Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does North Dakota have a state list of threatened and endangered species?
A. No, North Dakota does not have a state endangered or threatened species list. Only those species listed by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 are considered threatened or endangered in North Dakota.
Q. What is the difference between threatened and endangered species?
A. Endangered species are in danger of extinction now, and threatened species are likely to become an endangered species in the near future.
Q. How many threatened or endangered species are listed in North Dakota?
A. Six animal species and one plant species, for a total of seven species.
Q. Which species are listed as endangered in North Dakota?
A. Whooping crane (Grus americana), Interior least tern (Sterna antillarum), pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus), black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), and gray wolf (Canis lupus)
Q. Which species are listed as threatened in North Dakota?
A. Piping plover (Charadrius melodus) and Western prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara)
Q. What are candidate species?
A. Candidate species are proposed for listing as threatened or endangered species.
Q. What species are listed as candidate species in North Dakota?
A. Greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), Sprague's pipit (Anthus spragueii), Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae), and the Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek)
The Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has primary oversight of threatened and endangered species. Contact the North Dakota Ecological Services Field Office in Bismarck for more information on threatened and endangered species (701) 250-4481 or northdakotafieldoffice@fws.gov
Related Links: