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Wildlife in North Dakota

Here’s what naturalists are spotting in North Dakota right now - pulled live from recent research-grade observations. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

15,956
recent observations
30
species listed
13
plants
7
insects & arthropods
4
mammals

Naturalists have logged 15,956 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in North Dakota. The most frequently seen is the American Bison, with 1,351 recorded sightings.

Plants account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (13 of the species listed here), followed by insects & arthropods (7).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in North Dakota

American Bison
Bos bison
1,351 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
991 observations
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
803 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
798 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
624 observations
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
607 observations
Creeping Thistle
Cirsium arvense
562 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
545 observations
Upright Prairie Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
527 observations
Western Snowberry
Symphoricarpos occidentalis
526 observations · iNaturalist
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
518 observations
Two-spotted Bumble Bee
Bombus bimaculatus
515 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
494 observations
Yellow Sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis
493 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
486 observations
Silver Buffaloberry
Shepherdia argentea
447 observations
Domestic Horse
Equus caballus
439 observations
Hunt's Bumble Bee
Bombus huntii
433 observations · iNaturalist
Narrow-leaved Purple Coneflower
Echinacea angustifolia
424 observations
Ring-necked Pheasant
Phasianus colchicus
416 observations
Painted Lady
Vanessa cardui
409 observations
Wild Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
409 observations · iNaturalist
Prairie Pasqueflower
Pulsatilla nuttalliana
396 observations · iNaturalist
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
395 observations
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
395 observations
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
394 observations
Leafy Spurge Hawkmoth
Hyles euphorbiae
393 observations · iNaturalist
Asian Lady Beetle
Harmonia axyridis
391 observations
Smooth Brome
Bromus inermis
388 observations
Dotted Gayfeather
Liatris punctata
387 observations · iNaturalist

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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