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The Lewis and Clark Adventure

North Dakota:  Flora and Fauna

Captain Clark wrote:

A cool, fine evening.  Mosquitoes very troublesome.  The prairies contain cherries, apples, grapes, currants, raspberries, gooseberries, hazelnuts, and a great variety of plants and flowers not common to the U.S.  What a field for a botanist and a naturalist!

—August 1, 1804

Lewis and Clark found these flora (plants) and fauna (animals) early in their explorations and sent them to President Jefferson from Fort Mandan in North Dakota.

In this game, you will be given eight clues.  Guess which plant or animal the clue applies to, then click for the answer.

Flora

  • The lumpy fruit of this tree is about the size of a softball.  For the answer, click here.
  • This tree is plentiful along the Missouri River.  Its seeds float on little parachutes.  For the answer, click here.
  • The roots of this small forest herb were used as medicine.  For the answer, click here.
  • This weed grows as high as 6 feet and so densely that it can choke out other plants.  It can be used to feed livestock, but it's hard to get rid of once you plant it.  For the answer, click here.
  • If you would like to hear more about flora that Lewis and Clark recorded, click here.

Fauna

  • This animal acts like a thief—and wears a mask besides!  Although related to both bears and pandas, it can also purr like a cat and coo like a pigeon.  For the answer, click here.
  • This animal looks a lot like an ermine or ferret.  Like the ermine, its coat turns white in winter.  For the answer, click here.
  • The Corps at first described these animals as "prairie wolves."  They travel in packs.  For the answer, click here.
  • This bird was so common in the days of Lewis and Clark that they didn't say much about it.  For the answer, click here.
  • If you would like to hear more about fauna that Lewis and Clark recorded, click here.

Congratulations!  You have finished the flora and fauna challenge.  A Louisiana quarter has been added to your collection.  To learn about it, click here.

The map now shows the third leg of the journey added to the trail.

The trail will lead you next to Idaho, where the explorers paddle some rough river waters.

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