Badlands National Park

🇺🇸 United States

🦌 Pronghorn Sprint Badlands
🌍 #180 Global · 3.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #21 in North America #55 in Savanna & Grassland
United States, United States 426 spp. recorded

Badlands National Park is a rugged expanse of steep layered rock formations and mixed-grass prairie located in southwestern South Dakota. It differs from mountain or forest parks through its dramatic eroded buttes and deep gullies, crossed by open dirt trails that wind through expansive grasslands and sparse vegetation.

43.852° N   102.355° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

American Bison ★
NT

American Bison

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Bison bison

90–100% · Very likely
Bighorn Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

90–100% · Very likely
Black-tailed Prairie Dog ★
LC

Black-tailed Prairie Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cynomys ludovicianus

90–100% · Very likely
Pronghorn ★
LC Endemic

Pronghorn

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antilocapra americana

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Western Meadowlark
LC

Western Meadowlark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnella neglecta

90–100% · Very likely
Mourning Dove
LC Endemic

Mourning Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zenaida macroura

80–90% · Very likely
Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

60–70% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

60–70% · Likely
Rock Wren
LC Endemic

Rock Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Salpinctes obsoletus

60–70% · Likely
Cliff Swallow
LC

Cliff Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

50–60% · Likely
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

50–60% · Likely
Prairie Rattlesnake
LC

Prairie Rattlesnake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crotalus viridis

50–60% · Likely
Least Chipmunk

Least Chipmunk

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamias minimus

50–60% · Likely
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

50–60% · Likely
Horned Lark
LC Endemic

Horned Lark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eremophila alpestris

40–50% · Likely
Say's Phoebe
LC Endemic

Say's Phoebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sayornis saya

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

American Bison ★
NT

American Bison

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Bison bison

90–100% · Very likely
Bighorn Sheep ★
LC Endemic

Bighorn Sheep

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ovis canadensis

90–100% · Very likely
Black-tailed Prairie Dog ★
LC

Black-tailed Prairie Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cynomys ludovicianus

90–100% · Very likely
Pronghorn ★
LC Endemic

Pronghorn

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antilocapra americana

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Mule Deer
LC Endemic

Mule Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus hemionus

60–70% · Likely
Least Chipmunk

Least Chipmunk

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamias minimus

50–60% · Likely
Desert Cottontail
LC

Desert Cottontail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Sylvilagus audubonii

40–50% · Likely
Coyote
LC Endemic

Coyote

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Canis latrans

40–50% · Possible
American Badger
LC

American Badger

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Taxidea taxus

20–30% · Possible
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
LC

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ictidomys tridecemlineatus

20–30% · Possible
Quiller

Quiller

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Erethizon dorsatus

20–30% · Possible
White-tailed Deer
LC Endemic

White-tailed Deer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Odocoileus virginianus

10–20% · With luck
Eastern Cottontail
LC Endemic

Eastern Cottontail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Sylvilagus floridanus

10–20% · With luck
Mountain Cottontail
LC

Mountain Cottontail

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Sylvilagus nuttallii

10–20% · With luck
White-tailed Jackrabbit
LC

White-tailed Jackrabbit

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Lepus townsendii

10–20% · With luck
Black-footed Ferret
EN

Black-footed Ferret

Mammal

Mustela nigripes

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Western Meadowlark
LC

Western Meadowlark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnella neglecta

90–100% · Very likely
Mourning Dove
LC Endemic

Mourning Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zenaida macroura

80–90% · Very likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

60–70% · Likely
Rock Wren
LC Endemic

Rock Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Salpinctes obsoletus

60–70% · Likely
Cliff Swallow
LC

Cliff Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

50–60% · Likely
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

50–60% · Likely
Barn Swallow
LC

Barn Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo rustica

50–60% · Likely
Horned Lark
LC Endemic

Horned Lark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eremophila alpestris

40–50% · Likely
Say's Phoebe
LC Endemic

Say's Phoebe

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sayornis saya

40–50% · Likely
Lark Sparrow
LC

Lark Sparrow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chondestes grammacus

40–50% · Likely
Common Grackle
NT

Common Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus quiscula

40–50% · Likely
Black-billed Magpie
LC

Black-billed Magpie

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pica hudsonia

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Prairie Rattlesnake
LC

Prairie Rattlesnake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crotalus viridis

50–60% · Likely
Gopher Snake
LC Endemic

Gopher Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pituophis catenifer

40–50% · Likely
North American Racer
LC

North American Racer

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Coluber constrictor

30–40% · Possible
Plains Garter Snake
LC

Plains Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis radix

20–30% · Possible
Painted Turtle
LC

Painted Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chrysemys picta

20–30% · Possible
Western Box Turtle
NT

Western Box Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Terrapene ornata

10–20% · With luck
Plains Hognose Snake
LC

Plains Hognose Snake

Reptile

Heterodon nasicus

10–20% · With luck
Snapping Turtle
LC

Snapping Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Chelydra serpentina

Insufficient data
Common Garter Snake
LC Endemic

Common Garter Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Thamnophis sirtalis

