Theodore Roosevelt National Park Natural History Page

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Theodore Roosevelt National Park Natural History Page

Amphibians and Reptiles List Bird List Buffalo

Common Plant List Invasive Plants Mammal List

North Dakota Badlands Prairie Dogs Wild Horses

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North Dakota's Badlands

About 60 million years ago, streams carried eroded materials eastward from the young Rocky Mountains and deposited them on a vast lowland -- today's Great Plains. During the warm, rainy periods that followed, dense vegetation grew, fell into swamp areas, and was later buried by new layers of sediments. Eventually this plant material turned into lignite coal. Some plantlife became petrified; today considerable amounts of petrified wood are exposed in the badlands. Bentonite, the blue-gray layer of clay , may be traced to ash from ancient volcanoes far to the west. But even as sediments were being deposited, streams were starting to cut down through the soft strata and to sculpt the infinite variety of buttes, tablelands, and valleys that made up the badlands we know today.

Though at first glance this landscape appears inhospitable and barren, it is home to a great variety of creatures and plants. Rainfall, scanty though it is, nourishes the grasses that cover the lands. And when the wildflowers bloom in bright profusion, they add their vibrant colors to the reds, browns, and greens of the earth and grasses. At home here, too, are over 180 species of birds, many of them songbirds. Both mule deer and white-tail deer inhabit the park. The whitetails prefer the river woodlands, and the mule deer like the more broken country and the uplands. Prairie dogs, historically a staple food source for many predators, live in "towns" in the grass lands. Through careful management some animals that nearly become extinct are once again living here. Bison and elk, for example, were reintroduced in 1956 and 1985 respectively.

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Mammal List

Artiodactyla - cloven-hoofed

Common Name	Scientific Name	Common Name	Scientific Name
Wapiti (Elk)	Cervus elaphus	Mule Deer	Odocoileus hemionus
White-tailed Deer	Odocoileus virginianus	Pronghorn (Antelope)	Antilocapra americana
American Bison (Buffalo)	Bison bison	Mountain Sheep (Bighorn Sheep)	Ovis canadensis californiana
Longhorn	Bos taurus

Perissodactyla - singletoed-hoofed

Common Name	Scientific Name	Common Name	Scientific Name
Feral Horse (Wild Horse)	Equus caballus

Carnivora - flesh eaters

Common Name	Scientific Name	Common Name	Scientific Name
Coyote	Canis latrans	Swift Fox - very rare	Vulpes velox
Red Fox - uncommon	Vulpes vulpes	Raccoon - uncommon	Procyon lotor
Long-tailed Weasel	Mustela frenata	Black-footed Ferret extirpated	Mustela nigripes
Least Weasel - very rare	Mustela rixosa	Mink	Mustela vison
Badger	Taxidea taxus	Striped Skunk	Mephitis mephitis
River Otter extirpated	Lutra canadensis	Mountain Lion - very rare	Felis concolor
Lynx - very rare	Felis canadensis	Bobcat - uncommon	Felis rufus

Rodentia - gnawing

Common Name	Scientific Name	Common Name	Scientific Name
Least Chipmunk	Tamias minimus	Richardson's Ground Squirrel very rare	Spermophilus richardsonii
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel	Spermophilus tridecemlineatus	Black-tailed Prairie Dog	Cynomys ludovicianus
Fox Squirrel	Sciurus niger	Northern Pocket Gopher	Thomomys talpoides
Olive-backed Pocket Mouse	Perognathus fasciatus	Ord's Kangaroo Rat	Dipodomys ordii
Beaver	Caster canadensis	Western Harvest Mouse	Reithrodontomys megalotis
White-footed Mouse uncommon	Peromyscus leucopus	Deer Mouse	Peromyscus maniculatus
Northern Grasshopper Mouse	Onychomys leucogaster	Bushy-tailed Woodrat	Neotoma cinerea
Bushy-tailed Woodrat	Neotoma cinerea	Prairie Vole	Microtus ochrogaster
Meadow Vole	Microtus pennsylvanicus	Sagebrush Vole - uncommon	Lagurus curtatus
Muskrat - rare	Ondatra zibethicus	Meadow Jumping Mouse	Zapus hudsonius
Porcupine	Erethizon dorsatum	House Mouse	Mus musculus

Lagomorpha - rabbits, hares, pikas

Common Name	Scientific Name	Common Name	Scientific Name
Desert Cottontail	Sylvilagus audubonii	Eastern Cottontail	Sylvilagus floridanus
Nuttall's Cottontail - very rare	Sylvilagus nuttallii	Snowshoe Hare	Lepus americanus
Prairie Hare (White-tailed Jackrabbit)	Lepus townsendii

Chiroptera - bats

Common Name	Scientific Name	Common Name	Scientific Name
Long-eared Myotis - very rare	Myotis evotis	Keen's Myotis - very rare	Myotis keenii
Small-footed Myotis - uncommon	Myotis leibii	Little Brown Myotis	Myotis lucifugus
Long-legged Myotis	Myotis volans	Silver-haired Bat	Lasionycteris noctivagans
Big Brown Bat	Eptesicus fuscus	Red Bat	Lasiurus borealis
Hoary Bat	Lasiurus cinereus

Insectivora - shrews, moles

Common Name	Scientific Name	Common Name	Scientific Name
Masked Shrew - uncommon	Sorex cinereus	Merriam's Shrew	Sorex merriami

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Amphibians and Reptiles List

North Dakota has a sparse fauna of amphibians and reptiles. While individual populations may get quite high, species diversity is low. The semi-arid climate provides only marginal conditions for breeding and hibernation of amphibians, while low winter temperatures and the short growing season appear to be primary limiting factors for reptiles. Several of the species listed below are very rare or infrequently found and are in quite localized populations.

Slimy or dry, snakes, lizards, and salamanders are some of the most feared and misunderstood members of the animal kingdom. The prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) is the only poisonous reptile in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. They have more reason to fear us than we do them. The rattlesnake will ignore or avoid us unless surprised or provoked. Then, watch out! Do not attempt to capture or kill snakes. Observe and enjoy them from a distance and remember that all wildlife is protected in a national park.

Common sense and an appreciation for the benefits and beauty of reptiles and amphibians will protect both them and you.

