Theodore Roosevelt National Park protects a stretch of North Dakota badlands and prairie along the Little Missouri River, and its best-known animals are prairie mammals. American bison and black-tailed prairie dogs are fairly easy to find, while elk and bighorn sheep are harder to spot because of where and when they are active. Many of these large animals were missing when the park was established in the 1940s: bison, elk and bighorn sheep had been wiped out of the region, and deer and pronghorn were rare. Reintroduction programs have since brought them back. Today mule deer are often seen around the visitor center, white-tailed deer live here too, coyotes are the predator visitors see most, and American badgers hunt in and around prairie dog towns. Bighorn sheep keep to steep badlands terrain along the river in the North Unit, and porcupines can be found high in trees, feeding on twigs. Wolves, grizzly bears and resident mountain lions are absent, although a mountain lion occasionally passes through, so the park manages its large mammal herds. The park also keeps a herd of horses and a small herd of longhorn steers in the North Unit.
More than 185 species of birds may be seen in the park over the course of a year. Most are migrants, but golden eagles, wild turkeys, black-capped chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches and great horned owls are among the birds that stay all year. Large flocks of sandhill cranes pass through in spring and fall, flycatchers, warblers and swallows arrive for summer, and juncos and redpolls come south to spend the winter. North Dakota’s semi-arid climate, cold winters and short growing season keep the number of reptile and amphibian species low. The prairie rattlesnake is the only venomous reptile in the park, and it is less common now than in Theodore Roosevelt’s day. Keep reading to see featured photos of Theodore Roosevelt’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Theodore Roosevelt National Park Wildlife Photographs
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Wildlife Photography Tips
Wildlife photography in the US National Parks offers a unique and enriching experience, as these protected areas are havens for diverse species and pristine natural landscapes. Capturing wildlife in such settings requires preparation and respect for both the environment and its inhabitants. Photographers should familiarize themselves with the specific animals and ecosystems of the park they are visiting, as each park hosts different species and behaviors. Early mornings and late afternoons, known as the golden hours, provide the best light and increased wildlife activity. Different seasons also offer different wildlife viewing opportunities. Patience and stillness are key, as the best moments often come to those who wait quietly.
If wildlife does present itself, always make sure to maintain a safe distance. Using a telephoto lens allows for close-up shots without intruding on the animals’ space. If you already own or want to own a professional grade mirrored camera like the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR, we recommend using a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens zoom lens for wildlife photography. If you have or are interested in a newer mirrorless model like the Canon EOS R5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera, we recommend using a Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Black for long distance shots.
Not quite ready to invest in traditional professional-grade camera equipment but want to enhance the quality of your cell phone photographs? Consider using a Moment Tele 58mm Mobile Lens II for improved reach, and use a Moment camera case with a lens mount to attach it to your phone. Since cell phones generally cannot provide the same reach as a dedicated telephoto camera lens, never compensate by moving dangerously close to wildlife. As with any visit to a national park, it’s important to follow park regulations, practice “Leave No Trace” principles, and prioritize safety while photographing wildlife.
Want to take your wildlife photos further? Featured photographer Vella Torvik shares her field-tested advice on gear, camera settings, light, composition and safely approaching wildlife in our Wildlife Photography 101: Insider Tips From the Field masterclass.
Theodore Roosevelt Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the wildlife that inhabits it? Check out these guides & books:
- Peterson Field Guide To Mammals Of North America: Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of Western North America, Fifth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
- Peterson Field Guide To Western Reptiles & Amphibians, Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Second Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar North American Species (Wildlife and Nature Identification)
Please note, by making purchases through our affiliate links, you are supporting our mission to celebrate and showcase our National Parks and the photographers who frequent them. As an Amazon Associate, National Park Photographer earns from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We appreciate your support.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Species List
The wildlife at Theodore Roosevelt National Park is beautiful and diverse. There are a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish to view. Check out all the incredible species this park has to offer! Click on the links below to see the different animal species that inhabit Theodore Roosevelt National Park:
Species Spotlight
Photo posts of animals you’ll find in Theodore Roosevelt.
