Fly Gap Mammals

A preliminary list of mammal species identified at the Fly Gap Division of Double Helix Ranch, Mason County, Texas. This list is a work in progress.

Family	Genus	species	Common Name	Voucher	Comments
Didelphidae	Didelphis	virginiana	Virginia Opossum		Fairly common on ranch
Talpidae	Scalopus	aquaticus	Eastern Mole		Common in sandy areas of ranch; tunnels often obvious
Vespertilionidae	Myotis	velifer	Cave Myotis		Common bat over all of Edwards Plateau, including Mason County
Vespertilionidae	Lasionycteris	noctivagans	Silver-Haired Bat		Probable on ranch; recorded in adjacent counties
Vespertilionidae	Pipistrellus	subflavus	Eastern Pipistrelle		Probable on ranch; recorded in adjacent counties
Vespertilionidae	Lasiurus	borealis	Eastern Red Bat		Common bat over all of Edwards Plateau, including Mason County
Vespertilionidae	Lasiurus	cinereus	Hoary Bat		Probable on ranch; recorded in adjacent counties
Vespertilionidae	Nycticeius	humeralis	Evening Bat		Probable on ranch; recorded in adjacent counties
Molossidae	Tadarida	brasiliensis	Mexican Free-tailed Bat		Most abundant bat of Edwards Plateau, including Mason County
Dasypodidae	Dasypus	novemcinctus	Nine-banded Armadillo		Common on ranch
Leporidae	Sylvilagus	audubonii	Desert Cottontail		Probable on ranch; recorded from Llano Co., but more common to west
Leporidae	Sylvilagus	floridanus	Eastern Cottontail		Common cottontail on ranch
Leporidae	Lepus	californicus	Black-tailed Jackrabbit		Common on ranch
Sciuridae	Spermophilus	mexicanus	Mexican Ground Squirrel		Found in open, level pastures on ranch
Sciuridae	Spermophilus	variegatus	Rock Squirrel		Common in rocky areas of ranch
Sciuridae	Cynomys	ludovicianus	Black-tailed Prairie Dog		Recorded from Mason County, but not observed on ranch
Sciuridae	Sciurus	niger	Eastern Fox Squirrel		Common on ranch
Geomyidae	Thomomys	bottae	Botta's Pocket Gopher		Recorded from Mason Co., but more suited to cultivated areas to west
Geomyidae	Geomys	texensis	Llano Pocket Gopher		Common gopher on ranch; abundant in deep sandy areas
Heteromyidae	Perognathus	flavus	Silky Pocket Mouse		Found in rocky, fairly open areas
Heteromyidae	Chaetodipus	hispidus	Hispid Pocket Mouse		Found in wide variety of habitats
Muridae	Reithrodontomys	montanus	Plains Harvest Mouse		Probable on ranch; recorded from Mason County
Muridae	Peromyscus	attwateri	Texas Mouse		Probable on ranch; recorded from Mason Co.; prefers wooded slopes
Muridae	Peromyscus	leucopus	White-footed Mouse		Prefers level, brushy pastures
Muridae	Peromyscus	maniculatus	Deer Mouse		Prefers grassy fields and old buildings
Muridae	Peromyscus	pectoralis	White-ankled Mouse		Prefers steep slopes and rocky edges
Muridae	Baiomys	taylori	Northern Pygmy Mouse		Prefers weedy, overgrown fields
Muridae	Sigmodon	hispidus	Hispid Cotton Rat		Prefers dense grassy fields
Muridae	Neotoma	albigula	White-throated Woodrat		Prefers slopes and rocky areas
Muridaee	Neotoma	micropus	Southern Plains Woodrat		Prefers valley pastures, along watercourses
Muridae	Mus	musculus	House Mouse		Probable; common introduced species associated with humans
Myocastoridae	Myocastor	coypus	Nutria		Introduced; found along streams and tanks
Erethizontidae	Erethizon	dorsatum	Porcupine		Prefers larger oak motts, wooded draws
Canidae	Canis	latrans	Coyote		Common on ranch
Canidae	Canis	lupus	Gray Wolf		Formerly found in area; now extirpated
Canidae	Canis	rufus	Red Wolf		Formerly found in area; now extirpated
Canidae	Vulpes	vulpes	Red Fox		Possible; recorded from area
Canidae	Urocyon	cinereoargenteus	Common Gray Fox		Common fox on ranch
Ursidae	Ursus	americanus	Black Bear		Formerly found in area; now extirpated, although occasional animals are reported to wander through area
Procyonidae	Bassariscus	astutus	Ringtail		Common on rocky slopes and in woodlands on ranch
Procyonidae	Procyon	lotor	Common Raccoon		Common throughout ranch
Mustelidae	Mustela	nigra	Black-footed Ferret		Probably occurred with prairie dogs in area; now extirpated
Mustelidae	Mustela	vison	Mink		Recorded from Mason Co.; lives along watercourses
Mustelidae	Taxidea	taxus	American Badger		Not common on ranch; found in open, grassy areas
Mustelidae	Spilogale	gracilis	Western Spotted Skunk		Least common skunk on ranch
Mustelidae	Spilogale	putorius	Eastern Spotted Skunk		This is a small overlap area for the two species of spotted skunks
Mustelidae	Mephitus	mephitus	Striped Skunk		Fairly common throughout ranch
Mustelidae	Conepatus	mesoleucus	Common Hog-nosed Skunk		Fairly common throughout ranch
Felidae	Felis	concolor	Mountain Lion		Not abundant, but occurs in area
Felidae	Lynx	rufus	Bobcat		Fairly common on ranch
Dicotylidae	Tayassu	tajacu	Javelina		Formerly occured in area; not seen in recent years
Suidae	Sus	scrofa	Feral Pig, Wild Boar		Increasing in abundance in recent years
Cervidae	Odocoileus	virginianus	White-tailed Deer		Abundant throughout ranch
Antilocapridae	Antilocapra	americana	Pronghorn		Formerly occured in area; now extirpated
Bovidae	Bos	bison	Bison		Formerly occured in area; now extirpated