Insufficient data
Six-lined Racerunner

Six-lined Racerunner

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Aspidoscelis sexlineatus

Insufficient data
Sagebrush Lizard
LC

Sagebrush Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Sceloporus graciosus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Woodhouse's Toad
LC

Woodhouse's Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Anaxyrus woodhousii

40–50% · Likely
Great Plains Toad
LC

Great Plains Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Anaxyrus cognatus

20–30% · Possible
Northern Leopard Frog
LC

Northern Leopard Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Lithobates pipiens

20–30% · Possible
Boreal Chorus Frog
LC

Boreal Chorus Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Pseudacris maculata

10–20% · With luck
Western Tiger Salamander
LC

Western Tiger Salamander

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ambystoma mavortium

10–20% · With luck
American Bullfrog

American Bullfrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Lithobates catesbeianus

Insufficient data
Plains Spadefoot
LC

Plains Spadefoot

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Spea bombifrons

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Pronghorn Winter Herding

FebDec

During the colder winter months, pronghorn gather into larger herds across the open snow-dusted prairies for increased predator vigilance and resource sharing.

Pronghorn
LC Endemic

Pronghorn

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antilocapra americana

70–80% · Very likely
🦌

Badger Spring Foraging

MarMay

Spring brings increased activity as badgers emerge to hunt for rodents across the thawing prairie sod, often utilizing abandoned burrows.

American Badger
LC

American Badger

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Taxidea taxus

20–30% · Possible
🦎

Reptile Emergence and Basking

JunJul

Warm summer conditions prompt ectotherms like rattlesnakes and racers to emerge from winter hibernacula, frequently basking along rocky outcrops and trails.

Gopher Snake
LC Endemic

Gopher Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Pituophis catenifer

40–50% · Likely
Prairie Rattlesnake
LC

Prairie Rattlesnake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Crotalus viridis

50–60% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
American Bison
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
Bighorn Sheep
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
90–100
90–100
80–90
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
Pronghorn
40–50
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
80–90
Western Meadowlark
80–90
90–100
80–90
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
90–100
80–90
70–80
80–90
Mourning Dove
70–80
80–90
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
Mule Deer
80–90
70–80
80–90
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
Turkey Vulture
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
40–50
50–60
50–60
Rock Wren
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
30–40
40–50
40–50
Cliff Swallow
50–60
50–60
40–50
20–30
60–70
80–90
80–90
30–40
5–10
20–30
40–50
40–50
Red-winged Blackbird
50–60
50–60
40–50
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
20–30
20–30
30–40
40–50
40–50
Prairie Rattlesnake
30–40
30–40
10–20
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
40–50
40–50
20–30
Least Chipmunk
20–30
20–30
10–20
10–20
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
20–30
Barn Swallow
40–50
50–60
40–50
20–30
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
20–30
20–30
30–40
30–40
Horned Lark
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
Say's Phoebe
40–50
40–50
30–40
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
10–20
30–40
30–40
Animal Events
🦌 Pronghorn Winter Herding
🦌 Badger Spring Foraging
🦎 Reptile Emergence and Basking

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Good
🦌 Pronghorn Sprint Badlands

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
3.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
309
🐒 Mammals
86
🦎 Reptiles
21
🐸 Amphibians
10
426 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
15 Threatened 64 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Very good

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
3.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
74%
📊
Coverage (100 species at ≥5% of 426 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
23%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (6 bird, 5 mammal, 1 reptile)
46% Global avg
76%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
71
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
7
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
26

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Badlands National Park?

The most likely sightings are Western Meadowlark (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Bighorn Sheep (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Black-tailed Prairie Dog (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), American Bison (seen by 90–100% of wildlife watchers), Mourning Dove (seen by 80–90% of wildlife watchers) — among 426 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Badlands National Park for wildlife?

June has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see American Bison in Badlands National Park?

Yes — about 90% of wildlife watchers report a American Bison sighting in Badlands National Park, based on 509 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Bighorn Sheep in Badlands National Park?

Yes — about 93% of wildlife watchers report a Bighorn Sheep sighting in Badlands National Park, based on 664 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Black-tailed Prairie Dog in Badlands National Park?

Yes — about 92% of wildlife watchers report a Black-tailed Prairie Dog sighting in Badlands National Park, based on 571 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Pronghorn in Badlands National Park?

Yes — about 72% of wildlife watchers report a Pronghorn sighting in Badlands National Park, based on 217 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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