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Wildlife in Wind Cave National Park

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

5,164
recent observations
30
species listed
7
mammals
17
plants
6
birds

Naturalists have logged 5,164 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in Wind Cave. The most frequently seen is the American Bison, with 1,123 recorded sightings.

Mammals account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (7 of the species listed here), followed by plants (17).

Rarer finds confirmed in Wind Cave include Nylon Hedgehog Cactus - uncommon enough that a sighting is worth logging.

Nylon Hedgehog Cactus
🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in Wind Cave

American Bison
Bos bison
1,123 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
857 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
563 observations
Donkey
Equus asinus
241 observations · iNaturalist
Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine
Pinus scopulorum
147 observations · iNaturalist
upright prairie coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
145 observations
Coyote
Canis latrans
144 observations
Great Plains yucca
Yucca glauca
139 observations
leadplant
Amorpha canescens
135 observations
hoary vervain
Verbena stricta
127 observations
narrow-leaved purple coneflower
Echinacea angustifolia
119 observations
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
104 observations
Green-flower Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus viridiflorus
104 observations
chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
89 observations
Black-billed Magpie
Pica hudsonia
89 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
80 observations
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
80 observations
common starlily
Leucocrinum montanum
77 observations · iNaturalist
great mullein
Verbascum thapsus
77 observations
western poison ivy
Toxicodendron rydbergii
76 observations · iNaturalist
Wapiti
Cervus canadensis
73 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
67 observations
western harebell
Campanula petiolata
66 observations · iNaturalist
American plum
Prunus americana
65 observations
Wild Licorice
Glycyrrhiza lepidota
65 observations · iNaturalist
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
64 observations
dark-throated shooting star
Primula pauciflora
63 observations · iNaturalist
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
62 observations
Eastern Kingbird
Tyrannus tyrannus
62 observations
Prairie Bluebells
Mertensia lanceolata
61 observations · iNaturalist

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