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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.

36,076
recent observations
30
species listed
7
mammals
10
plants
6
birds

Naturalists have logged 36,076 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in South Dakota. The most frequently seen is the American Bison, with 3,357 recorded sightings.

Mammals account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (7 of the species listed here), followed by plants (10).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in South Dakota

American Bison
Bos bison
3,357 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
2,803 observations
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
2,184 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
1,949 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,297 observations
hoary vervain
Verbena stricta
1,232 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
1,149 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
1,149 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
1,128 observations
Plain Pocketbook
Lampsilis cardium
1,113 observations · iNaturalist
leadplant
Amorpha canescens
1,063 observations
great mullein
Verbascum thapsus
1,021 observations
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
1,001 observations
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
983 observations
Three-ridge Mussel
Amblema plicata
978 observations · iNaturalist
common milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
974 observations
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
974 observations
Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine
Pinus scopulorum
969 observations · iNaturalist
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
960 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
940 observations
upright prairie coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
939 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
938 observations
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
935 observations
Great Plains yucca
Yucca glauca
932 observations
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
881 observations
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
860 observations
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
859 observations
Fatmucket
Lampsilis siliquoidea
852 observations · iNaturalist
field bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
840 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
816 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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