Rodents Found in Connecticut

Many different species of rodents call the state of Connecticut home. They enjoy the mild climate and have adapted to the snowy winter storms. The majority of these small furry animals are seldom seen with the exception of a few species of squirrels and the woodchuck who have adapted to being near people. If you are outdoors in Connecticut, you will more than likely see more evidence of rodents than actual rodents. Beaver dams, woodchuck holes, and the cracked walnut shells left behind by squirrels are common sights letting you know that there are plenty of these animals throughout the state.

  1. Tree Climbers

    • Beavers are one of the state's largest rodents.

      There are a few different mammals in Connecticut that spend quite a bit of their time in trees rather than on the ground. The eastern gray squirrel is the most common squirrel in Connecticut. You are likely to see these rodents anywhere there are stands of mature trees. The red squirrel is a close cousin to the eastern gray but prefers stands of mature pine trees and wears a ruddy red coat. Two other species of squirrel are the northern flying squirrel and the southern flying squirrel. These two species are nocturnal and while they look similar, the southern flyer is more petite and prefers to spend most of its time near freshwater lakes or rivers. The southern flyer is mostly found in old deciduous forests.

    Large Rodents

    • House mice are just as common in Connecticut as they are elsewhere.

      The beaver is one of the largest rodents found in Connecticut. It is hard to believe these shy family oriented rodents were trapped out of existence by the mid 1800s in Connecticut. A pair was reintroduced to the state in 1914 and beavers have been growing ever since. Beavers are extremely social and rely on family to gather food, babysit young siblings and help to build dams. The other large rodent calling Connecticut home is the woodchuck. Also called groundhogs, these normally docile creatures take up residence underground, digging out large dens where they live and hibernate through the cold seasons. The groundhog can weigh as much as 9 lbs. just before going into hibernation in the fall. Without the added weight and fat stores, this rodent would not live through the long winter of Connecticut.

    Small Rodents

    • Pocupines are common in the southern part of the state

      Several species of mice, voles, and rats thrive in Connecticut. Some live very close to people like the common house mouse, while others prefer the solitude of the forests such as the white-footed mouse and red-backed vole. Still other rodents enjoy water and marsh areas like the muskrat and southern bog lemming. Other small rodents native to Connecticut include the deer mouse, jumping mouse and chipmunk.

    Odd and Prickly

    • Porcupines call some places of the state home. These rodents are not usually found in the northern parts of Connecticut but can be seen in several counties in the southern areas of the state. These prickly mammals prefer forested areas with large hemlock tree stands.