ElkMammal · Abundant
American BadgerMammal · Common
American BisonMammal · Common
BobcatMammal · Common
CoyoteMammal · Common
Mule DeerMammal · Common
North American PorcupineMammal · Common
PronghornMammal · Common
White-tailed DeerMammal · Common
Mountain LionMammal · Uncommon
MooseMammal · Rare
Red FoxMammal · UnknownTheodore Roosevelt National Park Mammals
37 species
- American Badger Photo post(Taxidea taxus)
- American Beaver(Castor canadensis)
- American Bison Photo post(Bos bison)
- American Mink(Mustela vison)
- Bighorn Sheep(Ovis canadensis)
- Black-tailed Prairie Dog(Cynomys ludovicianus)
- Bobcat Photo post(Lynx rufus)
- Bushy-tailed Woodrat(Neotoma cinerea)
- Coyote Photo post(Canis latrans)
- Deer Mouse(Peromyscus maniculatus)
- Desert Cottontail(Sylvilagus audubonii)
- Domestic Cattle (Longhorn)(Bos taurus)
- Eastern Cottontail(Sylvilagus floridanus)
- Elk Photo post(Cervus elaphus)
- Feral Horse(Equus caballus)
- Fox Squirrel(Sciurus niger)
- Franklin’s Ground Squirrel(Spermophilus franklinii)
- House Mouse(Mus musculus)
- Least Chipmunk(Tamias minimus)
- Least Weasel(Mustela nivalis)
- Little Brown Myotis(Myotis lucifugus)
- Long-tailed Weasel(Mustela frenata)
- Meadow Vole(Microtus pennsylvanicus)
- Moose Photo post(Alces alces)
- Mountain Lion Photo post(Puma concolor)
- Mule Deer Photo post(Odocoileus hemionus)
- North American Porcupine Photo post(Erethizon dorsatum)
- Northern Pocket Gopher(Thomomys talpoides)
- Prairie Vole(Microtus ochrogaster)
- Pronghorn Photo post(Antilocapra americana)
- Raccoon(Procyon lotor)
- Red Fox Photo post(Vulpes vulpes)
- Striped Skunk(Mephitis mephitis)
- Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel(Spermophilus tridecemlineatus)
- White-footed Mouse(Peromyscus leucopus)
- White-tailed Deer Photo post(Odocoileus virginianus)
- White-tailed Jackrabbit(Lepus townsendii)
No mammals match.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Birds
161 species
- American Crow(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
- American Goldfinch(Carduelis tristis)
- American Kestrel(Falco sparverius)
- American Redstart(Setophaga ruticilla)
- American Robin Photo post(Turdus migratorius)
- American Tree Sparrow(Spizella arborea)
- American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
- American Wigeon(Anas americana)
- Baird’s Sparrow(Ammodramus bairdii)
- Bald Eagle Photo post(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Bank Swallow(Riparia riparia)
- Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica)
- Barred Owl(Strix varia)
- Belted Kingfisher(Ceryle alcyon)
- Black-and-white Warbler(Mniotilta varia)
- Black-billed Cuckoo(Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
- Black-billed Magpie(Pica hudsonia)
- Black-capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus)
- Black-crowned Night-Heron(Nycticorax nycticorax)
- Black-headed Grosbeak(Pheucticus melanocephalus)
- Blue Grosbeak(Passerina caerulea)
- Blue Jay(Cyanocitta cristata)
- Blue-winged Teal(Anas discors)
- Bobolink(Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
- Bohemian Waxwing(Bombycilla garrulus)
- Brewer’s Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus)
- Brewer’s Sparrow(Spizella breweri)
- Brown Creeper(Certhia americana)
- Brown Thrasher(Toxostoma rufum)
- Brown-headed Cowbird(Molothrus ater)
- Bufflehead(Bucephala albeola)
- Bullock’s Oriole(Icterus bullockii)
- Burrowing Owl(Athene cunicularia)
- Canada Goose(Branta canadensis)
- Cassin’s Finch(Carpodacus cassinii)
- Cedar Waxwing(Bombycilla cedrorum)
- Chestnut-collared Longspur(Calcarius ornatus)
- Chipping Sparrow(Spizella passerina)
- Clay-colored Sparrow(Spizella pallida)
- Cliff Swallow(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