Amphibians

Common Name	Scientific Name	Common Name	Scientific Name
Tiger Salamander	Ambystoma tigrinum	Plains Spadefoot Toad	Scaphiopus bombifrons
Great Plains Toad	Bufo cognatus	Rocky Mountain (Woodhouse's) Toad	Bufo woodhousei
Boreal Chorus Frog	Pseudacris nigrita	Leopard Frog	Rana pipiens

Reptiles

Common Name	Scientific Name	Common Name	Scientific Name
Common Snapping Turtle	Chelydra serpentina	Western Painted Turtle	Chrysemys picta
Soft-shelled Turtle	Trionyx muticus	Sagebrush Lizard	Sceloporus graciosus
Short-horned Lizard	Phrynosoma douglassi	Western Plains Garter Snake	Thamnophis radix
Red-sided Garter Snake	Thamnophis sirtalis	Western Smooth Green Snake	Opheodrys vernalis
Plains Hognose Snake	Heterodon nasicus	Yellow-bellied (Blue) Racer	Coluber constrictor
Bullsnake (Gopher Snake)	Pituophis melanoleucus	Prairie Rattlesnake	Crotalus viridis

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Bird List

Theodore Roosevelt admired and respected the knowledge of John James Audubon. As a result, he became quite an avid bird watcher and spent much time studying natural history. He wrote, �All I can say is that almost as soon as I began to read at all, I began to read about the natural history of beasts and birds....�.

When Roosevelt arrived in the North Dakota Badlands in 1883 for a hunting trip, not only was he struck by the beauty of the area but, as a naturalist, he also found the variety of birdlife exhilarating.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park is a 70,446-acre park in three units. A variety of habitats make up the park, including native prairie, north- and south-facing slopes, hardwood and juniper draws, sagebrush flats, and undisturbed Little Missouri River bottomland forest. The occurrence and status of bird species has been changing since the beginning of time. Visiting birders are asked to inform park personnel if a bird of which they have knowledge is new to the list, nesting has been confirmed, or if its status should be changed. This list includes 186 species which have been observed in Theodore Roosevelt National Park plus 22 species that have not yet been observed but are suspected of occurring since they have been seen in the immediate area. This list includes 69 species that are known to have nested in the park, 39 species that are probable breeders, and 16 species whose nesting status is uncertain.

Seasons

Spring: March through May
Summer: June through July
Fall: August through November
Winter: December through February

Code Definition

Common: abundant in suitable habitats; habitat is widespread.
Fairly Common in most suitable habitats: habitat type is strongly represented.
Uncommon: present but not certain to be seen on each trip.
Rare: local occurrence within park, low numbers in area.
Occasional: seen only a few times a season and not every year.
Accidental: a species out of normal range; very few records; not expected to occur again or occurs very infrequently.
Suspected: not yet observed WITHIN the park or in that season, but has been seen in the area and MAY be present.
Extirpated: no longer occurs in the park but did historically.
X � Species that are known to have nested in the park. Active nests with eggs or young, adults and dependent young, etc.
Y � Species suspected to have nested from observation of pair in suitable habitat, singing male, etc.
Z � Nesting status uncertain.

Chickadees, Nuthatchers, Creepers Cranes and Rails Flycatchers Gallinaceous Birds Grosbeaks, Finches, Radpolls Gulls and Turns Herins and Ibises Hummingbirds and Kingfishers Jays, Magpies and Crow Larks and Swallows Loons and Grebes Meadowlarks, Blackbirds, Orioles Owls and Goatsuckers Pelicans and Cormarant

Pigeons and Cuckoos Pipits and Waxwings Plovers and Turnstones Shirkes and Starlings Snipes, Sandpipers, Stilts Tanagers, Grosbeaks and Buntings Thrushes and Thrashers Towees, Sparrows, Juncos, Longspurs Vireos and Wood Warblers Vultures and Hawks Waterfowl Weaver Finches Woodpeckers Wrens and Kinglets

Chickadees, Nuthatches and Creepers

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
B.-c. Chickadee	X	Common	Common	Common	Common
Red-b. Nuthatch	Z	Suspected	Occasional	Suspected	Occasional
White-b. Nuthatch	X	Uncommon	Fairly Common	Uncommon	Uncommon
Brown Creeper		Suspected		Suspected	Occasional

Cranes and Rails

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Sora	Z	Occasional	Suspected	Suspected
American Coot		Occasional		Suspected
Sandhill Crane		Fairly Common		Common
Whooping Crane		Occasional		Occasional

Flycatchers

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
W. Wood-Pewee	X	Suspected	Occasional	Suspected
Willow Flycatcher	X	Suspected	Occasional	Suspected
Least Flycatcher	X	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Say�s Phoebe	X	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
G. C. Flycatcher		Occasional	Occasional	Suspected
Western Kingbird	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Eastern Kingbird	X	Common	Common	Common
Scis.-tailed Flycatcher			Accidental

Gallinaceous Birds

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Gray Partridge	Y			Occasional	Occasional
Ring-n. Pheasant	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Sage Grouse	X	Suspected	Occasional	Suspected	Suspected
Gr. Pr.-Chicken	Z	Extirpated	Extirpated	Extirpated	Extirpated
Sharp-t. Grouse	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Wild Turkey	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Uncommon	Uncommon

Grosbeaks, Finches and Redpolls

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Rosy Finch					Occasional
Pine Grosbeak					Occasional
Purple Finch		Occasional			Occasional
Red Crossbill		Occasional	Occasional	Suspect	Occasional
Common Redpoll		Suspect			Fairly Common
Hoary Redpoll		Suspect			Occasional
Pine Siskin	X	Occasional	Occasional		Occasional
American Goldfinch	Y	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Occasional
Evening Grosbeak		Occasional		Suspect	Occasional

Gulls and Turns

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Franklin�s Gull		Occasional	Suspected	Suspected
Ring-billed Gull		Occasional	Occasional	Suspected
California Gull		Suspected	Suspected	Suspected
Common Tern		Suspected	Suspected	Suspected
Forster�s Tern		Suspected	Suspected	Suspected
Black Tern		Suspected	Suspected	Suspected

Herins and Ibises

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Great Blue Heron	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Bl.-cr. N.-heron			Occasional

Hummingbirds and Kingfishers

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
R.-t. Hummingbird		Occasional	Occasional	Occasional
Belted Kingfisher	Y	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional

Jays, Magpies and Crows

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Blue Jay	X	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional
Clark�s Nutcracker		Suspect		Occasional	Occasional
Black-b. Magpie	X	Fairly Common	Common	Common	Fairly Common
American Crow	X	Common	Fairly Common	Common	Occasional
Common Raven	Z		Extirpated	Occasional	Suspected

