My global mammal life list

Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Latest update: 16th of July 2025

Latest addition(s):

Muskox (Ovibos moschatus), Wood Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

This is my life list of the wild mammal species I have either seen, or heard, on planet Eearth. In addition to these 105 species, I have seen the footprints of Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) as well as some unidentified bats, mice, and voles in different parts of world.

Carnivorans (Carnivore)

1.      Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides ussuriensis)

2.      Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

3.      Eurasian Wolf (Canis lupus lupus)

4.      Feral Cat (Felis catus)

5.      European Wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris)

6.      Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx)

7 .     Wolverine (Gulo gulo)

8.      Eurasian Otter (Lutra lutra)

9.      European Pine Martin (Martes martes)

10.    Eurasian Badger (Meles meles)

11.    Stoat (Mustela erminea)

12.    Weasel (Mustela nivalis)

13.    European Polecat (Mustela putorius)

14.    American Mink (Mustela vison)

15.    Cape Fur Seal aka Brown Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus)

16.    Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)

17.    Harbour Seal aka Common Seal (Phoca vitulina)

18.    Baltic Ringed Seal (Pusa hispida botnica) 

19.    Saimaa Ringed Seal (Pusa saimensis) 

20.    Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) 

21.    Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

22.    Brown Bear aka Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos)

Even-toed ungulates (Cetartiodactyla)

23.    Red Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama)

24.    Black Wildebeest aka White-tailed Gnu (Connochaetes gnou)

25.    Blesbok aka Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus)

26.    Mouflon aka Red Sheep (Ovis orientalis)

27.    Pyrenean Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica)

28.    Muskox (Ovibos moschatus)

29.    Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris)

30.    Common Duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia)

31.    Moose aka Eurasian Elk (Alces alces)

32.    European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)

33.    Red Deer aka Wapiti (Cervus elaphus)

34.    Fallow Deer (Dama dama)

35.    White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

36.    Reeves's muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi)

37.    Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

Bats (Chiroptera)

38.    Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)

39.    European Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida teniotis)

40.    Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

41.    Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum)

42.    Northern Bat (Eptesicus nilssonii)

43.    Common Serotine (Eptesicus serotinus)

44.    Parti-coloured Bat (Vespertilio murinus)

45.    Brandt's Bat (Myotis brandtii)

46.    Whiskered Bat (Myotis mystacinus)

47.    Daubenton's Bat (Myotis daubentonii)

48.    Natterer's Bat (Myotis nattereri)

49.    Pond Bat (Myotis dasycneme)

50.    Noctule (Nyctalus noctula)

51.    Lesser Noctule (Nyctalus leisleri)

52.    Nathusius' Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii)

53.    Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)

54.    Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus)

55.    Kuhl’s Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii)

56.    Savi’s Pipistrelle (Hypsugo savii)

57.    Schreiber's Bent-winged Bat (Miniopterus schreibersii)

58.    Brown Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus)

59.    Western Pipistrelle aka Canyon bat (Parastrellus hesperus)

Diprotodonts (Diprotodontia)

60.   Eastern Gray Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

61.   Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Eulipotyphla (Eulipotyphla)

62. Western European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

63. Northern White-breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus)

64. European Mole (Talpa europaea)

65. Eurasian Water Shrew (Neomys fodiens)

66. Eurasian Shrew (Sorex araneus)

67. Laxmann's Shrew (Sorex caecutiens)

68. Taiga Shrew (Sorex isodon)

69. Pygmy Shrew (Sorex minutus)

Hyraxes (Hyracoidea)

70. Rock Hyrax aka Rock Dassie (Procavia capensis)

Lagomorphs (Lagomorpha)

71. Iberian Hare (Lepus granatensis)

72. European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)

73. Arctic Hare aka Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus)

74. European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Primates (Primata)

75. Chacma Baboon (Papio ursinus)

Rodents (Rodentia)

76. American Beaver (Castor canadensis)

77. Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber)

78. Eurasian Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris)

79. Field Vole (Microtus agrestis)

80. Sibling Vole (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis)

81. Tundra Vole (Microtus oeconomus)

82. Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus)

