocols throughout suitable habitat in western Wyoming. Initiated in 2015, results from this effort will provide a state- and range-wide baseline occupancy estimate. Incorporating genetic analyses from hair snares through these efforts will also allow for a better understanding of the number of individuals as well as the distribution of female Wolverine, information critical to better-evaluating the extent of breeding distribution in the state.

 

 

View Wyoming's wolverine management plan

 

 

 

Wolverine
Wolverine climbing a tree to smell lure left from biologists

Mammals of greatest conservation need

Download the fact sheets to learn more about each species of greatest conservation need.