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Wildlife Notes

Wild Turkeys in North Dakota

Did you know that turkeys are not native to North Dakota? They were originally stocked in the 1930s and 40s. Learn more in this week's NDO Webcast with upland game biologist RJ Gross.

Aquatic Invertebrates Survey

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department manages our state's fish and wildlife, including those species like aquatic invertebrates that often go unnoticed. Learn more in this week’s NDO News.

Crayfish in North Dakota

Did you know that North Dakota has 2 species of crayfish? Learn more in this week’s NDO News with fisheries biologist Mike Johnson. 

Bald eagle adult

Bald Eagle Populations in North Dakota (2024)

Once an endangered species, bald eagle populations are increasing in North Dakota. Learn more in this NDO news video (2024)

Pheasant rooster in grass

Ring-necked Pheasant Behavior

During breeding season, male ring-necked pheasants will defend a territory against other males. Conflicts sometimes get a little heated...

Hudsonian godwits resting in wetland

Hudsonian godwits

Unlike marbled godwits, which breed in North Dakota, Hudsonian godwits can only be seen in the state during their spring migration. 

Ducks swimming at sunset

Wetlands

Breeding waterfowl depend on the prairie pothole region. Find out why.

Sage grouse male displaying

Disappearing Sage Grouse

Sage grouse are disappearing from North Dakota. Learn more in this NDO webcast (2024).

Long-billed curlew

Long-Billed Curlews

Long-billed curlews are one of the 13 shorebird species known to nest in North Dakota. Learn more about these neat little birds here.

Bluegill under water

Bluegill Spawn

Bluegill spawn late May and June when water temperatures near 22 C (71.6F). Large males build nests in colonies where they spawn and protect eggs. Some smaller males will mimic females to fertilize eggs instead of nest building and defense.

White-tailed doe (left), mule deer doe (right)

North Dakota Deer Species

North Dakota is home to two deer species, whitetail and mule deer. Learn more about their similarities and differences in this video.

River otter caught on trailcam

River Otters in North Dakota

River otters can be found in certain river corridors in North Dakota. Learn more about this species in this short video.

Rattlesnake

Prairie Rattlesnakes

Contrary to popular rumor, there are prairie rattlesnakes east of the Missouri River in North Dakota. Learn about one population in this video.

Yucca moth

Yucca Moths

Did you know that yucca moths are the yucca plant's only pollinator? Learn more here!

Weasel with white winter coat

Winter Camouflage

Did you know that North Dakota's two hare (white-tailed jackrabbits and snowshoe hares) and three weasel (long-tailed, short-tailed and least) species turn white in the winter.

Moose with bad case of winter ticks

Winter Ticks and Moose

Stories about ghost moose are being told with increased frequency across the southern portion of moose range in North America. Winter ticks are the cause.

Killdeer chicks

Newly Hatched Killdeer Chicks

Newly hatched killdeer chicks, while not the most graceful of creatures, are arguably one of the most adorable. These chicks were filmed in a gravel area right outside of one of the Department's offices.

Bison in badlands

Bison in North Dakota

Watch this short video for some facts on bison in North Dakota.

Eastern kingbird

Eastern Kingbird and Chitin Pellets

Eastern kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus), which can be found across North Dakota in the summer, feed primarily on insects during the breeding season. Like owls and some other birds, eastern kingbirds regurgitate pellets of indigestible prey parts, in this case insect chitin. Here is a series of photographs demonstrating this behavior (because we knew everyone would appreciate this visual to start your day out right!)

Tick waving front legs looking for dinner

Ticks

Ticks sit on the tips of vegetation with legs outstretched waiting for dinner to wander by. Learn more about one of North Dakota's least favorite insects here.

Black terns displaying fish flight courting

Black Tern Fish Flight

Black terns (Chlidonias niger) can be found across North Dakota during their breeding season. These birds do a courtship display called a Fish Flight. During a Fish Flight a male tern will catch and carry a fish or other larger food item in an attempt to attract a female. If he finds an interested female, he’ll feed her the item.
Coot chick with pare t

American Coots in North Dakota

American coots are a fairly common water bird in North Dakota. Check out this short video to learn more.

Richardson's ground squirrel

North Dakota Ground Squirrels

So is that ground squirrel you see in the North Dakota countryside a Flickertail or a Franklin's?

Wild turkey

Wild Turkey in North Dakota

Wild turkey, a popular upland game species in North Dakota, are not native to the state. Learn more in this Wildlife Notes post.

Ten-Petal Blazing Star

Ten-Petal Blazing Star

If you want to see one of the state’s most impressive wildflowers in full bloom, you need to know not only where to look, but when.

