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Wildlife in Badlands National Park

Here’s what naturalists are spotting in Badlands right now - pulled live from recent research-grade observations. Browse by group, explore the map, and identify what you find with Huck.

10,576
recent observations
30
species listed
6
mammals
16
plants
7
birds

Naturalists have logged 10,576 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Badlands. The most frequently seen is the Bighorn Sheep, with 1,553 recorded sightings.

Mammals account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (6 of the species listed here), followed by plants (16).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Badlands

Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
1,553 observations
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
1,427 observations
American Bison
Bos bison
1,007 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
661 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
403 observations
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
401 observations
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
400 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
336 observations
Curlycup Gumweed
Grindelia squarrosa
286 observations
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
281 observations
Rock Wren
Salpinctes obsoletus
257 observations
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
252 observations
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
250 observations
field bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
234 observations
Saltlover
Halogeton glomeratus
233 observations · iNaturalist
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
227 observations
hoary vervain
Verbena stricta
226 observations
Yellow Sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis
219 observations
showy milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
193 observations
Crested Wheatgrass
Agropyron cristatum
187 observations · iNaturalist
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
170 observations
Prairie Rattlesnake
Crotalus viridis
169 observations
Missouri Foxtail Cactus
Escobaria missouriensis
165 observations · iNaturalist
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
164 observations · iNaturalist
Grassland Pricklypear
Opuntia cymochila
159 observations · iNaturalist
snow-on-the-mountain
Euphorbia marginata
151 observations
Racemose Milkvetch
Astragalus racemosus
148 observations · iNaturalist
Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
144 observations
upright prairie coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
138 observations
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
135 observations

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