The mountain beaver is a medium-sized, muskrat-like rodent often lacking a visible tail. It is not related to other beavers or rodents but are called beavers because of their habit of gnawing down young trees. The mountain beaver has an extremely short, fur-covered tail, and otherwise differs from the muskrat by possessing five-toed feet. It is dark brown with a small white spot at the base of each ear.

In Oregon, are common in forested areas on the west slope of the Cascade Range west to the Pacific Ocean. They are, however, rarely seen as they spend most of their time in underground tunnels, emerging only at night to eat. 

This group of animals is common throughout Oregon in various locations depending on species. 

Oregon just has one marmot, the yellow-bellied marmot and two of its squirrels are on the Oregon Conservation Strategy Species list: the Washington ground squirrel and the Western gray squirrel. 

Check our Living with Wildlife, Tree Squirrels page for tips on preventing conflicts, trapping, species status and recommended conservation actions. 

Oregon has five species of pocket gophers that are specially equipped for digging and tunneling. They have large-clawed front paws with small eyes and ears. Sensitive whiskers help them navigate underground. 

This group of rodents includes mice, voles, rats and muskrats of various sizes, but they all share one trait - their dentition is highly specialized for gnawing. 

Nearly wiped out in much of their historic range by early fur trappers, American beavers are now restored to many state waters due to improved management, greater awareness of their benefits, and less demand for fur. 

The beaver has been so significant in Oregon's history that it is our state symbol, the mascot for Oregon State University, and holds honor on the reverse side of Oregon's state flag. 

Resources

ODFW Living with Wildlife: American Beaver (pdf)

ODFW Living with Wildlife: American Beaver (flier) (pdf)

ODFW's 3-Year Action Plan for Beaver-Modified Landscapes (pdf)

ODFW Beaver Emphasis Area primary contacts map (pdf)

Beaver Action Plan Partnership Meetings (pdfs)

• April 3, 2025 Agenda and Meeting Link

• November 18, 2024: Agenda and Meeting Link

• May 28, 2024: Agenda and Meeting Link

• February 20, 2024: Agenda and Meeting Link

American Beaver Activity Survey Protocol for the Pacific Northwest (pdf)

Landowner Survey on incentives and Tolerances for Managing Beaver Impacts in Oregon (pdf) (2011)

Beaver bibliography (pdf): An annotated bibliography of published literature on beaver (2008)

Oregon State Animal: (pdf) American Beaver Fact Sheet

ODFW Requirements for Relocation of Beaver in Oregon (pdf)

February 12, 2020 Beaver Work Group Meeting Presentations

Large, slow-moving rodents, porcupines are found on every continent except Antarctica. There are 12 "New World" species in North, Central and South America. In Oregon, there is only one, the common porcupine. 

Coyotes, wolves and foxes are found throughout Oregon, depending on the species. The gray wolf, kit fox and Sierra Nevada red fox are Oregon Conservation Strategy Species.

Report a wolf sighting

Bear facts: Is it a black bear or a grizzly bear?

Oregon is black bear country. Although native to the area, there are no longer grizzly bears in the state. The last grizzly bear recorded was killed in the late 1930s at Billy Meadows, north of Enterprise in Wallowa County. However, because black bears are often brown, people sometimes wonder what species of bear they have seen. Here is some information on bear identification.

Q. Grizzly bears are brown and black bears are black. Correct?

A. Not really. Grizzly bears can be brown, blond, grey, reddish or silver tipped. Black bears can be blond, cinnamon, brown or black.

Q. True or False: Grizzly bears are bigger than black bears.

A. Don't count on it. On average grizzly bears are larger than black bears, however, there is much variation in size among bears of both species. It is also very difficult to accurately estimate the size of a bear in the wild. 

Q. How can I tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear?

A. There are no grizzly bears in Oregon, so if you see a "brown" bear in Oregon, it is a black bear. Grizzly bears are being recovered in Washington State in the North Cascades.

• Grizzly bears have a distinctive shoulder hump. Black bears don't.
• Comparatively, grizzly bears have short and round ears while black bears have large, pointed ears.
• In profile, the face of a grizzly bear is more concave (dish shaped) and broader than the black bear's which is straighter and narrower.
• The footprints of grizzly bears and black bears differ. View bear tracks (gif)

Although these species are quite different, they are both in the same family, Procyonidae.

This group of mammals includes the American marten, fisher, and wolverine which are all Oregon Conservation Strategy Species. 

Oregon's three cat species all belong to the same family as the domestic house cat. Cats are muscular but graceful and have retractable claws to hold prey. 

Oregon's hoofed mammals include three sub-species of deer, along with moose, elk, goat, and sheep. Otherwise known as ungulates, these animals are herbivores. 

Invasive species are animals and plants that are not native to an ecosystem and that cause economic or environmental harm. Not all non-native species are invasive, however many become a serious problem. They can aggressively compete with Oregon's native wildlife for food and habitat. 

Enlarged front feet allow moles to dig underground while shrews do not have enlarged feet and use varied habitat. Moles are specially equipped to live underground and have ears and eyes so small they are not visible.

Shrews have tiny eyes that are visible. They reuse mole and vole tunnels and are occasionally found invading buildings.

Fun facts about our bats

• Oregon's bats eat only insects. An adult bat eats about 1,000 insects every hour!
• Bats hang upside down because it gives them an ideal position for take-off.
• Bats can fly 20 to 30 miles an hour and travel more than 100 miles a night.
• A baby bat is called a pup. Young bats can fly between two and five weeks of age.
• Bats are the only flying mammal.

Other information

• Bat Conservation International
• Build a bat house:
  • Four-Chamber Nursery House Plans (pdf)
  • Two-Chamber Rocket Box Plans (pdf)
  • Small Economy Bat Box Plans (pdf)
• Living with Bats fact sheet (pdf)
• White Nose Syndrome
• Online Reporting for Sick or Dead Bats
• Batty for Bats: Facts for kids (pdf)

This group of mammals is spread nearly worldwide and in Oregon, they are found throughout the state. Oregon is home to the American pika and seven species of rabbits and hares.