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).
![Graphic of bird singing on letter](/sites/default/files/styles/mobile_small/public/2022-06/wn-header_0.jpg?itok=nX1Bb_B4)
![North Dakota Game and Fish Department Logo](/gnf/base/gnf-logo.png)
Wildlife Notes
![Porcupine in tree](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/porcupine-fur-tmb.jpg?itok=qGdFdTAF)
Porcupine Fur
Did you know that porcupines have three types of fur? Learn more in this Wildlife Note post.
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![Dirt Tube](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/dirt-tube-tmb.jpg?itok=BImT5g1G)
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.
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![Sagebrush lizard](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/tmb-sagebrush-lizard.jpg?itok=JYH-rU0C)
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.
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![Spotted towhee](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/tmb-spring-towhee.jpg?itok=J57VM8Xr)
Spring in North Dakota
Sights and sounds of spring advancing across our North Dakota
Read Full Article: Watch ND spring sights and sounds
![Sharp-tailed grouse](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/tmb-grouse.jpg?itok=j-itjYJx)
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.
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![Plains gartersnake](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/tmb-plains-gartersnake-header.jpg?itok=_k3pTpOc)
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.
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![molt stages in black terns](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/tmb-tern-molt.jpg?itok=LNv_on3N)
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.
Read Full Article: Learn more about bird molts
![Burrowing Owls](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/burrowing-owl-tmb.jpg?itok=TFoEqsTN)
Burrowing Owls
Burrowing owls nest underground. Learn more in this Wildlife Notes post.
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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.
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![White-tailed deer walking through deep snow](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/wt-deer-movement-tmb.jpg?itok=mtOvq_TO)
White-Tailed Deer Movements
On the northern Great Plains, seasonal movements of white-tailed deer are highly variable. Find out more in this Wildlife Notes post.
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![Sharptail in grass](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/sharp-tail-tmb_0.jpg?itok=I6ixcdTP)
Sharp-tailed Grouse or Fire Bird
To the Lakota, the sharp-tailed grouse was called “Cansiyo” or the “Fire Bird”, because of its need for fire to keep the grasslands open. Learn more about this iconic bird in the Wildlife Notes post.
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![western prairie fringed orchid](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/07172018-4-orchid_0.jpg?itok=cqeZxkh7)
Western Prairie Fringed Orchid
The western prairie fringed orchid is North Dakota's only federally listed plant under the Endangered Species Act.
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Mountain Lion vs. Canine Tracks
How do you tell the difference between mountain lion and coyote tracks? Watch this short video for some tips.
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![Tree sparrow in branches](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/tmb-tree-sparrow.jpg?itok=ZX2CKvoO)
American Tree Sparrows
In the summer, American tree sparrows can be found nesting (on or near the ground, not in trees as their name might imply) in the far northern regions of Canada and in Alaska.
Read Full Article: Learn more about tree sparrows
![Monarch about to emerge from chrysalis](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/1.jpg?itok=RFZbsGv8)
Monarch Butterfly Emerging from Chrysalis
Getting to watch an adult monarch butterfly emerge from its chrysalis is something most of us never get the opportunity to do, so we thought we’d share these photos.
Read Full Article: Monarch emergence photos
![Hybrid Sage Grouse/Sharp-tailed Grouse](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-06/grouse-hybrid.jpg?itok=G56eoAAB)
Hybrid Sage Grouse/Sharp-tailed Grouse
While rare hybrids in North Dakota sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse occasionally occur. Learn more in this video depicting sage, sharptail and hybrid grouse.
Read Full Article: Hybrid Sage Grouse/Sharp-tailed Grouse