Mammals

Mammals of the St. Louis River

The St. Louis River corridor is home to a wide variety of mammals, from small rodents to large predators. Visitors and residents may commonly see woodchucks, ground squirrels, chipmunks, red squirrels, rabbits, mice, and voles scurrying along the riverbanks and forest edges.

Beavers and muskrats are often spotted in wetlands and along slow-moving sections of the river, where they build lodges and dams. Porcupines and black bears roam forested areas, while raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and red foxes are active throughout the watershed, foraging along waterways and open areas.

The river’s wetlands and forests also support mink and river otters, both adapted to aquatic habitats, and white-tailed deer, which graze in upland meadows and riparian zones. Together, these mammals contribute to the rich biodiversity of the St. Louis River and are an integral part of its ecosystem.