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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.

10,730
recent observations
30
species listed
6
mammals
16
plants
7
birds

Naturalists have logged 10,730 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Badlands. The most frequently seen is the Bighorn Sheep, with 1,563 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
1,563 observations
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
1,439 observations
American Bison
Bos bison
1,047 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
666 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
412 observations
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
402 observations
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
401 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
343 observations
Curlycup Gumweed
Grindelia squarrosa
311 observations
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
281 observations
Mountain Bluebird
Sialia currucoides
260 observations
Rock Wren
Salpinctes obsoletus
258 observations
Burrowing Owl
Athene cunicularia
255 observations
Field Bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
236 observations
Saltlover
Halogeton glomeratus
234 observations · iNaturalist
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
234 observations
Hoary Vervain
Verbena stricta
227 observations
Yellow Sweetclover
Melilotus officinalis
219 observations
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
193 observations
Crested Wheatgrass
Agropyron cristatum
187 observations · iNaturalist
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
177 observations
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
170 observations · iNaturalist
Prairie Rattlesnake
Crotalus viridis
170 observations
Missouri Foxtail Cactus
Escobaria missouriensis
166 observations · iNaturalist
Grassland Pricklypear
Opuntia cymochila
160 observations · iNaturalist
Snow-on-the-mountain
Euphorbia marginata
151 observations
Racemose Milkvetch
Astragalus racemosus
149 observations · iNaturalist
Common Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
145 observations
Upright Prairie Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
139 observations
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
135 observations

Built from recent research-grade iNaturalist observations. Identifications are community-sourced and may occasionally be wrong, and the ranking reflects where people record and photograph wildlife, so a species seen often here is not necessarily rare elsewhere. Some plants and animals are only out in certain seasons. Treat this as a lively snapshot of what people are finding, not a formal checklist.

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