Badlands National Park is a fantastic place to see North America’s wildlife. When we visited we saw bison, bighorn sheep, eagles, prairie dogs and many other amazing animals at close range.
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The sheer abundance and frequency of seeing the Badlands National Park animals was the most unforgettable thing about our 4 week cross-country road trip.
South Dakota is a nature lover’s dream come true. With multiple National Park sites and state parks to choose from, you’re almost guaranteed to see wildlife if you have a few days in the area.
Here are the best places and tips for seeing wildlife in Badlands National Park and other state and national parks in the region.
Types of Badlands Wildlife
Badlands National Park of South Dakota is home to bison, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, coyote, swift fox, black-footed ferrets, mountain goats, and many other animals.
If you’re lucky, you may even see a mountain lion or golden eagles! The best times of day to see wildlife are in the early morning or late afternoon.
Best places to see animals in the North Unit
We saw large numbers of wildlife in Badlands National Park while driving the scenic road through the park (Badlands Loop Road). This 31 mile long road takes you through the heart of the park and offers many great opportunities for wildlife watching.
Prehistoric Animal Displays
The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is a great place to learn about the wildlife of Badlands National Park, both living and extinct. Throughout the Center there are dioramas and interpretive signs showing the natural history of southwestern South Dakota. Our kids were fascinated to learn about mosasaurs, brontotheres and a creature similar to a saber-toothed cat (nimravid)!
Be sure to visit the Fossil preparation Lab if it’s open to check out the cool modern animal skulls, bones and horns!
Park rangers can also tell you which trails and overlooks are regularly visited by specific animal species. They’ll know the best time of day to see specific animals and appropriate distances for safe wildlife viewing.
When viewing wildlife, it’s important to maintain a safe distance. The general rule is to stay at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bison, and 25 yards (23 m) away from all other wild animals.
American Bison
American Bison are the most commonly seen large mammals in Badlands National Park.
One excellent place to see bison is from the Sage Creek Rim Road. This road gives a good view of the Badlands Wilderness area where the bison like to graze.
@dinkumtribe General tips about bison at Badlands NP and other South Dakota spots. #badlandsnationalpark🌾 #bisonbisonbison #placestovisitwithkids #dinkumtribe ♬ original sound – dinkumtribe
You can see bison in other areas too – we found one right at the park gates! Inching past him, even while “safe” in our large van, was a tense and humbling experience. Bison are unpredictable, so it’s wise to give them a wide berth.
The bison population in the park is managed through a conservation grazing program. This program helps to maintain the grassland ecosystem and prevent the growth of unwanted plants.
Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn sheep are another popular animal to see in Badlands National Park. The Pinnacles Overlook is especially good for spotting bighorn sheep, which are often seen grazing along the rocky outcrops and rock formations.
We saw bighorn sheep from a distance at the Big Badlands Overlook. Bring decent binoculars with you for the best chance of seeing common animals in the Badlands.
The Castle Trail and Notch Trail are also great options for seeing a variety of Badlands animals up close.
Prairie Dog Colonies – home to many species
One of the most unique aspects of Badlands National Park is the prairie dog towns. These lively little creatures are fun to watch and their burrows provide homes for many other animals, like burrowing owls. Our kids delighted in how often we saw prairie dogs in South Dakota!
The best place to see these black-tailed prairie dogs is at the Conata Basin Prairie Dog Town. This area is also good for seeing mule deer, white tailed deer, pronghorn and bison.
The Conata Basin Prairie Dog Town is located on the south side of the park, near the town of Interior. To get there, take Highway 240 east from Wall for about 15 miles (24 km).
Roberts Prairie Dog Town is another great place to see these cute little animals. Roberts Prairie Dog Town is located on the north side of the park, near the town of Wall, South Dakota.
To get to Roberts Prairie Dog Town, take Highway 240 west from Wall for about 12 miles (19 km).
Rattlesnakes
Badlands National Park is home to several species of rattlesnakes, including prairie rattlesnakes and western diamondback rattlesnakes. Keep your eyes open for snakes while hiking any of the trails. Remind your children to stay on the trails for their own safety.
While these snakes are not aggressive, they can be dangerous if provoked. It’s important to maintain a safe distance from all snakes, and to never attempt to handle them.
