North Dakota is a state in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. Its geography is characterized by fertile farmlands, vast plains, and expansive prairies because most of the state falls within the Great Plains region. North Dakota features great diversity in its wild habitats, ranging from prairies and grasslands to forests and wetlands. Naturally, this has encouraged the growth of remarkable flora and fauna.
There are several national parks and wildlife reserves, including the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Lewis and Clark Trail, and Lake Sakakawea (the 3rd largest artificial lake in the US), where you can visit to watch some of the state’s native animals in their natural habitat.
List of Different Types of Animals Found in North Dakota
Mammals
American Black Bear
Coyote
Cougar
Red Fox
Gray Wolf
Bobcat
White-tailed Deer
Moose
Bighorn Sheep
Elk
American Bison
Raccoon
Striped Skunk
American Badger
Eastern Cottontail
Desert Cottontail
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Snowshoe Hare
Muskrat
Ord’s Kangaroo Rat
American Porcupine
American Marten
American Mink
North American River Otter
Plains Pocket Gopher
Plains Pocket Mouse
Northern Flying Squirrel
Franklin’s Ground Squirrel
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Meadow Jumping Mouse
Short-tailed Shrew
Eastern Chipmunk
Prairie Vole
Fisher
Long-tailed Weasel
Northern Long-eared Bat
Big Brown Bat
Little Brown Bat
Grizzly bears, Canada lynx, gray wolf, wolverine, and swift fox also used to inhabit the state, but their populations have been extirpated.
Birds
Pileated Woodpecker
Western Meadowlark
American Robin
American Goldfinch
Black-capped Chickadee
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Piping Plover
Rufa Red Knot
Ferruginous Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Wild Turkey
Reptiles
Spiny Softshell
Snapping Turtle
Painted Turtle
Prairie Rattlesnake
Smooth Green Snake
Western Milk Snake
Common Gartersnake
Plains Gartersnake
Greater Short-horned Lizard
Sagebrush Lizard
Prairie Skink
Plains Hognose Snake
Amphibians
Canadian ToadÂ
American Toad
Plains Spadefoot
Eastern Gray Treefrog
Northern Leopard Frog
Eastern Tiger Salamander
Western Tiger Salamander
Mudpuppy
Fishes
Walleye
Northern Pike
Yellow Perch
Lake Whitefish
Sauger
White Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Black Crappie
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Brook Trout
Lake Trout
Muskellunge
Burbot
Freshwater Drum
Northern Hogsucker
Redhorse Sucker
Goldeye
Shovelnose Sturgeon
Paddlefish
Mooneye
Longnose Gar
Bowfin
Yellow Bullhead
Tadpole Madtom
Shorthead Redhorse
Insects And Invertebrates
Monarch Butterfly
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Painted Lady Butterfly
Convergent Lady Beetle
Honey Bee
Bumblebee
Green Lacewing
Dragonfly
Damselfly
Mosquito
Housefly
Grasshopper
Firefly
Carpenter Ant
Paper Wasp
Stink Bug
Boxelder Bug
Ticks
Western Black Widow
State Animals of North Dakota
State Bird
Western Meadowlark
State Fish
Northern Pike
State Insect
Convergent Lady Beetle
FAQ
What are the most dangerous animals in North Dakota?
Large to medium carnivores like black bears, cougars, coyotes, and wolves are among the deadliest animals in the state. Then there are venomous snakes and spiders like the prairie rattlesnake and western black widow that can pose a significant threat to humans.
Are there any endangered animals in North Dakota?
North Dakota has around a dozen animals and birds considered threatened or endangered, including the northern long-eared bat, piping plover, whooping crane, and rufa red knot.
