Mammals of South Dakota
The mammals most often spotted in South Dakota, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
18,811
recent observations
50
species listed
50
mammals
Naturalists have logged 18,811 research-grade observations across the 50 most-recorded species in South Dakota. The most frequently seen is the American Bison, with 3,247 recorded sightings.
Rarer finds confirmed in South Dakota include Bobcat and Black-footed Ferret - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.
Most-observed mammals in South Dakota
American Bison
Bos bison
3,247 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
2,785 observations
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
2,171 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
1,940 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
1,138 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
1,116 observations
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
846 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
598 observations
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
536 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
492 observations
Mountain Goat
Oreamnos americanus
438 observations
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
400 observations
Donkey
Equus asinus
395 observations · iNaturalist
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
307 observations
Wapiti
Cervus canadensis
302 observations
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Marmota flaviventris
226 observations
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
167 observations
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
161 observations
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
143 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
138 observations
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
127 observations
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
115 observations
North American Porcupine
Erethizon dorsatum
104 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
98 observations
Richardson's Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus richardsonii
71 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
70 observations
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus townsendii
67 observations
American Mink
Neogale vison
66 observations
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
59 observations
Groundhog
Marmota monax
51 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
49 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
46 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
46 observations
Mountain Cottontail
Sylvilagus nuttallii
31 observations
Northern Short-tailed Shrew
Blarina brevicauda
26 observations
Western Deer Mouse
Peromyscus sonoriensis
24 observations
Black-footed Ferret
Mustela nigripes
19 observations
Western Small-footed Myotis
Myotis ciliolabrum
19 observations
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
18 observations · iNaturalist
Western Meadow Vole
Microtus drummondii
18 observations
Domestic Horse
Equus caballus
17 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
15 observations
Northern Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus
15 observations
Ord's Kangaroo Rat
Dipodomys ordii
15 observations
Domestic Cattle
Bos taurus
15 observations · iNaturalist
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
14 observations
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
14 observations
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
12 observations
Eastern Mole
Scalopus aquaticus
12 observations
Pacific Marten
Martes caurina
12 observations
Mammals in nearby places
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