North Dakota
Deer mice in North Dakota
What is the most abundant mammal in North America? I saw that question used in trivia recently. The answer was deer mouse. I am not so sure about that, in part because deer mouse is used to refer to a genus of mice as well one of the species of the genus. Either way, deer mice are certainly one of the contenders.
There are over a dozen species of small mammals that the casual observer may refer to as mice in North Dakota. That would include the house mouse, deer mice, voles, pocket mice, jumping mice, and shrews. The term deer mouse is used to refer to mice in the genus Peromyscus. Most are gray or reddish brown with a white underbelly, white feet, and comparatively large ears. And they are often characterized as having large “bulging” eyes. Robert Seabloom in his Mammals of North Dakota lists two species of Peromyscus in North Dakota.
What is commonly known as a deer mouse (P. maniculatus), a species of the grasslands, is common and abundant throughout the state. They are around 6 inches long, including a tail about 2.5 inches long. Although juveniles may be gray, adults are usually a brown to grayish-brown. Seabloom also notes that they have “distinctly” bicolored tails which helps in identification.
The deer mouse feeds largely on seeds and insects. Home range for these mice is around 2-3 acres. They are prey to several animals including snakes, hawks, owls, and fox. They are also a major carrier of the hantavirus.
The white-footed deer mouse (P. leucopus) is a species of wooded areas, and as such is less common. It is similar in appearance to the deer mouse but is perhaps a bit larger. Seabloom also notes that their “indistinctly bicolored tail” is a key characteristic in identification.
Like the deer mouse, the white-footed deer mouse feeds largely on seeds and insects. Acorns can also be an important food item. Their home range is less than that of a deer mouse, averaging around one acre
If you are interested in more information on the biology, ecology, and identification of these and other North Dakota mammals, I suggest you check out Mammals of North Dakota by UND professor emeritus Robert Seabloom. First published in 2011, it is now in its second edition.
FARGO — Grand Forks Central’s Gabe Flores III, ranked No. 5 in his 127-pound weight class, will wrestle for a state championship on Friday at the North Dakota state tournament.
The championship match run came behind a wild development.
Flores beat Bismarck Legacy’s No. 1-ranked Nick Enzminger in the semifinals 8-3.
Enzminger suffered a possible broken ankle in practice leading up to the state tournament.
“(Enzminger) is nationally ranked and blew up his ankle last night and was literally carried to and from his mat by his teammates,” Central coach Garrett Litzinger said. “Not the way you want to have to wrestle someone. Props to Nick for biting down and being willing to compete and basically try to cement his legacy as one of the best North Dakota wrestlers of all time.
“Gabe didn’t let that affect him. (Enzminger) beat two kids on one leg. Even hurt, Nick isn’t a guy you want to mess around with. Gabe handled the uncomfortable situation and just went out and did what he planned on doing. He wrestled hard and got the win.”
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Flores will wrestle Dylan Mosset of Bismarck St. Mary’s in Friday’s 4:30 p.m. title match. The No. 2 seed in the bracket beat Flores 11-9 in the Grand Forks Sertoma tournament earlier this season and has two prior wins over Flores.
But Flores appears to be at his best, as he beat West Fargo Sheyenne’s Grady Olafson in the quarterfinals. Olafson had beat Flores three times before Flores beat Olafson in both the region final and Thursday.
“Gabe has a shot against anybody,” Litzinger said. “Gabe lives for this. He’s a dude with ice in his veins. He’s ready to go in the big moments and loves it.”
As a team, the Knights have 12 wrestlers remaining in the individual tournament. With two wrestlers facing off against each other, Central has the chance of 11 state placers. The Knights’ school record for state placers in a season is nine in 2015.
Devils Lake’s Rylan Samuelson also advanced Thursday to Friday’s title matches. Samuelson will go up against Jake Glaser of Dickinson at 121 pounds.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
In the Class B division, Sawyer Owens of Hillsboro-Central Valley advanced to the 145-pound title match. Owens will face Lisbon’s Griffin Greenley.
David Samson / The Forum
In the girls’ field, two Grand Forks wrestlers reached the finals in training partners Kyah Wiley and Sky Kopp.
Wiley will face Alexis Storsved of Mandan at 170 pounds, while Kopp faces Cambree Anderson of Bismarck High at 190 pounds.
Wiley beat Kolbi McElwain with a pin in the semifinals to advance. McElwain had beat Wiley at state last season in a third-place match.
“(Wiley) has gotten so much better this year,” Grand Forks coach Matt Berglund said. “She got behind with a takedown (in the semifinals) but dominated the rest of the match before getting a pin.”
David Samson / The Forum
Kopp will be an underdog against Anderson, who’s a three-time state champion. Anderson and Kopp haven’t faced this season.
“It’s her senior year and is excited for another shot,” Berglund said. “She’s also got a lot better from last year and now has a chance in the title match her senior year.”
For the first time in Grand Forks’ four years as a program, the KnightRiders saw every wrestler win at least one match on the opening day of the tournament.
Among other competitors from the Herald coverage area in the girls division, Pembina County North’s Charlotte Crowston will face Bismarck Legacy’s Alicia Kenfack in the 112-pound title, while Grafton’s Alyssa Hoyles will face Bismarck Legacy’s Aleiya Cullinan at 130 pounds and Pembina County North’s Jaelyn Forrey faces Bismarck Century’s Mekayla Stordalen at 250 pounds.
Staff reports and local scoreboards from the Grand Forks Herald Sports desk.