- Common Grackle(Quiscalus quiscula)
- Common Nighthawk(Chordeiles minor)
- Common Poorwill(Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)
- Common Raven(Corvus corax)
- Common Redpoll(Carduelis flammea)
- Common Yellowthroat(Geothlypis trichas)
- Cooper’s Hawk(Accipiter cooperii)
- Dark-eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis)
- Dickcissel(Spiza americana)
- Double-crested Cormorant(Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Downy Woodpecker(Picoides pubescens)
- Eastern Bluebird(Sialia sialis)
- Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus)
- European Starling(Sturnus vulgaris)
- Evening Grosbeak(Coccothraustes vespertinus)
- Ferruginous Hawk(Buteo regalis)
- Field Sparrow(Spizella pusilla)
- Gadwall(Anas strepera)
- Golden Eagle(Aquila chrysaetos)
- Grasshopper Sparrow(Ammodramus savannarum)
- Gray Catbird(Dumetella carolinensis)
- Gray Partridge(Perdix perdix)
- Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch(Leucosticte tephrocotis)
- Great Blue Heron(Ardea herodias)
- Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus)
- Green-winged Teal(Anas crecca)
- Hairy Woodpecker(Picoides villosus)
- Harris’s Sparrow(Zonotrichia querula)
- Herring Gull(Larus argentatus)
- Hoary Redpoll(Carduelis hornemanni)
- Horned Lark(Eremophila alpestris)
- House Finch(Haemorhous mexicanus)
- House Sparrow(Passer domesticus)
- House Wren(Troglodytes aedon)
- Indigo Bunting(Passerina cyanea)
- Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus)
- Lapland Longspur(Calcarius lapponicus)
- Lark Bunting(Calamospiza melanocorys)
- Lark Sparrow(Chondestes grammacus)
- Lazuli Bunting(Passerina amoena)
- Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus)
- Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes)
- Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus)
- Long-billed Curlew(Numenius americanus)
- Long-eared Owl(Asio otus)
- Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos)
- Merlin(Falco columbarius)
- Mountain Bluebird(Sialia currucoides)
- Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura)
- Mourning Warbler(Oporornis philadelphia)
- Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus)
- Northern Goshawk(Accipiter gentilis)
- Northern Harrier(Circus cyaneus)
- Northern Pintail(Anas acuta)
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow(Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
- Northern Saw-whet Owl(Aegolius acadicus)
- Northern Shoveler(Anas clypeata)
- Northern Shrike(Lanius excubitor)
- Northern Waterthrush(Seiurus noveboracensis)
- Orange-crowned Warbler(Vermivora celata)
- Orchard Oriole(Icterus spurius)
- Osprey(Pandion haliaetus)
- Ovenbird(Seiurus aurocapilla)
- Peregrine Falcon(Falco peregrinus)
- Pied-billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps)
- Pine Grosbeak(Pinicola enucleator)
- Pine Siskin(Carduelis pinus)
- Plumbeous Vireo(Vireo plumbeus)
- Prairie Falcon(Falco mexicanus)
- Purple Finch(Carpodacus purpureus)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta canadensis)
- Red-eyed Vireo(Vireo olivaceus)
- Red-headed Woodpecker(Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
- Red-tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis)
- Red-winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus)
- Ring-necked Pheasant(Phasianus colchicus)
- Rock Pigeon(Columba livia)
- Rock Wren(Salpinctes obsoletus)
- Rough-legged Hawk(Buteo lagopus)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet(Regulus calendula)
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird(Archilochus colubris)
- Rusty Blackbird(Euphagus carolinus)
- Sandhill Crane Photo post(Grus canadensis)
