Ventura River Preserve Animals
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
The badger is a brown fur-covered mammal with short legs and low profile. The head appears pointed and small for the body. They have short ears and a short , furry tail. Read More »
Big-Eared Woodrat
Neotoma macrotis
Prefers forest habitats with moderate canopy, year-round greenery, a brushy understory, and suitable nest building materials. Read More »
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
(subspecies: Lynx rufus californicus (Mearns))
The bobcat resembles other species of the Lynx genus, but is on average the smallest. Read More »
California Black Bear
Ursus americanus californiensis
The coat of a black bear is shaggy and usually black but it can also be dark brown, cinnamon, yellow-brown, and grey-blue depending on location. Read More »
California Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus californicus
It is named for its ears, which are large like those of the mule. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer. Read More »
Cougar
Puma concolor
Cougars are slender and agile members of the cat family. They are the 4th largest cat; adults stand about 24 to 35 in (60 to 90 cm) tall at the shoulders. Read More »
Coyote
Canis latrans
The color of the coyote’s pelt varies from grayish-brown to yellowish-gray on the upper parts, while the throat and belly tend to have a buff or white color. The forelegs, sides of the head, muzzle and paws are reddish-brown. Read More »
EASTERN FOX SQUIRREL
Sciurus niger
The eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) is a relatively large North American squirrel with a long, bushy tail and very variable coloration. Its scientific name, niger, means ‘black’ and refers to the black fur of the first individual to be described. Read More »
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
The gray fox is a peppery gray on top, reddish-brown on its sides, chest and the back of its head. Its legs and feet are also a reddish color. Read More »
Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Monarch Butterfly
Danaus plexippus
Monarch butterflies are bright orange with black and white markings. The body of the monarch is black. The head has a set of antennae. Read More »
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
The raccoon has gray to brown fur. It is a stocky mammal about 2 to 3 feet long and weighs 10 to 30 pounds. It has a black mask around its eyes with white fur around the mask. Read More »
Ringtail
Bassariscus Astutus
Southern Pacific Rattlesnake
Crotalus oreganus helleri
The thick body of Southern Pacific rattlesnakes ends in a short stubby tail. The rattles at the end of the tail are made up of a series of loosely jointed, dry, hollow segments of skin. Read More »
Spotted Skunk
Spilogale
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
The striped skunk has a black body with a white stripe along each side of its body.; the two stripes join into a broader white area at the nape. Read More »
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
The opossum is about the size of a house cat, has coarse grayish fur, a pointed face, and hairless, rounded ears. Read More »
