Lewis and Clark discovered many animal species during their expedition out west from 1804-1805. Some of the animals they encountered included the black-tailed prairie dog near present-day Nebraska in September 1804, the white-tailed jackrabbit in South Dakota in September 1804, and the bull snake in Nebraska in August 1804. The expedition also observed the desert cottontail in South Dakota in September 1804 and the plains horned toad in Nebraska in May 1804.

1. Lewis and Clark's Journey With the Animals Out West By: Italiansoccer10 and Pianostar

3. Black-Tailed Prairie Dog The Black Tailed- Prairie Dog was first discovered on September 7 th , 1804 in Boyd County, Nebraska. The Prairie Dogs have short brown fur with little beady eyes which are always black. The tails have a black tip on them and are slim. They usually live in wide open spaces like short grass prairies. The soil is nice and tender so the prairie dogs can shelter away from their natural predator the Red Fox. The burrows are all connected to escape faster if their chambers are ever flooded or attacked by predators.

4. White-Tailed Jackrabbit The White-Tailed Jack Rabbit was first discovered on September 14 th, 1804, near present-day Chamberline, South Dakota. The White-Tailed Jackrabbit is a Buffy gray above and white and pale gray below. It’s tail is white and it has a long gray and white with black striped ears. The White-Tailed Jackrabbits original habitat is bear barren, grazed, or cultivated lands; grasslands. This animal ranges from Eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and northeastern California and east through Minnesota, Iowa, and Kansas.

5. Bull Snake The bull snake was first discovered on August 5 th , 1804. The snake is mostly yellow with red, brown, or black blotches all on the back. The bottom of the snake is a pale to milky white. The place this snake was discovered was near the mouth of Niobrara, Nebraska. These snakes are found in many habitats from grassy woodlands to high mountains. They range from Southern Alberta to southern and western Texas. If you ever come across one, stay still and they won’t bite. These snakes are very poisonous but take a while to kill a healthy, adult male.

6. Desert Cottontail The Desert Cotton was discovered on September 15 th , 1804, near the mouth of the White River, South Dakota. The desert cottontail is Buffy gray above and white below. There color also includes a nape bright rust. The Desert Cottontail has really long ears and they’re furred inside. You will see the Desert Cottontail roaming around brush, grasslands, and deserts. They range from California to Texas, and north to eastern Montana and south-western to North Dakota.

7. Plains Horned Toad The Plains Horned Toad was discovered on May 18 th , 1804. Lewis caught a specimen and shipped it to President Jefferson in St. Louis, Missouri. It is a flat-bodied species with a large crown of spines on it’s head. The two centered crowns are the longest out of the whole entire crown. The toad is usually gray or yellow but sometimes ca be red. There are dark spots near the rear end of the toad. There are also really dark lines under the eyes. They live in dry, wide-opened spaces where there is loose soil supporting grass or where there are open spaces with lots of cacti to drink the fluids from. They range from Kansas to Texas to west to southeastern Arizona.

8. Long-Tailed Weasel The Long-Tailed Weasel was discovered on November 9 th , 1804, in Fort Mandan, North Dakota. On April 7 th , 1805, shipment of the Long-Tailed Weasel occurred and they were shipped to President Jefferson in Washington, D.C. These Long-Tailed Weasel’s have long bodies and short legs. They are brown above and below they are white to a deep yellowish. They have long tails and are often equal in head and body length; there tails are brown with a black tip. There feet are brownish. The male Long-Tailed Weasel weighs about twice as much as a female does. These animals can be found in habitats where brushy, forested, and open area are located. It’s better if their located near the water. They range from Southern British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, Canada.

9. Columbian Black-Tailed Deer The Columbian Black-Tailed Deer was discovered on, November 19 th , 1805, north of Cape Disappointment, Pacific County, Washington. The Columbian Black-Tailed Deer has a stocky body with long slim, sturdy legs. Their tails are blackish or brown above. You can spot these animals in forest edges, mountains, and foothills. They range from the Pacific coast from British Columbia to northern California.

10. Plains Gray Wolf The Plains Gray Wolf was discovered on May 30 th , 1804, near present-day Leavenworth, Kansas, The Plains Gray Wolf is a very large candid and is a grayish, blackish color. They have long, bushy tails with a black tip at the end. The Plains Gray Wolf’s habitat is open tundra and forests. They ranged from once most of North America, now they only range from Alaska, Canada, northern Washington, Idaho, Montana, and northeaster Minnesota.

11. Shira's Moose On May 10 th , 1805, at Milk River, Montana, Shira’s Moose was discover by Lewis Clark. Shira’s Moose is the largest cervix in the world. It has long, dark brown hair and high humped shoulder, with long legs. A male has massive antlers compared to the female moose. Spruce forests, swamps, aspen, and willow thickets are where you can find Shira’s Moose. Shira’s Moose range from most of Canada; in the East south to Maine and Minnesota. They also range in the west; Alaska to northern British Columbia.

12. Black-Billed Magpie On September 16 th , 1804, near the site of present-day Chamberlin, South Dakota, the Black-Billed Magpie was discovered. The Black-Billed Magpie is a large black and white bird with a long tail and a dark bill. The birds bill, head, breast, and under parts are all black. On it’s wings and tail there are tints of the color green. The Black-Billed Magpie has a white belly and white shoulders. You can find this bird roaming around open woodlands, savannas, brush-covered country, and streamside growth. You can see the Black-Billed Magpie flying from Alaska, and western Canada south to eastern central California and east to the Great Plains.

13. Credits P i a n o s t a r a n d I t a l i a n s o c c e r 1 0 T h e e d i t o r ' s , a u t h o r s , a n d p i c t u r e f i n d e r ’ s .