Larks and Swallows

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Horned Lark	Y	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Uncommon
Tree Swallow	X	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Violet-g. Swallow	X	Suspected	Rare	Occasional
N. R.-w. Swallow	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Bank Swallow	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Cliff Swallow	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Barn Swallow	X	Common	Common	Common

Loons and Grebe

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Pied-bil. Grebe		Occasional		Suspected

Meadowlarks, Blackbirds and Orioles

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Bobolink	Y	Suspect	Rare	Suspect
Red-w. Blackbird	Y	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional
W. Meadowlark	X	Common	Common	Common	Occasional
Yel.-h. Blackbird	Z	Suspect	Suspect	Occasional
Rusty Blackbird		Suspect		Suspect	Occasional
Brewer�s Blackbird	Y	Uncommon	Rare	Uncommon	Occasional
Common Grackle	Y	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Brown-h. Cowbird	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Uncommon
Orchard Oriole	Y	Rare	Uncommon	Uncommon
Northern Oriole	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Suspect

Owls and Goatsuckers

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Barn Owl	Y
E. Screech-Owl	Y	Rare	Rare	Rare	Rare
Great Horned Owl	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Snowy Owl				Suspected	Occasional
Burrowing Owl	X	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Great Gray Owl			Accidental
Long-eared Owl	Y	Rare	Rare	Suspected
Short-eared Owl	Z	Suspected	Occasional	Suspected	Occasional
N. Saw-whet Owl	X		Occasional	Occasional	Occasional
Common Nighthawk	Y	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Common
Poor-will	Y	Rare	Uncommon	Rare

Pelicans and Cormorants

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Am. White Pelican		Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
D.-c. Cormorant		Suspected		Accidental

Pigeons and Cuckoos

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Rock Dove	Y	Occasional	Occasional	Occasional	Occasional
Mourning Dove	X	Common	Common	Common
Passenger Pigeon - Extinct	Z
Black-b. Cuckoo	Y	Uncommon	Uncommon	Suspected
Yellow-b. Cuckoo	Y	Suspected	Occasional	Suspected

Pipits and Waxwings

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Sprague�s Pipit	Y	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Bohemian Waxwing/b>		Uncommon		Uncommon	Common
Cedar Waxwing	X	Uncommon	Fairly Common	Uncommon	Uncommon

Plovers and Turnstones

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Killdeer	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Uncommon
Mountain Plover	Y	Extirpated	Extirpated	Extirpated

Shrikes and Starlings

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Northern Shrike				Occasional	Uncommon
Loggerhead Shrike	Y	Uncommon	Fairly Common	Uncommon	Occasional
European Starling	X	Uncommon	Rare	Occasional	Rare

Snipes, Sandpipers, & Stilts

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
American Avocet		Occasional	Occasional	Suspected
Gr. Yellowlegs		Suspected		Occasional
Les. Yellowlegs		Suspected		Occasional
Sol. Sandpiper		Occasional		Suspected
Willet		Occasional		Suspected
Spot. Sandpiper	Y	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Upland Sandpiper	X	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Eskimo Curlew		Extirpated		Extirpated
Long-bil. Curlew	Z	Suspected	Occasional
Semipalmated Sandpiper		Suspected	Suspected	Suspected
Least Sandpiper			Occasional
Pectoral Sandpiper		Suspected		Suspected
Common Snipe		Suspected		Suspected
Wilson�s Phalarope		Suspected		Suspected

Tanagers, Grosbeaks and Buntings

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Western Tanager	Z	Occasional	Occasional
Rose-b. Grosbeak	Z	Occasional	Occasional	Suspect
Bl.h. Grosbeak	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Suspect
Lazuli Bunting	X	Common	Common	Fairly Common
Indigo Bunting	Y	Suspect	Occasional	Suspect

Thrushes and Thrashers

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Eastern Bluebird	X	Uncommon	Occasional	Uncommon
Mount. Bluebird		Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Town. Solitaire		Suspected		Occasional	Rare
Veery	Y	Occasional	Occasional	Suspected
Gray-ch. Thrush		Suspected
Swainson�s Thrush		Occasional	Occasional	Suspected
American Robin	X	Common	Common	Common	Uncommon
Gray Catbird	Y	Uncommon	Uncommon	Suspected
Brown Thrasher	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Uncommon
Mockingbird			Accidental

Towees, Sparrows, Juncos and Longspurs

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Rufous-s. Towhee	X	Common	Common	Common
Am. Tree Sparrow		Fairly Common		Fairly Common	Rare
Chipping Sparrow	X	Common	Common	Common
Clay-col. Sparrow	Y	Common	Common	Common
Brewer�s Sparrow	Z	Suspect	Suspect	Suspect
Field Sparrow	X	Common	Common	Common
Vesper Sparrow	X	Common	Common	Common
Lark Sparrow	Y	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Lark Bunting	Y	Uncommon	Rare	Uncommon
Savannah Sparrow	Y	Suspect	Rare
Baird�s Sparrow	Y	Suspect	Rare
Grasshopper Spar	Y	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Uncommon
Fox Sparrow		Suspect		Suspect
Song Sparrow	X	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Lincoln�s Sparrow		Suspect		Suspect
Wh.-thr. Sparrow		Rare		Occasional	Accidental
Wh.-cr. Sparrow		Uncommon		Uncommon
Harris� Sparrow		Uncommon		Uncommon	Occasional
Dark-eyed Junco		Common		Common	Occasional
McCown�s Longspur	Z	Suspect	Suspect	Suspect
Lapland Longspur		Suspect		Suspect	Occasional
Smith�s Longspur				Occasional
Ch.-col. Longspur	Y	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Snow Bunting		Suspect	Occasional	Occasional

Vireos and Wood Warblers

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Solitary Vireo		Suspected		Suspected
Yellow-thr. Vireo				Accidental
Warbling Vireo	Y	Uncommon	Fairly Common	Uncommon
Red-eyed Vireo	X	Fairly Common	Common	Fairly Common
Tenn. Warbler		Occasional		Suspected
Or.-cro. Warbler		Occasional		Occasional
N. Parula		Accidental
Yellow Warbler	X	Common	Common	Common
Bl.-thr. Blue Warbler			Accidental
Yel.-ru. Warbler		Fairly Common		Suspect
Blackpoll Warbler		Uncommon	Occasional	Suspect
Bl. & Wh. Warbler	Y	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Am. Redstart	X	Common	Common	Common
Ovenbird	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
N. Waterthrush		Suspect		Suspect
Mourning Warbler		Occasional		Suspect
Com. Yellowthroat	X	Common	Common	Common
Wilson�s Warbler		Suspect		Occasional
Yellow-br. Chat	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common