83. Grey-sided Vole (Clethrionomys rufocanus)

84. Red Vole (Clethrionomys rutilus)

85. Wood Lemming (Myopus schisticolor)

86. Norwegian Lemming (Lemmus lemmus)

87. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus

88. Nutria aka Coypy (Myocastor coypus)

89. Northern Birch Mouse (Sicista betulina)

90. Striped Field Mouse (Apodemus agrarius)

91. Yellow-necked Field Mouse (Apodemus flavicollis)

92. Wood Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

93. Eurasian Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus)

94. House Mouse (Mus musculus)

95. Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)

96. White-tailed Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus)

97. Siberian Flying Squirrel (Pteromys volans)

98. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

99. Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

100. Douglas's Squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii)

101. Alpine Marmot (Marmota marmota)

Cetaceans (Cetacea)

102. Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

103. Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

104. Common Dolphin  (Delphinus delphis)

105. Northern Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

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Writer

Olli Haukkovaara
Valkeakoski
Finland

Trip to southern Norway, 2 new lifers

Day 1

The trip started on the 6th of July 2025 from Valkeakoski, Finland, from where I drove to Helsinki with my family. Next step was the boat trip by Silja Symphony ferry from Helsinki to Stockholm, Sweden. During first day I didn't see many mammals, only some roadkills on Highway 3 to Helsinki i.e. Eurasian Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and couple of Raccoon dogs  (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and from the ferry I spotted the Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) on Gulf of Finland, close to Porkkala, at Kallbådan seal reserve area.

Day 2

During the drive from Stockholm to Oslo, we saw few Roe Deers (Capreolus capreolus) in the fields of Sweden, and some roadkills, of which the only identified one was the Eurasian Badger (Meles meles). In Oslo, we had rented an Airbnb apartment for one week. So, this trip was not a full mammal watching trip, but anyway, during a week, I had a enough time to spend outdoors in the nature.

Day 3

During the third day, on the 8th of July, we started very early in the morning and drove about 350 km north, to Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjell national park. During road trip, we saw a Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) in two places, a single one in a field and propably a pair in another field. I had hoped to see a Red Deer, but no luck this time.

We arrived to Dovrefjell–Sunndalsfjell national park at 9:30, signed in to the Muskox Safari and at 10:15 we started the hike up the mountains near Kongsvoll Botaniske Fjellhage.

The weather was fine, not too cold nor too hot. While climbing up to Nystugguhøa, my younger son Roni heard a rustling from the downy birch forest. There was some vole, possibly a Tundra Vole or Norway Lemming, but unfortunately we did not see it.

We continued the climbing and finally one of my mammal dreams came true, when our guide spotted two Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) resting in the snow - almost on the top of the Nystugguhøa mountain. A lifer for me! After that we found more of them and the final count was 16! A small surprise for me was the size of Muskox, it's much smaller than I thought. The Muskox stands at 1.1 to 1.5 m (3 ft 7 in to 4 ft 11 in) high at withers.

The first Muskoxen, cool off in the snow at Nystugguhøa.

A solitary Muskox lower at the slope of Nystugguhøa.

Muskox herd a bit further away at the slope of Nystugguhøa.

While driving back to Oslo in the evening, we chose another route, a bit further east. During evening hours, we saw one Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) running over the road. Also, one Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus), but unfortunately, it was a roadkill. There were no Red Deer in sight that evening, but Roni probably saw two Elks (Alces alces) for a few seconds in a roadside forest near Oslo.

Day 4

This day was spent almost entirely recovering from the previous day's relatively strenuous mountain hike. Still, during late evening, I started a new hike, a couple of kilometers walk along the river Akerselva, from the lake Maridalsvannet downstream to the Nydalen. Near Kjelsås, there was a sign which claimed that there lives Eurasian Beavers in the river. But... I must say now that it's a false information. I didn't see any beavers, nor any recent signs of them nesting or feeding along the river. Only some very old signs in trees, probably from many years ago. 

I tried to also find the Wood Mouse, but no luck with it. Actually, I did not see a single rodent during evening, maybe they have a bad year in southern Norway?

But... the bats surprised me! There was a lot of bats along the river and many species of them! Here's the complete list of the 5-6 bat species, that the Echo Meter app identified and some screen shots from the app.

• Northern Bat (Eptesicus nilssonii)
• Daubenton's Myotis (Myotis daubentonii)
• Brandt's Myotis / Whiskered Myotis (Myotis brandtii / Myotis mystacinus)
• Brown Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus)
• Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus)

In addition to the list above, Echo Meter app provided three more species; Western Barbastelle, Natterer's Bat and Pond Myotis. It seems that the Western Barbastelle and Natterer's Bat were false positives but the Pond Myotis recording is still possible and under investigation, especially because the species should not exists in Norway i.e. it would be a new species for Norway! I will update this blog article, when the species is clear.

