Are you mad about Yosemite mammals? From the petite pikas to the bodacious bears, Yosemite mammals come in many varieties. Now that March has returned, we need another Yosemite Madness contest to rally the masses.
After the frenzy of fun with the peak popularity contest best known as 2024’s March Mountain Madness , this year, we are turning toward the wild side of Yosemite’s wildlife for 2025’s March Mammal Madness.
Mammals — warm-blooded, fur-covered, live-birthing fauna — are vital to Yosemite ecosystems. This year’s contenders are the best of the best (in our humble opinion). From the foothills to the alpine peaks, these mammals are key to ecosystems at every elevation of Yosemite and have special skills and adaptations to park’s storied landscapes.
This year, we are asking you to help us crown Yosemite’s Most Charismatic Critter. The species will earn bragging rights, of course. Criteria can include:
- Being friend-shaped, but not our friend.
- Authentic Yosemite connection.
- Knee-jerk reactions sound like, “Aww” and “Where’s my camera.”
- Warm fuzzy feelings.
Voting will take place throughout the month of March. You can vote by commenting on the Conservancy’s posts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Regardless of who earns the penultimate honor of 2025, we know that you’ll join Yosemite Conservancy in following the best practices to keep wildlife wild in our public lands. When visiting Yosemite National Park, please:
- Never approach or walk towards wildlife.
- Maintain a safe distance.
- Never feed wildlife — especially if they’re asking for it!
- Never touch or move wildlife — report concerns to park staff, and they will determine the proper course of action.
- Store your food and scented items properly while in the park and gateway communities.
Conservancy donors also support wildlife management, habitation restoration, and scientific research projects that directly relate to many of the species below. You too can help support wildlife in Yosemite by donating to Yosemite Conservancy today.
Want to support March Mammal Madness with fun mammal-themed swag? Check out the Mammal Madness Collection at our online retail shop. The collection features guidebooks, pins, children’s books, clothing, and more!
The 2025 March Mammal Madness Contenders:
American Black Bear, Ursus Americanus
High on so many must-see lists — the Yosemite black bear amazes many visitors. Black bears, born the size of soda cans, can grow to be 200-300 pounds and live over 20 years.
Don’t let their name fool you! In Yosemite, the black bears’ fur can be brown, cinnamon, blonde, or black. Regardless of the color of the bear you see in Yosemite, they are all Ursus Americanus.
Black bears are curious, crafty, and voracious creatures. Their noses are their superpower, with a sense of smell 7x stronger than a bloodhound that guides them to food sources. That is why it is so important to store food and scented items safely when visiting Yosemite. This helps bears stay focused on a wild bear diet: meadow grasses, insects, and of course, avalanches of acorns every fall.
In 2025, Conservancy donors are supporting Protecting Bears: Technology and Engagement. Learn more about black bears in this classic Yosemite Nature Notes episode.
Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus
Beholding a mule deer, whether a solo individual or a humbling herd, is a special sight for any season in Yosemite. Mule Deer are named for their large, mule-like ears that frame their gentle faces.
If you’ve ever spotted a dot-speckled fawn tucked away in the meadow grasses (and then tiptoed away from the fawn of course), it can feel like you’ve stumbled into a Disney movie. In springtime, mothers will leave their fawns to feed for a few hours at a time. Again, never touch or move wildlife including fawns or other baby animals.
In the fall, the stoic gentle-deer strut their shiny antlers around, trying to impress potential mates. Did you know that males grow new antlers every year? When the antlers are covered in a velvety layer of skin that means the antlers are still growing.
While it can be tempting to approach a mule deer — it’s important to give them ample space regardless of whether they have antlers.
Pallid Bat, Antrozous pallidus
The pallid bat is the only animal on this list that is also an official symbol of California!
The pallid bat is a great listener — as you can tell by the impressive size of their ears. They are pale in color and have a wingspan of 15-16 inches when fully grown.
Unlike many other bats that like to swoop their meals directly from the sky, pallid bats feast mostly on insects from the ground.
Pallid bats roost in crevices and caves of rock walls. Imagine how many amazing bat roosts exist in Yosemite Valley walls for not just pallid bats, but the other sixteen species of bats that call Yosemite home.
If you do ever spot a bat in Yosemite’s walls you should pay attention from a safe distance and report your observation to Big Wall Bats — a program started here in Yosemite to crowd source bat roost information from bigwall climbers. Learn more about bat scientists’ research in Yosemite in Vertical Research — a recent Conservancy magazine article.
