Department Upland Game Management Supervisor Jesse Kolar took this awesome video of a bull elk bugling in the badlands (Fall 2019).
Wildlife Notes
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.
Read Full Article: Canada Geese and Tree Nests
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.
Read Full Article: Mimicry in the Wild
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.
Read Full Article: Learn more about bittern
Wading Birds in North Dakota
Many species of wading birds migrate through North Dakota. Some even breed here. Learn more in this short video.
Read Full Article: Wading Birds in North Dakota
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.
Read Full Article: Bigmouth and Smallmouth Buffalo
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.
Read Full Article: Learn more about chokecherries
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.
Read Full Article: Porcupine Predators
Owls in North Dakota
Learn about owls that migrate through and/or nest in North Dakota.
Read Full Article: Owls in North Dakota
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.
Read Full Article: Learn how much wood a woodchuck can chuck
Badger
Badgers are found statewide in North Dakota. Find out more about this hard-digging furbearer in this segment of North Dakota Outdoors.
Read Full Article: Badger
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...
Read Full Article: View Bighorn Sheep Clash
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.
Read Full Article: Painted Turtle Gender Determination
Two-Headed Deer Fetus
Read Full Article: Read about the two-headed deer fetus
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.
Read Full Article: A Look at Bird Legs
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.
Read Full Article: Watch Lek Video
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.
Read Full Article: Lowhead Dam Dangers
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.
Read Full Article: Softshell Turtles in North Dakota
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).
Read Full Article: Learn more about snapping turtles
Porcupine Fur
Did you know that porcupines have three types of fur? Learn more in this Wildlife Note post.
Read Full Article: Porcupine Fur
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.
Read Full Article: Dirt Tubes
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.
Read Full Article: Sagebrush Lizards Escape Mechanism
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 and Snow Caves
One strategy sharp-tailed grouse use to survive winter is to burrow into the snow. Find out more in this post.
Read Full Article: Sharp-Tailed Grouse and Snow Caves
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.
Read Full Article: Plains Gartersnakes
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