Places StatesSouth Dakota

Wildlife in South Dakota

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

34,185
recent observations
30
species listed
7
mammals
11
plants
6
birds

Naturalists have logged 34,185 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in South Dakota. The most frequently seen is the American Bison, with 3,088 recorded sightings.

Mammals account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (7 of the species listed here), followed by plants (11).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in South Dakota

American Bison
Bos bison
3,088 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
2,661 observations
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
2,101 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
1,868 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,265 observations
hoary vervain
Verbena stricta
1,144 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
1,103 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
1,064 observations
Plain Pocketbook
Lampsilis cardium
1,033 observations · iNaturalist
leadplant
Amorpha canescens
1,024 observations
great mullein
Verbascum thapsus
993 observations
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
969 observations
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
968 observations
Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine
Pinus scopulorum
958 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
940 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
939 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
927 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
915 observations
upright prairie coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
914 observations
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
903 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
890 observations
Three-ridge Mussel
Amblema plicata
890 observations · iNaturalist
Great Plains yucca
Yucca glauca
889 observations
common milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
876 observations
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
850 observations
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
835 observations
field bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
805 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
795 observations
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
795 observations
Smooth Brome
Bromus inermis
783 observations

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