Pacific Fisher, Pekania pennanti
These sleek mammals are incredibly fierce and resilient survivors who are about the size of a large house cat. And, even as their old-growth forest habitat has been fractured and reduced by encroaching human development, this resilient mammal perseveres.
The one thing you will never see is a federally endangered Pacific fisher go fishing . Despite their name, this member of the weasel family does not eat fish. They feast upon the abundance found in their homes of old-growth forests: birds, small mammals, fungi, fruit, and even porcupines!
Thanks to support from Yosemite Conservancy donors, scientists now have data on fisher dens and their movement over seasons. These data sets help inform park decisions to ensure a hopefully brighter future for these amazing mammals. Learn more about Pacific fishers in this recent Yosemite Nature Notes episode.
Bobcat, Lynx rufus
Bobcats are not only incredible hunters, but their scientific name evokes heavy metal vibes . They have beautiful black markings on top of golden/caramel-colored fur and white bellies. Their ears are tufted in black, and they might be wearing eye liner …
Unlike the other big cat running around Yosemite — the mountain lion, which has a long, slender tail — bobcats have their namesake bobbed tail. They have been observed both buoyantly striding around the park as well as hunched down stalking their next meal.
Speaking of these predators, what’s on their menu? Their diet consists of mostly rabbits and rodents like ground squirrels, wood rats, and pocket gophers. Carnivores like bobcats play an important role in maintaining balance in ecosystems. Through devouring their share of smaller mammals, the natural population balance stays in check.
Sierra Nevada Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes necator
After disappearing from Yosemite for nearly a century, the Sierra Nevada Red Fox made an appearance on a remote trail camera in the winter of 2014/2015, sparking interest and hope in a good old-fashioned comeback story.
This high alpine red fox species spends most of their lives above 9,000 feet in elevation — though they have been spotted as low as 6,000 feet. They are ready for life in the mountains — the dense fur around their paws acts like snowshoes, and their thick coat keeps them warm in the alpine winter!
To better study the Yosemite population, park scientists have employed remote trail cams at strategic locations to try their best to determine the approximate size and range. DNA studies of scat samples and hair snares also helps confirm the number of individuals.
American Pika, Ochotona princeps
Don’t underestimate the smallest member of the rabbit family with a penchant for floral arrays. American pikas survive in the extreme conditions of the High Sierra alpine by collecting bouquets of flowers and plants during their short growing period every summer.
These unique mammals burrow in and shelter in place all winter long, surviving off of their stashed greens. Just imagine snuggling in for a 6+ month cuddle with a small pika family …
If you have ever been hiking through an alpine talus field and heard an assertive “Meep!” it’s a good chance you instigated the pika alarm system — warning its colony of friends of potential danger nearby.
Speaking of potential danger, while American pikas are not yet federally endangered, climate change and global warming have been impacting available habitat. Highly sensitive to heat, American pikas have retreated to Yosemite’s sky islands or high alpine peaks to remain cool. As temperatures have warmed, pika populations have struggled.
Learn more about American pika and other high alpine species during the Yosemite Field School: High Sierra Survivors, July 19 – 20, 2025.
Sierra Nevada Bighorn, Ovis canadensis sierrae
The true alpine specialist — the Sierra Nevada Bighorn evolved to thrive amongst the aretes and ridges of the High Sierra.
While they are a rare sight to see, this endangered species loves munching on alpine plants and traversing talus fields with ease. How agile are they? John Muir did refer to Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep as the “bravest of all Sierra Mountaineers” — if that helps give you an indication of their skills.
While both males and females have horns, it’s the males’ horns that truly live up to the bighorn name. Best be agreeable in their presence; these horns are engineered to showcase the male’s strength during mating season.
Want to learn more about these amazing animals? Check out their Nature Notes Episode.
Thank you to everyone who has helped make 2025 March Mammal Madness a reality. Greater thanks to Conservancy donors, volunteers, staff, and park scientists who work to ensure the vitality of Yosemite’s wildlife.
Photo credits:
Marmot by Moses Lopez
Black bear by NPS/Caitlin Lee-Roney
Mule deer by Amparo Barajas
Pallid bat: Ann Froschauer/USFWS
Pacific fisher: NPS
Bobcat: Charles A. Cagara
Sierra Nevada red fox: Keith Slausen/USFS/PSW
American pika: Tim Kuhn
Sierra Nevada bighorn: Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Foundation