- Savannah Sparrow(Passerculus sandwichensis)
- Say’s Phoebe(Sayornis saya)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk(Accipiter striatus)
- Sharp-tailed Grouse(Tympanuchus phasianellus)
- Short-eared Owl(Asio flammeus)
- Snow Bunting(Plectrophenax nivalis)
- Snow Goose(Chen caerulescens)
- Snowy Owl(Bubo scandiacus)
- Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia)
- Spotted Sandpiper(Actitis macularius)
- Spotted Towhee(Pipilo maculatus)
- Sprague’s Pipit(Anthus spragueii)
- Swainson’s Hawk(Buteo swainsoni)
- Swainson’s Thrush(Catharus ustulatus)
- Townsend’s Solitaire(Myadestes townsendi)
- Tree Swallow(Tachycineta bicolor)
- Tufted Titmouse(Baeolophus bicolor)
- Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura)
- Upland Sandpiper(Bartramia longicauda)
- Veery(Catharus fuscescens)
- Vesper Sparrow(Pooecetes gramineus)
- Violet-green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina)
- Warbling Vireo(Vireo gilvus)
- Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis)
- Western Meadowlark(Sturnella neglecta)
- Western Screech-Owl(Megascops kennicottii)
- Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus)
- White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis)
- White-crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia leucophrys)
- Wild Turkey(Meleagris gallopavo)
- Wilson’s Phalarope(Phalaropus tricolor)
- Wilson’s Warbler(Wilsonia pusilla)
- Wood Duck(Aix sponsa)
- Yellow Warbler(Dendroica petechia)
- Yellow-breasted Chat(Icteria virens)
- Yellow-headed Blackbird(Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
- Yellow-rumped Warbler(Dendroica coronata)
- Yellow-throated Vireo(Vireo flavifrons)
No birds match.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Reptiles
9 species
- Bullsnake (Gopher Snake)(Pituophis catenifer)
- Common Snapping Turtle(Chelydra serpentina)
- Greater Short-horned Lizard(Phrynosoma hernandesi)
- North American Racer(Coluber constrictor)
- Plains Garter Snake(Thamnophis radix)
- Plains Hog-nosed Snake(Heterodon nasicus)
- Prairie Rattlesnake(Crotalus viridis)
- Sagebrush Lizard(Sceloporus graciosus)
- Western Painted Turtle(Chrysemys picta)
No reptiles match.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Amphibians
6 species
- Boreal Chorus Frog(Pseudacris maculata)
- Great Plains Toad(Bufo cognatus)
- Northern Leopard Frog(Rana pipiens)
- Plains Spadefoot(Spea bombifrons)
- Tiger Salamander(Ambystoma tigrinum)
- Woodhouse’s Toad(Bufo woodhousii)
No amphibians match.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park Fish
29 species
- Black Bullhead(Ameiurus melas)
- Bluegill(Lepomis macrochirus)
- Brassy Minnow(Hybognathus hankinsoni)
- Brook Stickleback(Culaea inconstans)
- Burbot(Lota lota)
- Channel Catfish(Ictalurus punctatus)
- Common Carp(Cyprinus carpio)
- Creek Chub(Semotilus atromaculatus)
- Emerald Shiner(Notropis atherinoides)
- Fathead Minnow(Pimephales promelas)
- Flathead Chub(Platygobio gracilis)
- Freshwater Drum(Aplodinotus grunniens)
- Golden Shiner(Notemigonus crysoleucas)
- Goldeye(Hiodon alosoides)
- Green Sunfish(Lepomis cyanellus)
- Iowa Darter(Etheostoma exile)
- Lake Chub(Couesius plumbeus)
- Longnose Dace(Rhinichthys cataractae)
- Northern Pike(Esox lucius)
- Northern Redbelly Dace(Phoxinus eos)
- Plains Minnow(Hybognathus placitus)
- River Carpsucker(Carpiodes carpio)
- Sand Shiner(Notropis stramineus)
- Sauger(Sander canadensis)
- Shorthead Redhorse(Moxostoma macrolepidotum)
- Stonecat(Noturus flavus)
- Walleye(Sander vitreus)
- Western Silvery Minnow(Hybognathus argyritis)
- White Sucker(Catostomus commersonii)
No fish match.
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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