North Dakota has its fair share of wildlife. Bison, coyotes, bighorn sheep, and even moose are pretty common around here. This state does have the most wildlife refugees out of any other, so wildlife in North Dakota is pretty abundant. However, sometimes animals that aren’t commonly seen here wander into the prairie. Sometimes these animals are also a bit dangerous – and you might want to steer clear. Here are four animals that have had recent sightings in North Dakota you should be aware of:

1. Wolverines
blacktigersdream/Flickr
Wolverines are fierce carnivores that are rarely seen around the US but do still roam the country. They weren't seen in North Dakota for nearly 150 years but in 2016 a North Dakotan rancher shot and killed one that was near his livestock. As recently as January 2019, other people have reported sightings of wolverines in North Dakota but have not disclosed the locations to potentially protect the animals and curious people who may wander too close. Wolverines are known to be excellent hunters and take on prey much larger than themselves, and often are successful in their hunts. It is thought the wolverines seen in North Dakota have come from neighboring states such as Montana.
2. Black bears
David Mitchell/Flickr
Black bear sightings in North Dakota have gone up tremendously in the past few years. In July 2018, a black bear was seen strolling into the town of Michigan, North Dakota, and later was photographed leaning on a resident's truck and photographed from the passengers inside. Black bears have been seen across the state in various places. Sometimes they are referred to as "cinnamon bears" due to their more brown-colored phase. If you see a black bear, make sure to keep your distance even if it seems calm and friendly. Black bears can weigh up to 550 pounds and have been seen moving rocks weighing up to 300 pounds with ease. These are no teddy bears!

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3. Mountain lions
Eric Kilby/Flickr
Mountain lion sightings usually cause quite a buzz here in North Dakota, and they aren't all that infrequent these days. In January 2019 a mountain lion was shot and killed in the state's capital city of Bismarck, not far from the city center. It was taken care of by a Game and Fish officer due to its dangerous proximity to residents of the city. Mountain lions, otherwise known as cougars or pumas, have been spotted throughout North Dakota once in a while but it is rare that they get so close to large towns or cities. They often hunt deer and likely wander into North Dakota in search of food or new territory.
4. Gray wolves
USFWS/Flickr
Gray wolves are the largest undomesticated canine. It's rare to hear them howling in North Dakota but sightings do happen. As recently as 2017, a wolf was shot near Edinburg, North Dakota. There have been scattered sightings all across the state over the years. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department states, there are no known breeding populations in the state so any gray wolves that are seen here likely came from other states such as Minnesota. They often hunt deer, elk, and moose, and likely don't want to bother with any human populations. However, they do pose a risk to livestock.

Life in North Dakota is always an adventure, and these wild creatures just make living in ND a bit more interesting. Have you sighted any of these animals in North Dakota? When viewing and interacting with wildlife in North Dakota it’s always a good idea to be careful. Remember, you should steer clear of any of these should you sight them and it’s not a bad idea to report their location to the North Dakota Game and Fish Department if they seem close to a city or town.

North Dakota is full of all sorts of creatures, some beautiful and majestic like the wild horses of the badlands, and some not so beautiful like these creepy, crawly insects you can find in ND.

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More to Explore

More wildlife in ND to keep an eye out for

Chris Muras | December 30, 2022

Are there bears in ND?

While there are no known breeding populations of black bears in the state, they are occasionally seen in some of the forested areas of North Dakota. The occurrences of bears in the state have been increasing in recent years, most likely a crossover from bears wandering over from neighboring Minnesota.

What kind of wildlife is in North Dakota?

North Dakota is a bountiful region full of natural areas and wildlife. It is most well known for its free-roaming populations of bison, however, there are a number of other big game species as well. Here is a list of some of the more common large mammals you'll see:

  • Mule Deer
  • Bison
  • Bighorn Sheep
  • Elk
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Moose
  • Pronghorn

Where can you see wildlife in North Dakota?

North Dakota is home to some amazing state and national parks. These natural areas of the state are filled with an abundant ecosystem of wildlife. Here is a list of the state parks in North Dakota where wildlife viewing is essentially guaranteed:

1. Lake Metigoshe State Park, Roland, ND
2. Beaver Lake State Park, Wishek, ND
3. Fort Ransom State Park, Fort Ransom, ND
4. Icelandic State Park, Cavalier, ND
5. Grahams Island State Park, Devils Lake, ND
6. Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Mandan, ND
7. Lewis & Clark State Park, Epping, ND
8. Little Missouri State Park, Killdeer, ND

View images and read more information about these wonderful North Dakota state parks in this article. Then plan your next ND getaway at one of these cool cabins in North Dakota.

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