Carnivores are members of the taxonomic order Carnivora. Order Carnivora is further subdivided into smaller taxonomic groups called families. In Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennessee, six families are represented: Dogs, Foxes, Coyotes, and Wolves of the family Canidae; Bears of the family Ursidae; Raccoons of the family Procyonidae; Skunks of the family Mephitidae; Weasels, Minks, and River otters of the family Mustelidae, and Cats, Panthers, and Bobcats of the family Felidae.
Carnivores of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee are organized on this page by taxonomic families.
For more about Carnivores, see the Web resources for carnivore families on this page.
![American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) [Photo: Terry Spivey, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org]](http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_17283_1539_5346_43/http%3B/public-content%3B7087/publishedcontent/publish/geographic/southern_appalachian/sain_species/mammals___carnivores__order_carnivora_/black_bear.jpg)
![Bobcat (Lynx rufus) [Copyright: Roger Barbour / Discover Life, used with permission]](http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_17283_1539_5346_43/http%3B/public-content%3B7087/publishedcontent/publish/geographic/southern_appalachian/sain_species/mammals___carnivores__order_carnivora_/bobcat.jpg)
![Red Wolf (Canis rufus) [Photo: U.S. FWS, Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center]](http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_17283_1539_5346_43/http%3B/public-content%3B7087/publishedcontent/publish/geographic/southern_appalachian/sain_species/mammals___carnivores__order_carnivora_/red_wolf_profile.jpg)
![Raccoon (Procyon lotor) [Photo: USDA-APHIS]](http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_17283_1539_5346_43/http%3B/public-content%3B7087/publishedcontent/publish/geographic/southern_appalachian/sain_species/mammals___carnivores__order_carnivora_/raccoon.jpg)
![Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) [Photo: U.S. National Park Service, retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/tont/naturescience/striped-skunk.htm]](http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_17283_1539_5346_43/http%3B/public-content%3B7087/publishedcontent/publish/geographic/southern_appalachian/sain_species/mammals___carnivores__order_carnivora_/striped_skunk.jpg)
![American Mink (Neovison vison) [Copyright: Terry L Spivey, Terry Spivey Photography, Bugwood.org]](http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_17283_1539_5346_43/http%3B/public-content%3B7087/publishedcontent/publish/geographic/southern_appalachian/sain_species/mammals___carnivores__order_carnivora_/american_mink.jpg)
