Georgia Mammals 131 



around freshwater streams and fresh and salt water marshes. Two sub- 

 species are recognized in Georgia (Hall 1981): Mustela vison lutensis 

 (Bangs) in the Coastal counties, and M. v. mink Peale and Palisot de 

 Beauvois in the remainder of the state 



Spilogale putorius putorius (Linnaeus), Eastern Spotted Skunk. 

 Statewide, except in the lower Coastal Plain, and uncommon. Distrib- 

 uted around farmlands and rarely occurs in woodlands. 



Mephitis mephitis (Schreber), Striped Skunk. The more common 

 skunk in Georgia, occurring statewide and usually around farmlands, 

 less commonly in woodlands. Two subspecies are recognized in Georgia 

 (Hall 1981): Mephitis mephitis elongata Bangs occurs in the northeast- 

 ern, eastern and southern parts of the state, and M. m. nigra (Peale and 

 Palisot de Beauvois) in the northwestern and west central parts. 



Lutra canadensis lataxina Cuvier, River Otter. Fairly common in 

 rivers and streams, as well as fresh and salt water marshes of the Coas- 

 tal Plain and lower Piedmont. 



Zalophus californianus (Lesson), California Sea Lion. Accidentally 

 or intentionally released into waters of the southeastern United States, 

 this species is reported from offshore Georgia, east of Mcintosh County 

 (Caldwell et al. 1971). 



Cystophora cristata (Erxleben), Hooded Seal. Neuhauser and 

 Ruckdeschel (1978) reported on an unpublished note by Ivan Tompkins 

 of a specimen from Bullhead Bluff on the Satilla River, Camden 

 County, that was tentatively identified as C. cristata. There are no 

 recent sightings of the species in southeastern United States waters 

 (Schmidly 1981), and the species is presumed extirpated from this area. 



Felis concolor coryi Bangs, Mountain Lion. Jenkins (1971) and 

 Odum et al. (1977) reported recent unconfirmed sightings in Georgia. 

 These are, however, very suspect, and it is very likely that the species 

 has been extirpated in Georgia. 



Felis rufus (Schreber), Bobcat. A common but secretive animal 

 statewide in river-bottom swamps, brush and thickets. Two subspecies 

 are recognized in Georgia (Hall 1981): Felis rufus rufus (Schreber) 

 occurs in the mountain provinces; and F. r. floridanus (Rafinesque) in 

 the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. 



Trichechus manatus latirostris (Harlan), Manatee. Occurs occa- 

 sionally in Georgia's coastal waters, most commonly south of the 

 Altamaha River, especially during warmer weather. 



Sus scrofa, Feral Pig. Feral pigs occur in the lower Coastal Plain 

 and mountain provinces, and are most common in coastal swamps and 

 marshes, less common in boreal habitats. 



Cervus dama Linnaeus, Fallow Deer. Originally introduced for 

 hunting, this species is locally abundant in Glynn County (Neuhauser 

 and Baker 1974). 