Day 5

This day was spent in downtown. Still, one mammal observation, the Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), this time in Slottsparken, which is the park surrounding the Royal Palace of Norway, with ponds and statues.

Red Squirrel at Slottsparken

Day 6

At midday, we went to the Natural History Museum in Oslo. Very interesting place, highly recommended for all mammal watchers. The museum is surrounded by Botanical Garden. While walking around the garden, I suddenly noticed two Roe Deers (Capreolus capreolus) - a small surpise in a fenced park in the middle of Oslo.

A Roe Deer pair at Botanical Garden.

In the evening, I spent again about three hours in the forests along the river Akerselva, walking slowly around, listening for possible rustlings and watching for possible moves of grass and flowers. I had almost given up, when I heard a rustling sound. I stopped and crouched down, the rustling sound moved closer. And suddenly, from behind a tree, a Wood Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), walked to the path, right in front of me, it was about 70 cm away from me. A lifer for me! We stared each other about 15 seconds, and I was able to see it really nicely; small size, pure white chest and belly, small ears an eyes and brownish gray back. No photo though, I didn't want to scare it so I just stayed on my site like a statue.

Day 7

The last day in Oslo, no wild mammal obervations. A note about the House Cats: it seems that it's legal in Norway to let them be out without any control. Around our Airbnb apartment, there was at least four House Cats wandering around.

Bengal Cat at Kjelsås.

Day 8

The travel back to Finland started in the morning. While driving from Oslo to Stockholm, we saw again many Roe Deers (Capreolus capreolus) in the fields - but that's all. No Red Deers anywhere during this trip, even though they exist in Southern Norway and Sweden. I just wonder whether they are so nocturnal, that they are hard to see?

Another species that was totally missing in this trip, was the European Hare. Why, I'm not sure, perhaps the grass in the fields was already so long that all smaller mammals disappeared there.

Day 9

When I woke up in the Bay of Finland, there was a thick fog i.e. very poor visibility. Luckily the fog faded away after an hour and I managed to see again Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus), at Kallbådan seal reserve area, this time three of them. 

While driving back to home from Helsinki, there was again several roadkills on the Highway 3, all identified mammals were Raccoon dogs  (Nyctereutes procyonoides).

This was my third visit in Norway - but not the last. I have plans to go to a whale trip in Andenes and to another trip further north to Svalbard island, to see Polar Bears and other arctic mammals and birds.

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Writer

Olli Haukkovaara
Valkeakoski
Finland

Looking for the arctic fox & norwegian lemming

 

In July 2023, I made a five-day trip to Kilpisjärvi, an arm of Finland, which is a tundra/mountain area of Lapland. I've only been there once before, very briefly, just for a day trip. Not that I didn't want to go there, but only now I managed to lure one of my old friends with me. Aatu Rundgren, whose roots are in Lapland, joined me! 

Our goals were to find certain new mammal species for me, and several new bird species for Aatu. He is also interested in mammals, and I'm interested in birds as well, especially rare / scarce arctic birds this time. My ultimate goal was the arctic fox, and the other goal was the norwegian lemming, both species that I had never seen.

Day 1 - 10th of July 2023

And so we drove 14 hours to far north! The trip started early in the morning of 10th of July and we arrived at Kilpisjärvi about at 21:00 in the evening.

During this long drive we saw couple of rough-legged buzzards and one northern hawk-owl, which was a clear indication that vole populations were in good condition.

Our original plan was to stay at Kilpisjärvi Holiday Village & Camping area. But when we arrived there, they told that there was no space for our tent... Damn! July is the busiest time there, lot's of tourists everywhere, all cabins and tent places booked. So, we had to create quickly a plan B. Suddenly I remembered that there is the Kilpisjärvi Biological Station, a sub-arctic research station run by the University of Helsinki. We drove to station and I called to the station manager, who luckily gave us a permission to put up our tent and stay in biological station next two nights! For the last two nights, we had already managed to book a small cabin.

During first evening, we succeeded in finding couple of voles close to our tent, near the shore of the Lake Kilpisjärvi. The first one was a grey-sided vole (Craseomys rufocanus) and the second a northern red-backed vole (Myodes rutilus), both new to my year list 2023. 