Vultures and Hawks

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Turkey Vulture	Y	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Ospray				Accidental
Bald Eagle		Rare	Suspected	Rare	Occasional
Northern Harrier	X	Common	Fairly Common	Common	Occasional
Sharp-shin. Hawk	X	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional
Cooper�s Hawk	X	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional
Northern Goshawk		Occasional	Occasional	Suspected	Rare
Swainson�s Hawk	Y	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Red-tailed Hawk	X	Common	Fairly Common	Common	Rare
Ferruginous Hawk		Rare	Rare	Rare
Rough-leg. Hawk		Rare		Uncommon	Rare
Golden Eagle	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
American Kestrel	X	Common	Fairly Common	Common	Occasional
Merlin	X	Rare	Occasional	Rare	Occasional
Peregrine Falcon	Z	Occasional	Occasional	Occasional	Occasional
Prairie Falcon	X	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon	Occasional

Waterfowl

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Tundra Swan		Suspected		Suspected
Snow Goose		Uncommon		Suspected
Gr. Wh.-f Goose		Suspected		Suspected
Canada Goose	X	Fairly Common	Occasional	Fairly Common	Occasional
Wood Duck	X	Occasional	Occasional	Suspected
Green-w. Teal	Y	Uncommon	Rare	Suspected
Mallard	X	Fairly Common	Rare	Occasional	Suspected
Northern Pintail	Z	Uncommon	Rare	Suspected
Blue-winged Teal	X	Fairly Common	Rare	Suspected
Cinnamon Teal	Z	Suspected	Suspected	Suspected
N. Shoveler		Uncommon	Suspected	Suspected
Gadwall	Y	Rare	Occasional	Suspected
American Wigeon	Y	Rare	Occasional	Suspected
Canvasback		Occasional	Suspected	Suspected
Redhead		Suspected		Suspected
Ring-necked Duck		Suspected		Suspected
Lesser Scaup		Occasional	Suspected	Suspected
Common Goldeneye		Occasional		Suspected	Suspected
Bufflehead		Suspected		Suspected
Common Merganser		Occasional		Suspected
Ruddy Duck		Suspected		Suspected

Weaver Finches

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
House Sparrow	Y	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon

Woodpeckers

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
R.h. Woodpecker	X	Uncommon	Uncommon	Uncommon
Downy Woodpecker	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Hairy Woodpecker	X	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common	Fairly Common
Common Flicker	X	Common	Common	Common	Ocasional

Wrens and Kinglets

Name	Nesting	Spring	Summer	Fall	Winter
Rock Wren	X	Common	Common	Fairly Common
House Wren	X	Common	Common	Fairly Common
Gol.-cr. Kinglet		Suspect		Occasional
Ruby-cr. Kinglet		Suspect		Occasional

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Common Plant List

This flora list represents 102 of the more common plants found in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Over 400 plants have been located and identified within the park and it is estimated that perhaps as many as 500 different species exist. Please respect other park visitors as well as wildlife when viewing wildflowers. Picking or collecting plants is prohibited.

Plants listed can be found in one or all three units of the park. Common names shown are those used in this region. Scientific names follow the convention used in Flora of the Great Plains published in 1986 by University Press of Kansas unless later accepted changes have been made. Flowering date represents the best period of time to see the plant in bloom under normal conditions. Dates could be altered by weather. Space permits listing only primary habitat.

Grasses Plants

Shrubs Trees

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Grasses

Name	Scientific	Family	Habitat
Big sandgrass	Calamovilfa longifolia	Grass	Sandy setting
Blue grama	Bouteloua	Grass	Prairie
Buffalo grass	Buchloe dactyloides	Grass	Uplands
Canada wild rye	Elymus canadensis	Grass	Riverbottom/channels
Crested wheatgrass	Agropyron cristatum	Grass	Roadsides
Foxtail barley	Hordeum jubatum	Grass	Alkaline settings
Green needlegrass	Stipa viridula	Grass	Prairie
Junegrass	Koeleria pyramidata	Grass	Prairie
Kentucky bluegrass	Poa pratensis	Grass	Campground
Little bluestem	Andropogon scoparius	Grass	Ridge slopes
Needle-and-thread	Stipa comata	Grass	Prairie
Threadleaf sedge	Carex filifolia	Sedge	Prairie uplands
Saltgrass	Distichlis spicata stricta	Grass	Alkaline settings
Sideoats grama	Bouteloua curtipendula	Grass	Ridge slopes
Smooth brome	Bromus inermis	Grass	Roadsides
Western wheatgrass (state grass)	Agropyron smithii	Grass	Uplands

Shrubs

Name	Scientific	Family	Flowering Time	Flowering Color
Big sage/ Three-toothed sage	Artemisia tridentata	Aster
Buckbrush/Wolfberry	Symphoricarpos occidentalis	Honeysuckle	Jun-Jul	White
Buffaloberry/Bullberry	Shepherdia argentea	Oleaster
Choke cherry	Prunus virginiana	Rose	May-Jun	White
Common/Shrub juniper/ cedar	Juniperus communis	Cypress
Creeping juniper/cedar	Juniperus horizontalis	Cypress
Skunkbush/Fragrant sumac	Rhus aromatica	Cashew	May-Jun	Yellow
Golden/Buffalo currant	Ribes odoratum	Currant	May	Yellow
Greasewood	Sarcobatus vermiculatus	Goosefoot
Juneberry/Saskatoon	Amelanchier alnifolia	Rose
Poison ivy	Toxicodendron rydbergii	Cashew
Prairie rose (state flower)	Rosa arkansana	Rose	Jun-Jul	Pink
Rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus nauseosus	Aster	Aug-Sep	Yellow
Sandbar willow	Salix interior	Willow
Shrubby cinquefoil/ Potentilla	Potentilla fruiticosa	Rose	Jun-Aug	Yellow
Silver sage	Artemisia cana	Aster
Spiny saltbush	Atriplex confertiflora	Goosefoot
Wild plum	Prunus americana	Rose	May	White
Winterfat	Ceratoides lanata	Goosefoot
Wood's rose	Rosa woodsii	Rose	Jun	Pink

Trees

Name	Scientific	Family	Habitat
American elm	Ulmus americana	Elm	Riverbottom, draws
Box elder	Acer negundo	Maple	Riverbottom
Cottonwood	Populus deltoides	Willow	Riverbottom
Green ash	Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Olive	Draws, riverbottom
Rocky Mountain juniper/cedar	Juniperus scopulorum	Cypress	North-facing slopes

