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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.

37,324
recent observations
30
species listed
7
mammals
9
plants
5
birds

Naturalists have logged 37,324 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in South Dakota. The most frequently seen is the American Bison, with 3,385 recorded sightings.

Mammals account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (7 of the species listed here), followed by plants (9).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in South Dakota

American Bison
Bos bison
3,385 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
2,836 observations
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
2,198 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
1,974 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,311 observations
Plain Pocketbook
Lampsilis cardium
1,281 observations · iNaturalist
Hoary Vervain
Verbena stricta
1,261 observations
Three-ridge Mussel
Amblema plicata
1,202 observations · iNaturalist
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
1,169 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
1,159 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
1,139 observations
Great Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
1,106 observations
Leadplant
Amorpha canescens
1,076 observations
Fatmucket
Lampsilis siliquoidea
1,075 observations · iNaturalist
Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine
Pinus scopulorum
1,014 observations · iNaturalist
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
1,010 observations
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
1,009 observations
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
996 observations
Common Milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
983 observations
Great Plains Yucca
Yucca glauca
981 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
979 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
952 observations
Upright Prairie Coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
946 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
942 observations
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
942 observations
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
898 observations
Red Admiral
Vanessa atalanta
889 observations
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
876 observations
Mapleleaf
Quadrula quadrula
870 observations · iNaturalist
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
865 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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