Mammals of the Boundary Bay watershed & surrounding waters
Land Mammals
Deer family - Cervidae
Columbian black-tailed deer Odocoileus hemionus ssp. columbianus (subspecies of mule
deer) rural woodland areas of watershed, Burns Bog
Dogs – Canidae
Coyote Canis latrans regularly observed in Fraser delta
Cats – Felidae
Bobcat Lynx rufus rare in upland areas
Bears – Ursidae
Black bear Ursus americanus once regular in Burns Bog and parts of North Delta but may
be extirpated since early 2000s. New and wider highways surrounding the bog were built in
recent decades preventing wildlife movement.
Raccoons – Procyonidae
Raccoon Procyon lotor common in suitable habitat; susceptible to roadkill
Opossums – Didelphiidae
Opossum Didelphus marsupialis previously known as Virginia opossum, at northern end of
its range in southwest BC. May be less common than formerly due to heavy roadkill.
Weasels – Mustelidae
Short-tailed weasel Mustela erminea – uncommon and local in area
Mink Mustela vison - wetland locations e.g. Reifel refuge, Serpentine Fen WMA
River otter Lutra canadensis - wetland locations eg. Serpentine Fen WMA, Iona Regional
Park
Striped skunk Mephitis mephitis less common in some areas than previously; susceptible to
roadkill
Rodents - Rodentia
Townsend Chipmunk Eutamias townsendi - coastal
Yellow-pine Chipmunk Eutamias amoenus – up valley
Douglas Squirrel (Chickaree) Tamiasciurus douglasii - mostly confined to forested park
areas
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis - an introduced species, native to eastern North
America, spread across the Fraser delta from an introduced population in Stanley Park, in
1990s.It is now very common in gardens, parks.
Northern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus - nocturnal species uncommon in some
forested areas; mostly known to be in area from individuals brought into animal hospitals.
Beaver Castor canadensis
Muskrat Ondatra zibethica
Shrew-mole Neurotrichus gibbsi (coastal)
Townsend Mole Scapanus townsendi
Pacific Mole Scaparus orarius
Deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus
Southern red-backed vole Clethrionomys /Myodes gapperi occidentalis
Meadow vole
Long-tailed vole
Townsend’s vole – common grassland vole and prey for many raptors
Pacific jumping mouse Zapus trinotatus ?????????
Dusky shrew Sorex obscurus
Cinereus shrew Sorex cinereus (also known as Masked shrew)
Vagrant shrew Sorex vagrans – the smallest mammal in Delta, about 10 cm long
Northern water shrew Sorex palustris
Pacific water shrew Sorex bendirii - rare and endangered in BC
Trowbridge’s shrew Sorex trowbridgii – rare and endangered; Burns Bog
Olympic shrew Sorex rohweri - first identified in 2006; very rare and endangered in BC
Norway rat Rattus norvegicus – a non-native, introduced species
Black rat Rattus rattus – a non-native, introduced species
House mouse Mus musculus – a non-native introduced species
Eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus - a very common rabbit in the delta; introduced from
Eastern Canada
Bats
Little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus – common species
Yuma myotis Myotis yumanensis - very common species
Long-eared Myotis Myotis evotis
California Myotis Myotis Californicus -
Long-legged Myotis Myotis Volans
Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctivagans – solitary and migratory
Hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus – solitary, migratory, woodland, flies late in evening, high up
Big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus - common
Marine Mammals that have been observed in season in waters of the Strait of
Georgia and Boundary Bay area offshore from Surrey, White Rock, Delta, Richmond,
or Point Roberts
Grey whale Eschrichtius robustus
Minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae
Pacific white-sided dolphin Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
Killer whale (Orca) Orcinus orca - both resident and transient orcas occur in these waters
Harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena
Dall’s porpoise Phocoenoides dalli
Steller sea lion Eumetopias jubatus
California sea lion Zalophus californianus
Harbour seal Phoca vitulina
Other species that may have occurred in historical times, occur accidentally, or are
known from the wider region:
Land animals
Snowshoe hare Lepus americanus Burns Bog (up to the 1980s, possibly the 1990s)
Porcupine Erithizon dorsatum Burns Bog
Red fox Vulpes vulpes Burns Bog
Spotted skunk Spilogale gracilis Burns Bog
Long-tailed weasel Mustela frenata altifrontalis Burns Bog
Townsend’s big-eared bat Plecotus townsendii
Yellow-bellied marmot occurred by accidental transportation on a rail truck
Nutria / Coypu at Reifel – where does this fit?
Marine animals
False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens one occurred regularly off Point Roberts and
Tsawwassen in the period 1990 – 2003/04
Risso’s dolphin Grampus griseus
Northern elephant seal Mirounga angustirostris
Sea otter Enhydra lutris