Day 2 - 11th of July 2023

After the morning swimming in lake Kilpisjärvi and breakfast in Kilpisjärvi Holiday Village, we headed to our first target, the Mount Saana. The easiest way to Saana was to drive to Norway to the coast of Arctic Ocean and then back towards the arm of Finland via small mountain road. While approaching our target, we saw lot's of northern birds, like the european golden plover, golden eagle and rough-legged buzzards. The mountain road was in really bad condition, luckily my Nissan X-trail has a high ground clearance. Some other Finnish tourists were not so lucky with their low ground clearance cars...

The road ended close to the border between Norway and Finland. We continued by hiking up to mountains. The trail was really challenging and we proceeded slow.

The scenery around us was amazing. We were in the middle of nowhere, the only people in this remote wilderness. Up on top of the mountains, we used our binoculars to scan the entire 360-degree landscape around us, looking for an arctic fox. But no, we couldn't find the arctic fox, even though we really tried...

After couple of hours of hiking, we decided to give up and walk back to the parking place. We chose another route, which was easier to walk, but few kilometers longer. This route was a green Lapland mountain moorland, with more birds. There we noticed many holes on the ground, next to stones. Clearly some vole holes, hmmm, could they be norwegian lemming holes?

And yes, that they were! Suddenly I noticed a norwegian lemming (Lemmus lemmus) peeking from one hole! A lifer! Species #102 in my global mammal life list!

It was already an evening when we got back to car. While driving back to Kilpisjärvi, we stopped on the coast of the Arctic Ocean and had a refreshing swimming session, water temperature was about 10 degrees Celcius.

Day 3 - 12th of July 2023

In the morning we moved from Biological Station to a cabin that we had rented. When we left the station we saw a big vole coming over the road towards us. It was a tundra vole (Alexandromys oeconomus), a nice addition to my yearlist 2023!

Today we decided to climb to Mount Saana, to look for the norwegian lemming in the Finland. And rock ptarmigan for Aatu. Weather looked great, not much clouds in the sky and refreshing wind.

The scenery was again amazing... but the wind got stronger all the time and finally it blow about 25 m/s. A storm in a sunny day! It was difficult to walk on the top, because of the storm, and there was nothing but tourists, so we decided to hike to calmer side of the Saana. All the birds were now there, but we did not find any rock ptarmigans. Nice surprise was the long-tailed skua, a lifer for Aatu!

On the northern slope of Saana, there was a large grassy moorland area. We noticed again vole holes next to stones. And soon there was again a norwegian lemming peeking from the hole! #64 in my Finland mammal life list ! We hiked further away from Saana, towards Mount Iso-Jehkas. But no signs of an arctic fox here either. So, rest of the day was spent on birdwatching. 

Day 4 - 13th of July 2023

Today our target was the Three-Country Cairn, which is the point at which the international borders of Sweden, Norway and Finland meet, and the name of the monument that marks the point. It is an example of a geographical feature known as a tripoint. It is the northernmost international tripoint in the world. We had planned to hike there, but the weather forecast changed a bit our plan, as a rain-front was approaching from west. So we bought tickets to ship which sailed us to Sweden, only two kilometers away from tripoint. 

From Three-Country Cairn we started to hike through Mount Malla nature reserve back to Kilpisjärvi. We saw lots of birds, including white-tailed eagle, pair of rough-legged buzzards in their nesting site, bluethroats and we found also two nests of ring ouzels, again a lifer for Aatu!

In Malla we got the best view and first photos of the norwegian lemming. It was so cute! The rain-front approached us fast so we had to walk bit faster too. We scanned the landscape all the time, in hope of arctic fox, but found nothing...  Luckily the rain never reached us and we got back to cabin in time. 

Day 5 - 14th of July 2023

Time to drive back to south...  Reindeers were every here and there, but for a mammalwatcher it's just another domestic animal. I was hoping the see the Finnish forest reindeer (Rangifer fennicus fennicus) while driving home, but didn't have luck with it this time. 

The arctic fox had two breeding pairs in Finland 2023, another pair in Kaldoaivi wilderness area and another somewhere in the arm Finland, where we hiked. I really must come back to Kilpisjärvi - or Kaldoaivi in future. I really want to see that gorgoeus arctic fox some day!