Reptiles and Amphibians of North Dakota

Amphibians and reptiles live in all habitat types in North Dakota. They may be close by, even if you don’t see them. Turtles and frogs swim on the bottom of wetlands and rivers, lizards scurry into burrows, and snakes slip away into tall grass. Although they may seem “creepy” to some people, they are all quite harmless, unless provoked, which may cause them to become aggressive in an attempt to defend themselves. In fact, amphibians and reptiles are very beneficial to the environment, serving as prey for other animals, and preying on critters sometimes undesirable to humans, such as rodents. North Dakota has about 28 species of amphibians and reptiles. Herpetologists, or biologists who study these creatures, often discover small differences in a species, and may change the name of a species, or decide it should be two separate species. Depending on who you talk to, the exact number of species, or herps as they are sometimes collectively called, may vary. Regardless, North Dakota has very few species because of its cold climate, compared to someplace warm like Texas, which boasts more than 225 species.