Plants

Name	Scientific	Family	Flowering Time	Flowering Color
Aromatic aster	Aster oblongifolius	Aster	Aug-Sep	Purple
Bastard toadflax	Comandra umbellata	Sandalwood	May-Jun	White
Bergamot/Beebalm	Monarda fistulosa	Mint	Jul-Aug	Pink
Blazing star/ Dotted gayfeather	Liatris aspera	Aster	Aug-Sep	Purple
Blue wild lettuce	Lactuca oblongifolia	Aster	Jun-Sept	Purple
Snakeweed	Gutierrezia sarothrae	Aster	Aug-Sep	Yellow
Butte candle	Cryptantha celosioides	Borage	Jun	White
Common sunflower	Helianthus annuus	Aster	Jul-Sep	Yellow
Crested beardtongue	Penstemon eriantherus	Figwort	Jun	Purple
Curlycup gumweed	Grindelia squarrosa	Aster	Jul-Sep	Yellow
False Solomon's seal	Smilacina stellata	Lily	Jun	White
Fetid marigold	Dyssodia papposa	Aster	Jun-Aug	Yellow
Field bindweed	Convolvulus sepium	Morning Glory	Jun-Jul	White
Fringed sage	Artemisia frigida	Aster	Aug-Sep	Yellowish
Goat's beard/ Western salsify	Tragopogon dubius	Aster	Jun-Aug	Yellow
Golden aster	Chrysopsis villosa	Aster	July-Sept	Yellow
Golden pea	Thermopsis rhombifolia	Pea	May-Jun	Yellow
Goldenrod	Solidago spp.	Aster	Aug-Sep	Yellow
Ground plum	Astragalus crassicarpus	Bean	May-Jun	Pink
Gumbo lily	Oenothera caespitosa	Primrose	Jun	White
Harebell	Campanula rotundifolia	Bellflower	Jun-Jul	Purple
Henbane	Hyoscamus niger	Potato	Jun	Greenish
Indian breadroot/ Tipsin	Psoralea esculenta	Pea	May-Jun	Purple
Indian paintbrush	Castilleja sessiliflora	Figwort	May-Jul	Yellow
Large-flowered dock	Rumex venosus	Buckwheat	May-Jun	Pink
Leafy spurge	Euphorbia esula	Spurge	June-Jul	Greenish
Leopard lily	Fritillaria atropurpurea	Lily	May	Purple
Moss phlox	Phlox hoodii	Phlox	May-Jun	White
Northern bedstraw	Galium boreale	Madder	June-Jul	White
Pincushion cactus	Coryphantha vivipara	Cactus	Jun	Red
Prickly pear cactus	Opuntia polyacantha	Cactus	Jun	Yellow
Prince's plume	Stanleya pinnata	Mustard	Jun	Yellow
Purple coneflower	Echinacea augustifolia	Aster	Jun-Jul	Purple
Purple locoweed	Oxytropis lambertii	Pea	May-Jul	Purple
Purple prairie clover	Dalea purpurea	Pea	Jul	Purple
Pussytoes	Antennaria spp.	Aster	Jun	White
Scarlet/ Red globe mallow	Sphaeralcea coccinea	Mallow	Jun-Sep	Red
Rocky Mountain bee plant	Cleome serrulata	Caper	Jun-Sep	Pink
Scoria lily/ Evening star	Mentzelia decapetala	Stickleaf	Jul-Aug	White
Sago/Mariposa lily	Calochortus nuttallii	Lily	Jun-Jul	White
Scarlet gaura	Gaura coccinea	Primrose	May-Aug	White/red
Showy milkweed	Asclepias speciosa	Milkweed	Jun-Aug	Pink
Silver-leaf scurf pea	Psoralea argophylla	Pea	Jun-Sep	Purple
Skeletonweed	Lygodesmia juncea	Aster	Jun-Sep	Pink
Spreading dogbane	Apocynum androsaemifolium	Dogbane	Jun-Jul	White
Stiff sunflower	Helianthus rigidus	Aster	Aug-Sep	Yellow
Tumbling mustard	Sisymbrium altissimum	Mustard	Jun-Aug	Yellow
Wavy-leaf thistle	Circium undulatum	Aster	Jun-Jul	Purple
Western virgin's bower	Clematis ligusticifolia	Buttercup	Jul-Aug	White
Western wallflower	Erysimum asperum	Mustard	May-Jul	Yellow
White beardtongue/ penstemon	Penstemon albidus	Figwort	Jun-Jul	White
White sage	Artemisia ludoviciana	Aster
White sweet clover	Melilotus alba	Pea	Jun-Jul	White
White wild onion/Prairie onion	Allium textile	Lily	May-Jun	White
Whorled milkweed	Asclepias verticillata	Milkweed	Jul-Aug	White
Crocus/Pasque flower	Anemone patens	Buttercup	Apr-Jun	Purple
Wild licorice	Glycyrrhiza lepidota	Pea	Jun	Yell/white
Wooly plantain	Plantago patagonica	Plaintain	Jun
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium	Aster	Jun-Jul	White
Yellow buckwheat/ umbrella plant	Eriogonum flavum	Buckwheat	May-Jul	Yellow
Yucca	Yucca glauca	Lily	Jun	White

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Invasive Plants

Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the State of North Dakota are under attack by numerous plant invaders. These non-native plants are robbing our natural heritage. They claim land at an alarming rate and are the outlaws of the plant world.

Invasive plants, called exotics or noxious weeds, are imported from other parts of the world. Humans move about the earth quickly and easily, making the spread of invasive plants and animals a serious threat to our native ecosystem. Exotics arrive without their natural controls, such as insects, diseases, and competing plants, to keep them in check, and as a result may spread rapidly, crowding or choking out the existing native plants.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park and neighboring states are under attack by numerous plant invaders. Over sixty species of exotic plants have found their way to the park. Several of these plants have become serious invaders and have caused substantial habitat damage and loss. Leafy Spurge and Spotted Knapweed are two aggressive plants that can rapidly invade grasslands. The plants have very few enemies and are not eaten by native species such as buffalo, elk and deer. They also have the ability to produce a toxin that reduces the growth of neighboring plants.

Intensive management is neccessary and is Theodore Roosevelt National Park's highest priority in resource management. Control efforts focus on leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa), Russian knapweed (Centarurea), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), black henbane, and absinth wormwood.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Exotic plants cross borders as easily as the wind. Theodore Roosevelt National Park works closely with its neighbors, private landowners and other federal, state, and local agencies to keep these undesirables in check. The park implements an integrated pest management program combining chemical, mechanical and biological control methods to fight these plants. This approach targets a plant, then selects the methods of treatment best suited for the location and habitat type.

