5 Endangered Animals Fighting For Survival In North Dakota

The great state of North Dakota is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including several species at risk of extinction. From towering birds to small insects and bats, these endangered and threatened animals face challenges from habitat loss, human activity, and environmental change, all of which are caused by various sources.

Understanding their biology, behavior, and conservation needs is essential for protecting these species. Whether you live in the state or are just visiting, hopefully, you can use this knowledge to help out.

Whooping Crane

The whooping crane is one of North America’s rarest bird species and is endangered in North Dakota and federally. Standing around five feet tall, it is the tallest bird on the continent. It is identifiable by its white plumage, black wingtips, and red crown.

Once widespread across the Great Plains, whooping crane populations declined drastically in the 20th century due to habitat loss and overhunting. Today, only a few hundred remain in the wild.

In North Dakota, the species is primarily seen during migration in spring and fall. It stops in wetlands, river valleys, and agricultural fields to rest and feed. Key stopover areas include portions of the Missouri River and prairie pothole wetlands.

The recovery of the whooping crane in recent times has been supported by various habitat protection initiatives, strict hunting regulations, and international cooperation between the United States and Canada, just to the north of the state. Despite ongoing threats from habitat degradation and growing issues with collisions with power lines, conservation efforts have helped stabilize the population, offering cautious optimism for this majestic species’ future.

Pallid Sturgeon

The pallid sturgeon is a large, ancient fish species native to the Missouri and Mississippi River systems, including portions of the Missouri River in North Dakota. Listed as federally endangered since 1990, it has existed for over 70 million years, but unfortunately, it faces severe population decline in modern times, a sad reminder of mankind's imprint on the otherwise synergistic natural world.

Adults can grow up to six feet long and are distinguished by a pale body, elongated snout, and bony scutes along the back. To thrive, pallid sturgeon require deep, murky, swift-moving rivers with sandy or silty bottoms for spawning, conditions that dams and channel modifications have significantly reduced. Habitat alteration, reduced river flow, and sediment changes due to development have disrupted reproduction, leading to low recruitment in the wild.

Conservation measures include hatchery programs to raise and release juveniles, habitat restoration projects, and monitoring efforts by state and federal agencies. The species remains at risk despite these interventions, with survival dependent on long-term river management and continued recovery work.

Dakota Skipper

The Dakota skipper is a small, fast-flying butterfly found in native prairie habitats of the northern Great Plains, including large swathes of North Dakota. Technically threatened and not officially endangered, it depends on high-quality, undisturbed prairie with a mix of grasses and wildflowers for its existence.

As you can imagine, the Dakota skipper’s life cycle is closely tied to prairie plants, as larvae feed on native grasses such as little bluestem, while adults nectar on flowers like purple coneflower and black-eyed Susan. Adults have a wingspan of about one inch, with males showing orange-brown upper wings and females displaying darker brown coloration.

Habitat loss from agricultural conversion, overgrazing, and development has sharply reduced its range. In North Dakota, the remaining populations are concentrated in small, fragmented prairie tracts, making them vulnerable to drought, pesticides, and invasive species. Protection efforts have focused on managing intact prairies, controlling invasive plants, and limiting activities to help restore grasslands to their native state.

Piping Plover

Piping plovers are short-in-stature shorebirds that nest along sandy or gravelly beaches and riverbanks in North Dakota, primarily along the Missouri River and its various reservoirs. Listed as threatened in North Dakota under the Endangered Species Act, piping plovers are distinguished by their sandy-colored upperparts, white underparts, black breast bands, and short orange bills. Adults measure roughly seven inches in length, allowing them to blend with the shoreline and avoid predators.

Breeding occurs from late spring into summer, when pairs lay two to four eggs in shallow scrapes on open sand or gravel. Like many endangered animals, populations are susceptible to human disturbance, predation, and habitat loss caused by shoreline development, flooding, or recreational activity.

In this Midwestern state, efforts focus on protecting nesting areas through seasonal closures, predator management, and habitat restoration initiatives. Furthermore, monitoring programs have continued to track nest success rates and the overall adult survival numbers.

Northern Long-Eared Bat

The northern long-eared bat is an insect-eating bat native to forests across North Dakota and much of the eastern and central United States. Listed as federally threatened, it stands out physically by its long ears, light brown fur, and wingspan of approximately 9 to 10 inches. These bats are critical in controlling insect populations, feeding on moths, beetles, mosquitoes, and other nocturnal insects.

In terms of where they live, Northern long-eared bats roost in tree cavities, under bark, and occasionally in human structures, relying on mature forests for shelter. During winter, they hibernate in caves and abandoned mines, making them vulnerable to white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that has caused severe declines across their range. Habitat loss due to logging, land development, and forest fragmentation further threatens populations.

Protecting hibernation sites, preserving forested habitats, and monitoring populations for disease impacts have done some to help this struggling species. Moreover, minimizing disturbance while they are in hibernation has also been essential for the survival and recovery of these flying mammals throughout the year.

Better Understand these Struggling Species in North Dakota

Protecting North Dakota’s endangered species requires ongoing commitment to habitat preservation, research, and responsible land management. Each animal mentioned above, from ancient pallid sturgeons to the minuscule Dakota skipper, plays a role in the state’s fragile ecological balance.

Various conservation efforts have achieved some successes, but continued vigilance is essential. So, by supporting these measures and increasing public awareness, residents and policymakers alike can help ensure that these animals not only survive but also maintain their natural roles in this state's diverse ecosystems