North Dakota Wildlife

When Lewis and Clark first followed the Missouri River across North Dakota just over 200 years ago they witnessed great herds of Bison (Buffalo) as far as the eye could see. There were also large numbers of Pronghorn (Antelope), and the expedition encountered their first Grizzly Bear in North Dakota. Other animals they recorded seeing included whitetail deer, moose, prairie dogs, gray wolves, and many other species.

By the late 1800s, with the advancement of white settlers, Bison and Elk had both disappeared from North Dakota. But that was then. Today both Bison and Elk have been reintroduced and have regained viable breeding herds in the state. Because of conservative agricultural practices deer and moose are probably more abundant and with wider ranges now than in pre-settlement times. Prarie dogs are holding their own, but in much smaller numbers than before wheat was planted and ranches established.

The Grizzly can now only be found in the Rocky Mountains, further west. Wolves are now very rarely seen in North Dakota, usually strays who wander over the line from Canada. However, with their demise the population of coyotes and red fox have increased.

North Dakota is also known for it's abundance of gamebirds, including pheasant, turkey, prairie chicken and numerous species of waterfowl. The best places to see waterfowl and moose are in the eastern part of the state. Deer are abundant throughout the state, and pronghorn, elk and bison are scattered in the western areas.

In the Badlands of western North Dakota I saw a colony of prairie dogs beside the highway and decided to take a hike across the prairie through their "town". My presence frightened the barking rodents, so I was unable to get a good photo of them. However, about a quarter-mile from the highway I topped a small rise and saw this maginificant bull bison. I quickly took this photo and backed away. If he had come my way there would have been nowhere for me to hide except down a prairie dog hole, and I don't think I would have fit.