Biological control can consist of the release of insects that keeps plants in control or stresses them enough to cause their death. After exhaustive testing in quarantine facilities some insect species collected in Europe have been approved for release in the United States. Before their release the insects or pathogens were tested to insure that they would feed solely on the targeted plants.

Control methods are implemented cautiously to prevent damage to native plants, animals, and aquatic resources. Actions are based on research and consultation with field experts.

Three Main Threats

Leafy Spurge - Euphorbia esula (the worst, of the worst at Theodore Roosevelt National Park).

Leafy spurge was brought to North Dakota in the early 1900s during the Homesteading Period by Eastern Europeans who inadvertently carried the plant with them in seed grain and as ship ballast. In North Dakota, leafy spurge infests nearly 1 million acres. It costs North Dakota farmers and ranchers $27 million in direct impacts every year. Total economic impact to the state is estimated at $86 million. In addition to the monetary loss is the loss of valuable and essential grasslands that puts the future of native wildlife in jeopardy.

The leafy spurge infestation is estimated near 4,000 acres (about 10%) in the South Unit of the park. Heaviest concentrations are found along stream beds, drainages and wooded draws. For a first hand look at a leafy spurge infestation, hike along the Little Missouri River or any park trail. In June and July the abundance of yellow-green flowers is a clue that you are standing in the midst of a spurge patch. Leafy spurge is extremely competitive and capable of completely displacing native plants. This is largely due to its extensive root system which can extend to a depth of 15 feet or more. The root system consists of both coarse and fine roots and contains numerous buds capable of producing new shoots. Older roots are woody and may be as large as one-half inch in diameter. They serve as a large nutrient reserve capable of sustaining the plant for years. Also, seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 8 years.

Leafy spurge produces a milky latex that is poisonous to some animals. Thus, most wildlife, such as bison, elk and deer, do not eat it. People should handle the plant with caution because the latex can cause irritation, blotching, blisters, and swellling in sensitive individuals.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park uses chemical and biological control methods to fight this plant. Chemical control consists of ground and aerial herbicide applications. Biocontrol is proving to be very effective and are considered one of the safest ways to control leafy spurge. Insects (flea beetles) are released on to plants and the larvae, feeding on the roots, eventually kill the plants. Right before our eyes, landscapes are being transformed back into native grassland species.

Spotted Knapweed - Centaurea maculosa

Spotted knapweed reduces forage for wildlife and can double the amount of soil erosion when it invades rangeland. It was introduced by settlers from Europe in the early 1900s. Knapweeds are highly competitive and will readily establish on any soil surface. They release a chemical substance which inhibits surrounding vegetation from growing and are not grazed by wildlife because of their bitter taste and high fiber content.

Currently in North Dakota, spotted knapweed is increasing its range at a rate of 175% per year. People are the main reason knapweed is spreading across the country. Seeds are being transported by vehicles, contaminated hay, livestock, and wildlife. The park has spotted knapweed along road corridors and at the Painted Canyon Visior Center area.

Luckily the plant is easy to control if we can find it early. The most effective treatment for knapweed is to apply herbicide. Biological controls are available but their success has been limited.

Canada Thistle - Cirsium arvense

Canada thistle is an aggressive, creeping plant that infests hundreds of acres of park land and over 500,000 acres in the state of North Dakota. Generally, the plant infests disturbed ground, reducing forage for wildlife. One plant can colonize an area of 3 to 6 feet in diameter in one to two years. Established Canada thistle is difficult to control.

Canada thistle is a native of north Africa, Europe, Asia and Scandinavia through Siberia. Canada thistle is not a native of Canada and poses a tremendous threat to the Canadian ecosystem and is considered a unwanted plant in their country as well. If your park visit includes a trip to the North Unit in July and August, you will become intimately aware of the presence of Canada thistle. The campground is highly infested with this thorny, prickly plant.

The key to Canada thistle control is to stress the plant. This forces it to use stored root nutrients, which exhausts the supply and eventually causes its death. Chemical, mechanical and biological controls are used to eradicate this exotic plant. The tiny gallfly (Urophora cardui) has been used in the Juniper Campground, laying eggs that produce galls on the stems of Canada thistle plants. The galls harm the plant's growth and development while reducing flowering and root weight. The tiny fly has a conspicuous black and white wing pattern shaped like a V.

What Can We Do?

Learn to recognize noxious plants in our area. Some city, county and state governements ban the planting of non-native species in their regions.

Report noxious plant infestations to the land manager immediately.

Be aware that your camping equipment, boots, clothes, pets, and vehicle can all transport non-native plant seeds.

When using horses or pack animals, carry only feed that is "certified weed free."

Within 96 hours before entering backcountry areas, feed horses and pack animals only food that is "certified weed free."

Remove non-native plant seeds from horses and pack animals by brushing them thoroughly and cleaning hooves before transporting to un-infested areas.

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Buffalo

The buffalo (Bison) is the largest mammal on the North American continent. This magnificent creature, which is a member of the Bovidae, or cow family, was given its name by the early French explorers who called them "Ies boeufs," meaning oxen. Throughout the years, the name went through several changes from "buffle" to "buffelo" and finally to its present "buffalo." Bison is the correct scientific and common name, but buffalo has been used and accepted for many years.

The ancestors of the American bison have been traced by their fossilized bones and are thought to have originated in southern Asia during the Pliocene epoch, some 400,000 years ago. The ancient bison was much larger than the present-day animal and ranged throughout the northern hemisphere. Paleontologists have learned that during its long history, the bison went through many changes. At one point in its evolution, a prehistoric bison, Bison latifrons, had horns measuring nine feet from tip to tip. A more modern bison, Bison occidentalis, evolved in the late Pleistocene and was the immediate ancestor of our present-day bison.

Bison initially made their way to America by crossing the ancient land bridge that once connected Asia with the North American continent. During the ensuing centuries, the bison moved south and east, at one time ranging from Mexico to southern New England. The greatest concentration of these animals, however, was found in the prairies and plains where the peak number of bison has been estimated at between 40 and 60 million.

The bison has often been described as the most ferocious animal in North America. This description is no doubt a result of its great size. Full-grown bulls weigh up to 2,000 pounds and stand six feet or more at the shoulder. Their massive heads, which are matted with a thick covering of wiry hair, hold a set of horns that are never shed. The shoulders carry a huge hump that gives the bison its characteristic top-heavy look, the hips being much smaller in relation to the rest of the body. A bison cow is similar in appearance to the bull, but is smaller in size, weighing up to 1100 pounds and reaching a height of four to five-and-a-half feet at the shoulder.

