Predators of Connecticut: A Guide to the State's Carnivores

Despite its small size and dense population, Connecticut hosts a diverse array of predators, from apex carnivores to mesopredators and birds of prey.

Large Carnivores

• Black Bear (Ursus americanus) – Increasingly common, especially in northwestern hills.
• Bobcat (Lynx rufus) – Elusive but widespread.
• Coyote (Canis latrans) – Arrived in the 1950s; now statewide.
• Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) – Native, tree-climbing canid.
• Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) – Adaptable, found in suburbs and wildlands.
• Fisher (Pekania pennanti) – Large weasel family member, recolonizing the state.

Note: Eastern Cougar (Puma concolor couguar) is officially extinct; occasional sightings are dispersing western cougars or misidentifications.

Small Carnivores

• American Marten, Ermine, Least Weasel, Long-tailed Weasel, Mink, River Otter, Raccoon, Striped Skunk

Birds of Prey

• Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl

Other Predators

Snakes (including timber rattlesnake and copperhead), spiders, and insectivorous bats also play vital predatory roles in Connecticut's ecosystems.