Sullys Hill National Game Preserve Sullys Hill National Game Preserve consists of wooded hills, open meadows and woodland wetlands. It is one of five refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System that is managed for bison and elk. Sullys HIll NGP is home to many wildlife species such as bison, elk, white-tailed deer, black-tailed prairie dogs, turkey, foxes, raccoons, mink, muskrat, beaver, bald eagles in the fall season and numerous waterfowl species such as wood ducks, mallards and Canada geese. Many species of song birds and shorebirds may also be observed.
Tewaukon NWR Tewaukon NWR is primarily a migratory bird breeding and rest area. Numerous wetlands dot the gently rolling glacial till plain which forms the prairie. A mile or two to the south rise the beautiful hills of the Coteau, a glacial moraine. The rich bird and animal life associated with the many lakes and marshes made the Lake Tewaukon area a heavily used hunting and living site for early man. Lake Tewaukon was named for an ancient religious leader, the "Son of Heaven" or the Great Khan, Te Wauk Kon.
Wildlife species seen on the refuge include whitetailed deer, red fox, mink, raccoon, skunk, muskrats, beaver, badger and coyotes. A wide range of small mammals from weasels to shrews, mice and ground squirrels live on Tewaukon. Over 243 species of birds have been seen on the refuge including many species of waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and prairie species.
Tewaukon WMD The Tewaukon Wetland Wetland District includes lands in three counties (Ransom, Richland, Sargent) in the southeastern corner of North Dakota. The waterfowl production areas include wetland and grassland areas scattered out over three counties that provide habitat for waterfowl, other migratory birds, and resident species of wildlife. The wetland easements protect the fragile prairie potholes that are necessary for waterfowl breeding. The district also provides crucial nesting habitat for ground nesting birds. These areas are crucial due to the extensive agricultural use of the land in this area. Provides migratory stopovers for migrating birds.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park "I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota," Theodore Roosevelt once remarked.
Roosevelt first came to the badlands in September 1883 on a hunting trip. While here he became interested in the cattle business and invested in the Maltese Cross Ranch. He returned the next year and established the Elkhorn Ranch.
Whenever he managed to spend time in the badlands, he became more and more alarmed by the damage that was being done to the land and its wildlife. He witnessed the virtual destruction of some big game species, such as bison and bighorn sheep. Overgrazing destroyed the grasslands and with them the habitats for small mammals and songbirds. Conservation increasingly became one of Roosevelt's major concerns. During his Presidency, Roosevelt established the US Forest Service and signed the 1906 Antiquities Act under which he proclaimed 18 national mounuments. He also established 5 national parks, 51 wildlife refuges and 150 national forests.
Here in the North Dakota badlands, where many of his personal concerns first gave rise to his later environmental efforts, Roosevelt is remembered with a national park that bears his name and honors the memory of this great conservationist.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park is in the colorful North Dakota badlands and is home to a variety of plants and animals, including bison, prairie dogs, and elk.
Turtle River State Park Constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this park is located in a wooded valley along the meandering Turtle River. The park features year-round recreational activities, including camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and sledding. Anglers can also practice their fly fishing techniques in the trout-stocked river. Cabins can be rented by groups or individuals during the summer.
Upper Souris NWR Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge is located in the drift prairie region of north central North Dakota. The refuge straddles almost 40 miles of the scenic Souris River valley. The area is characterized by a narrow band of river bottom woodlands, fertile flood plains, native mixed-grass covered rolling hills and steep brush covered coulees. The refuge hosts waterfowl numbers of up to 350,000 birds during the fall migration. These are primarily lesser snow geese. Tundra swans, pintails, canvasbacks, redheads, buffleheads and many more kinds of waterfowl either nest on the refuge or use the refuge during migration. Up to five species of grebes can be seen during the summer.