Cows usually conceive for the first time as three-year olds. Though calves can be born at any time of the year, the calving season usually begins in mid-April after a nine- to nine-and-one-half-month gestation period. Calves are able to walk minutes after they are born and remain with their mothers for about a year, or until another calf is born.

Bison are herbivores or plant eaters, and feed primarily on wheat grass, buffalo grass, blue grama, and other similar grasses. Though they generally have poor eyesight, bison have excellent hearing and a keen sense of smell. Bison reach maturity at seven or eight years of age and may live to the ripe old age of thirty.

For centuries, both bison and human coexisted on the Great Plains. The bison was the mainstay of Plains Indian life, providing food, clothing and shelter; little of the animal was wasted. Along with the Indian, natural predators--the wolf, mountain lion and grizzly bear--stalked the bison herds. Disease, accidental drowning and prairie fire took their toll. But these pressures had the positive effect of thinning the great herds, keeping them healthy and strong. It remained for the arrival of European settlers and their guns to seriously threaten the bison's existence.

The start of the westward expansion movement in the 1830 s marked the beginning of the end for the great bison herds. Between 1830 and 1880, large-scale bison hunts were organized and hundreds of thousands of bison were killed for their hides. Thousands were killed just for their tongues, which were considered a delicacy. As many as 250 bison were shot in one day by one hunter, and a good skinner could remove the hide in five minutes. The years between 1870 and 1880 saw the height of the bison trade when as many as 250,000 hides were auctioned off in one or two days. By the turn of the twentieth century, less than 300 wild bison remained.

If it were not for the foresight of a few individuals such as Theodore Roosevelt, the mighty bison could easily have become extinct. Warnings and attempts to protect the bison came as early as 1776, but it wasn't until 1894 that the first federal legislation protecting this animal was enacted. Killing of bison was now punishable by a $1000.00 fine or imprisonment, and the law was strictly enforced. Prior to this legislation, a small herd did exist in Yellowstone National Park, but was not protected against poachers. There were also several small herds owned by private individuals. With the passing of the bison protection law, game preserves were established that have ensured the survival of the bison. Today, more than 125,000 bison roam the North American continent.

In 1956, 29 bison were obtained from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska and released in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Here they roamed freely on 46,000 acres of park land. By 1962, the herd had increased to 145 individuals. Twenty of these animals (10 bulls and 10 cows) were shipped to the smaller 24,000-acre North Unit.

Though both units of the park can easily carry larger numbers of bison, park managers have currently set herd size at approximately 300 animals for the South Unit and 100 for the North Unit to maintain the range in a healthy condition.

Warning: Bison are wild animals and are dangerous if provoked. They an run up to 35 miles per hour and turn faster than a horse. Please, view them at a distance.

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Black-tailed Prairie Dogs

Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) once ranged the Great Plains from southern Saskatchewan to northern Mexico. Originally named "petits chiens," or "little dogs," by early French explorers, these highly social animals are not really dogs, but rodents. They are members of the Sciuridae or squirrel family, closely related to ground squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks and marmots. There are five different species of prairie dogs, but only the black-tailed prairie dog inhabits Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Prairie dogs are small, short-tailed animals with eyes and small ears set far back on their heads. Their light-brown fur blends well with the dirt of their mounds except when the animal has been blackened by burrowing into coal seams. Named for their bark-like warning call and black-tipped tail, prairie dogs average 14 to 17 inches in total length and weigh 1 to 3 pounds. With short, muscular legs and long-nailed toes on their front and hind feet, they are well equipped for a burrowing lifestyle.

A prairie dog colony or "town" consists of a large number of closely spaced burrows, each comprising an elaborate network of interconnecting tunnels and multiple entrance holes that provide escape routes from pursuing predators. The primary prairie dog social unit is the "coterie," an acre or so of territory with 50 to 60 burrow entrances that is occupied by a single family group. A coterie typically consists of one adult male, several adult females, and their offspring. Members of a coterie are a closely knit group, recognizing each other by an identifying kiss or sniff. Their cohesiveness is maintained by the cooperative activities of raising young, constructing burrows, grooming, playing and defending the coterie territory. The dominant male is typically the most active in the defense of the coterie, patrolling its invisible borders and challenging all comers. Prairie dogs warn of territorial trespassers from adjacent coteries or approaching danger by emitting a series of "barks," which sound more like high-pitched squeaks. Specific threats are associated with distinctive vocalization patterns that serve to alert all residents of a town to the common threat.

Prairie dogs feed primarily on plants, selecting forbs (flowering plants not shrubs or trees) and grasses high in moisture content and nutritive value to supply their needs for water and energy. Grasses, far less resistant to foraging pressure than forbs, quickly disappear from the town, which takes on a barren and overgrazed appearance. The open, closely-cropped terrain promotes easier social contacts and enables the collective "thousand eyes" of the residents to better spot approaching danger. With reduced competition from grass species, forbs begin to increase in abundance, and soon are joined by invading "weedy" plants like thistle and sage. Pronghorn and bison are attracted to feed in this modified community, their trampling and wallowing further compacting the soil to maintain forb growth. Varying its diet so as not to feed on one species of plant exclusively, the prairie dog practices its own brand of crop rotation. Forage pressure on preferred plants is kept at tolerable levels and the community thrives. This balance may be upset by climatic changes that, if persistent, could force prairie dogs to abandon a town. Recolonization may recur later when a more favorable environment has allowed the former plant community to recover.

Prairie dogs build up large stores of body fat to carry them through the fall and winter months. Unlike most other members of their family, black-tailed prairie dogs do not hibernate. They may remain underground for several days during periods of harsh weather, but a return to milder winter conditions will find their towns bustling with activity.

Mating occurs from March to early April. After a month-long gestation period, the female bears a litter of one to six young. Born blind and hairless, the pups stay in the burrow for about six weeks while they develop fully. Emerging from the burrow, young prairie dogs are initially protected by their mothers. Weaning occurs shortly thereafter, when the pups have begun to forage for themselves. Most animals spend their brief five- to seven-year existence within the coteries of a single town.

