Elk carry a NatureServe SU rank in North Dakota, unrankable, reflecting how little is formally assessed about the state’s free-ranging population beyond the well-known herd centered on Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which accounts for 6 of the state’s 46 records, the most of any site. The record leans entirely on iNaturalist sightings (46), suggesting casual park visitors document this conspicuous animal more than survey work does.
July alone accounts for 14 of the year’s monthly-tallied sightings, roughly a third of the total, tracking the rut buildup and peak summer visitor traffic through the Badlands when elk are most visible along park roads and overlooks.
Full species profile
