Places National ParksBadlands

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.

10,200
recent observations
30
species listed
6
mammals
16
plants
7
birds

Naturalists have logged 10,200 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Badlands. The most frequently seen is the Bighorn Sheep, with 1,508 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
1,508 observations
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
1,373 observations
American Bison
Bos bison
952 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
648 observations
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
399 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
381 observations
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
376 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
307 observations
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
278 observations
Curlycup Gumweed
Grindelia squarrosa
266 observations
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
247 observations
Rock Wren
Salpinctes obsoletus
244 observations
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
241 observations
field bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
231 observations
Saltlover
Halogeton glomeratus
226 observations · iNaturalist
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
220 observations
Yellow Sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis
218 observations
hoary vervain
Verbena stricta
216 observations
showy milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
192 observations
Crested Wheatgrass
Agropyron cristatum
183 observations · iNaturalist
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
167 observations
Prairie Rattlesnake
Crotalus viridis
164 observations
Grassland Pricklypear
Opuntia cymochila
158 observations · iNaturalist
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
157 observations · iNaturalist
Missouri Foxtail Cactus
Escobaria missouriensis
149 observations · iNaturalist
Racemose Milkvetch
Astragalus racemosus
148 observations · iNaturalist
snow-on-the-mountain
Euphorbia marginata
143 observations
Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
140 observations
upright prairie coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
137 observations
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
131 observations

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