Herping North Dakota? Really?
Posted: May 28th, 2013, 10:09 pm
Hi, I spent four days backcountry camping in North Dakota last week. Most people think of North Dakota as a boring place but as you will see in these photos, it is simply breath taking. There may not be a huge variety in herps but it can still be enjoyable.
We picked a new spot to setup camp each evening, here is our first night.
The area is mostly grasslands and badlands however the oil industry is booming and it can be seen from the park. Lets hope we don't lose any more of this beautiful land.
I found a few herps during my trek.
Here is a Prairie Rattlesnake.
Sagebrush Lizards were very abudant.
I wonder why the locals call them blue bellies....
Many people think of the grasslands as a very boring, flat landscape. In June the prairie flowers are in full bloom, the bloom has began.
Here is a juvenile Eastern Yellow Bellied Racer.
And an adult.
The area boasts quite a few mammal species as well.
Reintroduced bison.
Not all survive.
There are even wild horses in the area from when the Spanish introduced them.
I saw a cow elk with her two calves in a valley while cooking supper. Note the females radio collar.
There is nothing cuter than watching Prairie Dogs bark and do burpees.
Oh, except maybe the babies.
Every crevice hides something new.
Petrified wood is everywhere, here is a split log.
Yep, they even have a few species of cacti.
My herp road mortality signage.
Surveying the beautiful scenery...
I hope this changes your perspective of the prairies. Only a beautiful six hour drive from Winnipeg.
Thanks.
We picked a new spot to setup camp each evening, here is our first night.
The area is mostly grasslands and badlands however the oil industry is booming and it can be seen from the park. Lets hope we don't lose any more of this beautiful land.
I found a few herps during my trek.
Here is a Prairie Rattlesnake.
Sagebrush Lizards were very abudant.
I wonder why the locals call them blue bellies....
Many people think of the grasslands as a very boring, flat landscape. In June the prairie flowers are in full bloom, the bloom has began.
Here is a juvenile Eastern Yellow Bellied Racer.
And an adult.
The area boasts quite a few mammal species as well.
Reintroduced bison.
Not all survive.
There are even wild horses in the area from when the Spanish introduced them.
I saw a cow elk with her two calves in a valley while cooking supper. Note the females radio collar.
There is nothing cuter than watching Prairie Dogs bark and do burpees.
Oh, except maybe the babies.
Every crevice hides something new.
Petrified wood is everywhere, here is a split log.
Yep, they even have a few species of cacti.
My herp road mortality signage.
Surveying the beautiful scenery...
I hope this changes your perspective of the prairies. Only a beautiful six hour drive from Winnipeg.
Thanks.