The Little Missouri River flows from south to northeast through the rugged badlands and rolling prairie of western North Dakota.

Photo: Winter in the North Dakota badlands, courtesy NPS.

April 24, 1805. Lewis: I ascended the hills from whence I had a most pleasing view of the country, particularly of the wide and fertile vallies formed by the missouri and the yellowstone rivers, which occasionally unmasked by the wood on their borders disclose their meanderings for many miles in their passage through these delightfull tracts of country. … the whol face of the country was covered with herds of Buffaloe, Elk & Antelopes; deer are also abundant, but keep themselves more concealed in the woodland. The buffaloe Elk and Antelope are so gentle that we pass near them while feeding, without appearing to excite any alarm among them; and when we attract their attention, they frequently approach us more nearly to discover what we are, and in some instances pursue us a considerable distance apparenly with that view

More about the people April 13, 1805. Lewis: This anamall [the grizzly] is said more frequently to attack a man on meeting with him, than to flee from him. When the Indians are about to go in quest of the white bear, previous to their departure, they paint themselves and perform all those supersticious rights commonly observed when they are about to make war uppon a neighbouring nation. Oserved more bald eagles on this part of the Missouri than we have previously seen. Saw the small hawk, frequently called the sparrow hawk, which is common to most parts of the U. States. Great quantites of gees are seen feeding in the praries. saw a large flock of white brant or gees with black wings pass up the river;     there were a number of gray brant with them.

Find out more: Sprawl in North Dakota Lewis and Clark in North Dakota Natural History of North Dakota Endangered Species in ND Intertribal Bison Cooperative "Beauty and the Badlands"