1 August 2016

South Dakota

Badlands National Park

I first visited South Dakota in 1993 but don’t remember what mammals I saw there, if any, in the spectacular Badlands National Park.

At Wind Cave National Park I do remember looking at Bison and Black-tailed Prairie Dogs among other things.

In July 2019 I was back in South Dakota and had planned a night on the Thunder Basins National Grasslands, where I wanted to cruise the roads in search of Prairie and Sagebrush Voles and Northern Grasshopper Mice. But a tornado across the valley from our campsite, followed by an enormous lightning storm overhead, cut short our camping plans. My kids, it seems, are wimps. No mammalwatching that night.

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Community Reports

Nebraska and South Dakota, 2023: Amiel Hopkins’s report of mammals seen working over the summer in Yankton SD, including Plains Pocket Mouse, Prairie Vole, Northern Grasshopper Mouse and Badger.

South Dakota, 2022: Jim Vanderpoel, 7 days & 18 species including Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel, White-tailed Jackrabbit and Bighorn Sheep.

South Dakota, 2022: Wildlife Watcher’s report of a week in the Badlands with species including Mountain Goat and Bison.

Minnesota to Wyoming, 2022: Janco van Gelderen, 2 weeks & 21 species including American Marten, Lynx and Mountain Lion.

Minnesota & the Dakotas, 2021: Moses Swanson’s report from the summer of 2021 featuring 15 species including Muskrat and Porcupine.

South Central Rockies, 2017: Sjef Ollers, 3 weeks & 44 mammals including American Badger, Swift Fox, Black-footed Ferret and Long-tailed Weasel.

South Dakota, 2010: Scott Flamand, 4 nights & 18 species including a Black-footed Ferret and Swift Foxes.