Places StatesSouth Dakota

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.

34,661
recent observations
30
species listed
7
mammals
11
plants
6
birds

Naturalists have logged 34,661 research-grade observations across the 30 most-recorded species in South Dakota. The most frequently seen is the American Bison, with 3,171 recorded sightings.

Mammals account for the largest share of what gets recorded there (7 of the species listed here), followed by plants (11).

🖨️ Printable wildlife checklist

Most-observed species in South Dakota

American Bison
Bos bison
3,171 observations · iNaturalist
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
2,689 observations
Bighorn Sheep
Ovis canadensis
2,128 observations
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
1,890 observations
American Robin
Turdus migratorius
1,272 observations
hoary vervain
Verbena stricta
1,168 observations
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
1,122 observations
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
1,081 observations
Plain Pocketbook
Lampsilis cardium
1,042 observations · iNaturalist
leadplant
Amorpha canescens
1,028 observations
great mullein
Verbascum thapsus
1,001 observations
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
976 observations
Brown-belted Bumble Bee
Bombus griseocollis
975 observations
Rocky Mountains Ponderosa Pine
Pinus scopulorum
963 observations · iNaturalist
Plains Pricklypear
Opuntia polyacantha
951 observations
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
942 observations
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
939 observations
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
939 observations
upright prairie coneflower
Ratibida columnifera
923 observations
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
921 observations
Painted Turtle
Chrysemys picta
918 observations
Great Plains yucca
Yucca glauca
903 observations
common milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
895 observations
Three-ridge Mussel
Amblema plicata
890 observations · iNaturalist
Scarlet Globemallow
Sphaeralcea coccinea
855 observations
Northern Leopard Frog
Lithobates pipiens
852 observations
Least Chipmunk
Neotamias minimus
816 observations
field bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
813 observations
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
808 observations
wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
790 observations

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