North Dakota State running back Barika Kpeenu is among the most productive players at his position in the 2026 NFL Draft. The West Fargo native was outstanding in 2025, rushing for 1,005 yards and 20 touchdowns. Kpeenu tied for the fourth-most rushing scores in the entire FCS.
Kpeenu recently spoke exclusively with NFL Draft On SI. Kpeenu discussed his experience at this year’s American Bowl, what he proved to NFL teams in attendance, his breakout 2025 season, and more.
JM: You attended this year’s American Bowl. How would you describe the overall experience?
Barika Kpeenu: I had a phenomenal experience at a great pre-draft event. They showed us a lot of hospitality. I met a lot of great people while discussing an NFL future. There were a lot of great coaches in attendance. It was an educational experience.
It was awesome. I’ll never forget the experience. I had a lot of fun.
JM: What do you think you proved to NFL teams and scouts in attendance?
Barika Kpeenu: I tried to be the ultimate competitor. I wanted to prove I belong among the prospects from the FBS conference. I went out there and put my best foot forward in everything that I was doing.
A lot of people think there’s a big drop off from the FBS to the FCS. I just wanted to go out there and prove that I’m equally as talented. I believe I can play at the highest level. I proved that at the American Bowl.
JM: There’s no doubt about that. Did you meet with any teams individually at the American Bowl?
Barika Kpeenu: I definitely met with a bunch of teams. I’d say I met with upwards of 15-20 NFL teams at the American Bowl, or at least half of the league. I had a great interview process with several teams.
JM: There’s a lot of interest in you and it’s easy to see why. You broke out at North Dakota State this season, rushing for 1,005 yards and 20 touchdowns. You waited your turn at NDSU. What do you think changed for you in 2025?
Barika Kpeenu: I went into my senior season realizing it was my last go-around. There was definitely a sense of urgency. I wanted to make it count. I didn’t wanna leave with any regrets. It was very important to me. I approached the offseason with that urgency.
I just spent a lot of time during the offseason working on my craft. I was putting in extra work during practice. I was very intentional regarding how I went about my business. I had a chip on my shoulder the entire season. I heard what some people were saying about me. I had all the motivation I needed. I played with confidence.
JM: What do you think it is about your game that led to you finding the end zone so consistently in 2025? Rushing for 20 touchdowns is pretty ridiculous.
Barika Kpeenu: We had a great offense at North Dakota State. We had a ton of weapons. Opposing defenses had to respect every element of our offense. We definitely had a great offensive line that made my life easy.
I was able to make my reads at a high level. I definitely maximized my opportunities to find the end zone. It was a bunch of things that led to my production.
JM: How would you describe your rushing style? Are you a North-South runner? Do you prefer to hit the outside?
Barika Kpeenu: I’d say I’m more of a North-South runner. I definitely took a more balanced approach this past season though. I made plays to the boundary as well. I think I have a pretty balanced skill set. I can run with power and speed. I can make defenders miss in space. I’m curious to hear how scouts describe my game throughout this process (laughs).
JM: We’ve appreciated your time today. Why should an NFL team use one of their 2026 NFL Draft picks on Barika Kpeenu?
Barika Kpeenu: I was brought up the right way. Given my background, a lot of people didn’t think I’d be able to strive for my goals. I wasn’t supposed to have this opportunity. It all played a role in my journey.
I took my chance. I’ve done the best I could to maximize the chances that came my way. Up until this point, I feel like I’ve taken advantage of every aspect of my life to better myself. I’ve flourished because of it.
If an NFL team gives me a chance, given where I come from, how I was raised, there’s no reason why I won’t continue flourishing. I’m a talented football player.
I have a lot of confidence in my abilities. An NFL team won’t regret putting immense trust in me. If you pour that effort into developing me as a player and person, I’m going to make sure you don’t regret that decision.
North Dakota
North Dakota measles outbreak grows to seven cases; Fargo locations added to exposure list
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – North Dakota reported its seventh confirmed measles case Wednesday as state health officials continue tracking exposures across the FM area.
The outbreak has prompted health officials to monitor more than a dozen exposure locations, including Sam’s Club in Fargo, where potential exposure occurred Feb. 9.
“It is one of the most contagious diseases known to us,” said Dr. Avish Nagpal, an infectious disease specialist. “One person who gets measles will, on an average expose 18 other people to measles. Compare this to flu and COVID, between 1 to 5.”
The outbreak affected at least one North Dakota high school wrestler, whose season ended after exposure at a Walhalla wrestling tournament. The unvaccinated student’s father, Stuart, said the state health department called while they were in their hotel room.
“We were already in bed in our hotel room, and first, our athletic director called and then, which he was told to call by this health department person, and she did not give us any room,” Stuart said in an interview with The Jay Thomas Show.
Stuart’s son was told to go home, missing his chance to compete at state. When Stuart called back the next day, he said the health department’s tone changed.
“I called her back and then she stepped back a little bit and said, ‘it was a recommendation.’ And I’m like, ‘That was not a recommendation. You never came across like it was a recommendation last night,’” Stuart said.
The state health department said it did not force anyone to leave the tournament and only provided CDC guidance.
Health officials recommend people check their vaccination records if they were at exposure locations.
“One dose of measles vaccine will give you about 94% protection, and if you have 2 doses, it will give you 97% protection,” Nagpal said. “Check your vaccination status. If you’re not up to date, call your provider, get the vaccine today.”
To see the full exposure list, click here.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
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