Theodore Roosevelt National Park Natural History Page

Welcome to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park Natural History Information 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

  • 
    

    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.


    
    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


    
    

    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


    
    

    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


    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

  • 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


    
    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.


    
    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.


    
    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.


    
    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.


    Information provided by the National Park Service


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