Plump prairie dogs are an important component of the diet of many animals. Badgers, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, golden eagles, and various hawks all take their toll; rattlesnakes and bullsnakes occasionally prey on the young. Prairie dogs rely on their excellent hearing and vision to avoid these predators. From their vantage point atop the burrow mound, they can listen and scan the sky and prairie for danger. Upon spotting an enemy and announcing its presence to the rest of the town, the prairie dog dives into its burrow, emerging to give an "all clear" call when the danger has passed.

The number of prairie dogs a given area can support at any one time is based on the prevailing relations between a number of interacting environmental factors, one of which is predation. Other environmental pressures--weather changes, shifts in the availability of edible plants, outbreaks of disease, all affect the size of prairie dog populations. If, for example, predators fail to keep the numbers of prairie dogs in check, a population "boom" will occur. The environmental balance is inevitably restored by a subsequent population "bust," animals dying in large numbers from disease or starvation brought about by overcrowding and exhaustion of the town's food resources.

Like the bison, the prairie dog was once a major component of Great Plains life. Vast prairie dog towns stretched for miles across the open plains. In 1901, scientists surveyed a single Texas "dog town" that covered an area of 25,000 square miles and contained an estimated 400,000,000 prairie dogs. But this town and others were already under sentences of death. Prairie dog burrows proved dangerous for horses and wandering livestock and most ranchers were convinced that prairie dogs were destroying rangelands and competing with cattle for food. Reluctance to acknowledge that poor livestock management practices and the wholesale elimination of prairie dog predators were at least contributing factors to the problem prompted extensive poisoning programs. These measures virtually eradicated the prairie dog and many of its predators, chief among them the black-footed ferret. Formerly the prairie dog's most dangerous enemy, ferret numbers have only recently been raised through captive breeding programs to a level where small populations are now being released back into the wild. Today, scattered populations of prairie dogs are found mainly in protected areas such as state and national parks, monuments, grasslands, and wildlife refuges.

Warning: Please do not feed prairie dogs. Human food is hard for prairie dogs to digest and often contains additives that can make them sick. Remember, too, that prairie dogs are wild animals and can inflict a painful bite. They may also be host to fleas that can transmit bubonic plague to humans.

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Wild Horses

The modern horse, Equus caballus, evolved on the North American continent but was one of several mammalian species that became extinct here by the end of the Pleistocene epoch some 10,000 years ago. Having survived on the European/Asian continent, the horse was re-established in North America by the Spanish in the 16th century. Escaped horses became known as "mustangs", from the Spanish word "mesteno", meaning "wild". They are also referred to as feral horses since they came from domesticated stock. During the period 1600-1850, mustangs ranged throughout the Great Plains in vast herds, sometimes numbering in the thousands.

The acquisition of the horse by the Plains Indians changed those groups from pedestrian hunter-gatherers to mounted buffalo hunters and warriors within the span of a generation. As saddle stock and cow ponies, these early horses played a significant, even indispensable role in the exploration and settlement of the United States. Their wild kindred figure prominently in the cultural history, art and folklore of the American West.

With the development of the modern ranching era, wild horses came to be regarded as a nuisance to cattlemen and were largely exterminated throughout the West. In the 1950s and 1960s, efforts were begun to preserve wild horses. The 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act mandated the protection of these animals as a "national heritage species".

Horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park do not come under the auspices of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, but are managed by existing park regulations. For many years the National Park Service attempted to remove all the horses from the park. This policy was reversed in 1970 when the horse was recognized as part of the historical setting. The park now retains a herd of 50-90 animals so that visitors may experience the badlands scene as it appeared during the open range ranching era of Theodore Roosevelt. In order to maintain this population level, the horses are rounded up every few years, and surplus animals are sold at public auction. Today, Theodore Roosevelt National Park is one of the few areas in the West where free-roaming horses may be readily observed.

Wild horses have existed in the badlands of western North Dakota since at least the middle of the 19th century. While ranching near Medora in the 1880 s, Theodore Roosevelt wrote:

"In a great many, indeed in most localities, there are wild horses to be found, which, although invariably of domestic descent, being either themselves runaways from some ranch or Indian outfit, or else claiming such for their sires and dams, yet are quite as wild as the antelope on whose domain they have intruded."

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, cowboys in the Medora area often captured wild badlands horses for use as ranch or rodeo stock. Prior to the establishment of the park in 1947, local ranchers used this area to graze their livestock. A horse round-up held in 1954 removed 200 branded animals. Of the few small bands of horses that eluded capture, several were thought to be the descendants of horses that had run free in the badlands since at least the turn of the century.

Some of the horses in the park do bear a striking resemblance to the types of horses common in this area during the 19th century. As depicted in drawings and early photographs, local horses of that era were typically large-headed, short-backed, and a bit larger than the mustang of the southern Plains. They were often blue or red roans, many having "bald" (white) faces and patches of white on their sides. This color pattern, called an "apron," may be familiar from the paintings of Frederic Remington and C.M. Russell, but is seldom seen in modern horses.

Wild horses typically range in small bands of 5 to 15 animals, consisting of a dominant stallion, his mares, and their offspring. Frequently a subdominant stallion will "run second" to the leader. Stallions herd their mares by extending their heads and necks low to the ground in a threatening gesture known as "snaking." When a band is in flight, a dominant -mare will take the lead, with the stallion bringing up the rear. Young stallions roam together in "bachelor" groups, sometimes in proximity to a stallion harem.

Once formed, these social groups remain remarkably stable and often range within an established territory. Each such group has an established social hierarchy. Upon reaching sexual maturity at age 2 to 3, young colts and fillies are driven from their natal group and form new bands. Occasionally a bachelor stallion may try to steal mares from an established group, resulting in fights between rival males. Foals are born in the spring after an 11 month gestation period; this is the only time when the stallions will tolerate the absence of a mature mare from the group.

During the summer months, bands of horses may be seen grazing on the upland plateaus in the southeast section of the park, where they can enjoy the cooling winds and lush grasses. They are often seen along the park boundary from Interstate Highway 94. Herds can also be spotted from the Painted Canyon Overlook or from the top of Buck Hill. While hiking or driving, look for fresh manure to locate horses. Stallions advertise their presence to others by "stud piles." These can frequently be observed along the loop road in the northeast section of the park.

Extreme caution must be exercised in attempting to observe the wild horses closely. Horses have keen senses of smell, hearing, and sight and are extremely wary, often sensing the presence of humans in advance. They are especially fearful of horseback riders. Binoculars are advised for optimal viewing. Please do not chase or harass the horse or attempt to approach them too closely. It is hoped that the sight of free-roaming horses in the badlands landscape will increase the enjoyment of your park visit.

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Information provided by the National Park Service

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by John William Uhler

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