American Bittern head from underneath

American Bittern Eyes

Did you know that the eyes on an American Bittern are set in their face so they can easily focus downward? Bittern eat a wide variety of prey like fish, insects, small reptiles and mammals which they use stalking behaviors to capture. 

White-faced ibis

Wading Birds in North Dakota

Many species of wading birds migrate through North Dakota. Some even breed here. Learn more in this short video.

Bigmouth buffalo (left), smallmouth buffalo (right)

Bigmouth and Smallmouth Buffalo

Bigmouth buffalo and smallmouth buffalo are members of the sucker family and both native to the Missouri River System in North Dakota.

Chokecherry

Chokecherry

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), a member of the rose family, is the state fruit of North Dakota. This small tree or shrub grows to a height of 20 feet. 

Porcupine in bush

Porcupine Predators

While some larger predators will take on an occasional porcupine, only one in North Dakota is a truly effective predator of porcupines. Learn more.

Great Horned Owl

Owls in North Dakota

Learn about owls that migrate through and/or nest in North Dakota.

Woodchuck

How much wood can a woodchuck chuck

So, how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Well, a New York state wildlife expert, Richard Thomas, decided to answer that question some years back.

badger hissing at camera

Badger

Badgers are found statewide in North Dakota. Find out more about this hard-digging furbearer in this segment of North Dakota Outdoors.

Sheep about to headbutt

Bighorn Sheep Clash

This clash of bighorn sheep was observed in the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the fall of 2019. It was an epic battle, but in the end, no clear winner emerged...

Painted Turtle

Painted Turtle Gender Determination

Did you know that temperature influences the gender of painted turtles in the egg? If the temperature of egg incubation is around 78 degrees F, then the hatchlings will be male. If it is around 86 degrees F they will be females. For temperatures between 78 and 86 F they could be either.

Two-Headed Deer Fetus xray

Two-Headed Deer Fetus

As any dog owner knows, dogs love to pick up and carry around any dead critters they may happen across (a behavior which is perhaps preferable to their unfortunate penchant for rolling on the carcasses of dead critters they happen across), but imagine the surprise of one rural Mandan resident when his dog dragged home a two-headed white-tailed deer fetus.
Sprague's Pipit

A Look at Bird Legs

Did you know that birds stand on their toes rather than their feet? Learn more in this Wildlife Notes post.

Sharptail

Sharp-Tailed Grouse Lek

Arguably one of North Dakota's more entertaining upland game species is the sharp-tailed grouse. In the spring these grouse can be found on leks (dancing grounds) where males display to attract mates.

Dam sign

Lowhead Dam Dangers

Lowhead dams can be great locations for fishing, but they can also present real safety hazards. Find out more in this short video from a 2018 North Dakota Outdoors program.

softshell turtle

Softshell Turtles in North Dakota

Spiny and smooth softshell turtles can be found in the southern portions of the Missouri River System in North Dakota.

Snapping Turtle

Snapping Turtles

Snapping turtles are common throughout North Dakota. These big turtles can live 40-50 years or more in the wild and can grow to around 65 pounds (though most are in the 10-35 pound range). 

Porcupine in tree

Porcupine Fur

Did you know that porcupines have three types of fur? Learn more in this Wildlife Note post.

Dirt Tube

Dirt Tubes

Have you ever been driving down a back road during the spring and seen tubes of dirt meandering along a ditch? These tubes are created by northern pocket gophers.

Sagebrush lizard

Sagebrush Lizards Escape Mechanism

Did you know that sagebrush lizards (found in the North Dakota badlands) can drop their tail to distract an attacking predator? They escape while the predator goes after their still twitching tail. Later their tail grows back.

Spotted towhee

Spring in North Dakota

Sights and sounds of spring advancing across our North Dakota

Sharp-tailed grouse

Sharp-Tailed Grouse and Snow Caves

One strategy sharp-tailed grouse use to survive winter is to burrow into the snow. Find out more in this post.

Plains gartersnake

Plains Gartersnake

Plains gartersnakes can be found across North Dakota and can be identified by three stripes, with the middle stripe often being bright orange or yellow. 

molt stages in black terns

Molting

All birds molt - shedding their old, weathered feathers with new ones. Some birds molt once per year, others two or three times per year. Sometimes the molt process is simultaneous, such as with waterfowl when they lose all of the primary feathers at once, leaving them flightless for 3-4 weeks. You’ve probably seen them this time of year in a wetland doing a breast-stroke swim to escape to cover.

Burrowing Owls

Burrowing Owls

Burrowing owls nest underground. Learn more in this Wildlife Notes post.

Canada geese on ice sleeping

The Sandman Goes Wild

For humans, sleeping involves closing their eyes and drifting away into a state of rest for the mind and body. In the safety and warmth of their home, this is typically accomplished in about eight hours. For teenagers, sometimes it takes much longer.