Long-billed curlews are one of the 13 shorebird species known to nest in North Dakota. Learn more about these neat little birds here.
Wildlife Notes
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Yucca Moths
Did you know that yucca moths are the yucca plant's only pollinator? Learn more here!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bison in North Dakota
Watch this short video for some facts on bison in North Dakota.
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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!)
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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.
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Black Tern Fish Flight
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American Coots in North Dakota
American coots are a fairly common water bird in North Dakota. Check out this short video to learn more.
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North Dakota Ground Squirrels
So is that ground squirrel you see in the North Dakota countryside a Flickertail or a Franklin's?
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Plains Spadefoot
The plains spadefoot (Spea bombifrons) is the most easily recognized toad in North Dakota. Its skin is smooth like that of a frog, and it has a distinct vertical pupil like that of a cat. Its color varies from a light cream, to gray or brown, and may have small orange spots.
Read Full Article: More about plains spadefoot
Whooping Crane Migration
The whooping cranes that make their way through North Dakota each spring are part of a population of about 500 birds that are on their way from their wintering grounds at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to their nesting grounds at Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada, a distance of about 2,500 miles.
Read Full Article: Learn More about whooping crane migration
Catfish Taste Receptors
Channel catfish are aptly nicknamed swimming tongues. Find out why in this Wildlife News post
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Elk Bugling
Department Upland Game Management Supervisor Jesse Kolar took this awesome video of a bull elk bugling in the badlands (Fall 2019).
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Canada Geese and Tree Nests
Did you know that Canada geese will sometimes appropriate old nests of tree nesting birds like eagles? How do the goslings get down from these nests? Find out here.
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Northern Hawk Owl
The northern hawk owl is a unique looking creature that can occasionally be found in North Dakota in the winter.
Read Full Article: Watch Owl Video
Mimicry in the Wild
Is it a monarch butterfly or a viceroy? Viceroy, along with many other species, use mimicry to aide survival. Find out more in this post.
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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.
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Wading Birds in North Dakota
Many species of wading birds migrate through North Dakota. Some even breed here. Learn more in this short video.
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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.
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