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Mammals of North Dakota

The mammals most often spotted in North Dakota, ranked by recent research-grade observations.

6,899
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals

Naturalists have logged 6,899 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in North Dakota. The most frequently seen is the American Bison, with 1,349 recorded sightings.

Rarer finds confirmed in North Dakota include Fisher - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Fisher

Most-observed mammals in North Dakota

American Bison
Bos bison
1,349 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
991 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
489 observations
Domestic Horse
Equus caballus
438 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
355 observations
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
318 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
315 observations
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
302 observations
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
223 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
219 observations
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
208 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
196 observations
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus townsendii
143 observations
Richardson's Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus richardsonii
142 observations
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
137 observations
Moose
Alces alces
121 observations
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
110 observations
North American Porcupine
Erethizon dorsatum
87 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
75 observations
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
64 observations
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
62 observations
Groundhog
Marmota monax
54 observations
Wapiti
Cervus canadensis
54 observations
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
50 observations
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
48 observations
American Mink
Neogale vison
45 observations
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
38 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
34 observations
Eastern Chipmunk
Tamias striatus
32 observations
Franklin's Ground Squirrel
Poliocitellus franklinii
29 observations
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
21 observations · iNaturalist
Domestic Cattle
Bos taurus
15 observations
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
14 observations
Mountain Cottontail
Sylvilagus nuttallii
13 observations
Northern Short-tailed Shrew
Blarina brevicauda
13 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
13 observations
Western Meadow Vole
Microtus drummondii
12 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
8 observations
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
8 observations
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
8 observations
Little Brown Bat
Myotis lucifugus
6 observations
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
6 observations
Plains Pocket Gopher
Geomys bursarius
6 observations
Bushy-tailed Woodrat
Neotoma cinerea
6 observations
Northern Pocket Gopher
Thomomys talpoides
4 observations
Northern Flying Squirrel
Glaucomys sabrinus
4 observations
Fisher
Pekania pennanti
4 observations
Least Weasel
Mustela nivalis
4 observations
Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse
Zapus hudsonius
3 observations
Masked Shrew
Sorex cinereus
3 observations

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

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