Mammals of South Dakota
The mammals most often spotted in South Dakota, ranked by recent research-grade observations.
Most-observed mammals in South Dakota
American Bison
Bison bison
3,031 observations
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
2,489 observations
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
2,009 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
1,739 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
1,029 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
1,025 observations
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
742 observations
Eastern Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger
540 observations
Eastern Cottontail
Sylvilagus floridanus
491 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
466 observations
Mountain Goat
Oreamnos americanus
401 observations
Donkey
Equus asinus
367 observations · iNaturalist
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
359 observations
Elk
Cervus canadensis
292 observations
American Red Squirrel
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
284 observations
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Marmota flaviventris
211 observations
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
158 observations
Desert Cottontail
Sylvilagus audubonii
152 observations
American Badger
Taxidea taxus
128 observations
Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
125 observations
Common Raccoon
Procyon lotor
123 observations
American Beaver
Castor canadensis
104 observations
Striped Skunk
Mephitis mephitis
94 observations
North American Porcupine
Erethizon dorsatum
91 observations
Richardson's Ground Squirrel
Urocitellus richardsonii
68 observations
Virginia Opossum
Didelphis virginiana
66 observations
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Lepus townsendii
66 observations
American Mink
Neogale vison
64 observations
Red Fox
Vulpes vulpes
58 observations
Groundhog
Marmota monax
50 observations
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
49 observations
Domestic Cat
Felis catus
42 observations
Big Brown Bat
Eptesicus fuscus
37 observations
Mountain Cottontail
Sylvilagus nuttallii
26 observations
Northern Short-tailed Shrew
Blarina brevicauda
26 observations
Western Deer Mouse
Peromyscus sonoriensis
22 observations · iNaturalist
Black-footed Ferret
Mustela nigripes
19 observations
Western Meadow Vole
Microtus drummondii
18 observations · iNaturalist
Western Small-footed Myotis
Myotis ciliolabrum
17 observations · iNaturalist
Domestic Horse
Equus caballus
16 observations · iNaturalist
Long-tailed Weasel
Neogale frenata
16 observations · iNaturalist
Ord's Kangaroo Rat
Dipodomys ordii
15 observations
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
14 observations
Domestic Cattle
Bos taurus
14 observations · iNaturalist
Eastern Mole
Scalopus aquaticus
12 observations
Plains Spotted Skunk
Spilogale interrupta
12 observations · iNaturalist
Pacific Marten
Martes caurina
11 observations · iNaturalist
Least Weasel
Mustela nivalis
10 observations
Silver-haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
9 observations
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
9 observations