Birds at Badlands National Park
Bird enthusiasts of all ages can search for over 200 species of birds in the rugged terrain of the bad lands. Some birds are easily visible around the rock formations, such as falcons, eagles and swallows.
Other birds prefer the juniper trees and shrubs nearby, like magpies and chickadees. We found that the Cliff Shelf Nature Trail offered excellent birdwatching opportunities.
Plenty of bird species reside in the mixed-grass prairie as well, such as meadowlarks and killdeer. They will be easiest to spot in open prairie areas.
Some of the best birding trails in Badlands National Park include the Castle Trail, Medicine Root Loop Trail and Window Trail.
South Unit (Stronghold Unit and Palmer Creek Unit)
There are plenty of places to spot wildlife in the southern part of Badlands NP as well. However, this area is less accessible because it’s under the joint management of the National Park Service and the Lakota People. If you are interested in exploring the cultural significance and indigenous heritage of the Badlands, plan to stop by the White River Visitor Center.
When to visit Badlands National Park
The best time to see most Badlands National Park animals is during the summer months. Most animals are active and can be seen out in the open. Spring and fall are also good times to visit (with fewer crowds), although you may have to contend with inclement weather.
Badlands National Park is open year-round, 24 hours a day. However, some trails and roads may be closed due to weather conditions. Be sure to check the park’s website for updates before your visit.
Custer State Park (near Rapid City, South Dakota)
If you’re hoping to see more of South Dakota’s larger residents, such as bison or mountain lions, your best bet is to head over to Custer State Park. This massive state park is home to a large population of bison, as well as many other North American wildlife species.
We spent over two hours following a huge herd of bison as they crossed the road and moved along. The bulls were enormous, taller than most vehicles and stomping and snorting as they moved past.
Our favorites were the newborn calves. They are cinnamon colored for the first few days after birth, but then their fur darkens.
Custer State Park highlights
@dinkumtribe An interactive display at the Custer State Park shows people how to recognize warning signs that bidon give if you are too close. #familytravelblogger #familytravelcreator #familytraveltiktoker #familytravelvlog #familytravelinfluencer #travelwithkidstips #travelwithteens #travelwithfamily #custerstatepark #custerstateparksd #bisontok #bisonbisonbison #wildlifesafety #adhdfamilies #dinkumtribe #roadtripwithus #southdakotalife #southdakotatiktok #adhdfamilylife #adhdfamilytravel ♬ original sound – dinkumtribe
Be sure to stop by the Custer State Park Visitor Center for tips on where to see wildlife and to learn more about the park’s history and ecology.
The video presentation shows different parts of the park, as well as giving an idea of what the September Bison Round-up is like. We plan to return for the Round-up one day!
Our kids loved the exhibits at the Information Center, especially the climbing wall and the virtual bison “safe distance” demonstration. We were also able to talk with a docent about where the herds were most recently seen, and where we had the best chance of seeing other animals.
Free range burros
@dinkumtribe These burros are so used to people that they stuck their whole heads into our van looking for more carrots! 🥕🥕🥕😳😅@dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe #freerangeburros #wildburros #custerstateparkwildlifelooproad #custerstateparksd #burrostiktok #custerstatepark #donkeysoftiktok #wilddonkeys #cutedonkey #travelwithkids #southdakotaroadtrip ♬ Cena Engraçada e Inusitada – HarmonicoHCO
Although they are not technically “wildlife”, the free range burros that live in Custer State Park are as much fun as the other animals!
We found out that you can feed them carrots, so we brought a bag.
We should have brought more! The burros tried to climb into our vehicle to get more carrots from us, and devoured them all in minutes.
Our kids loved petting their soft fur, and several foals were resting in the shade. Great photo ops were everywhere!
@dinkumtribe Everything to know about the free range burros on Wildlife Loop Road in Custer State Park! @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe #freerangeburros #wildburros #custerstateparkwildlifelooproad #blackhillsofsouthdakota #custerstateparksd #burrostiktok #donkeysoftiktok #travelwithkids #southdakotaroadtrip #familyroadtrip ♬ Good Vibes (Instrumental) – Ellen Once Again
Other Nearby Wildlife Viewing Areas
Another nearby area in the National Park Service that can provide a good chance of seeing wildlife is Wind Cave National Park. The grass prairie above the Wind Cave is home to bison, pronghorn antelope and many other species. We heard this park recommended by several people for its wildlife viewing opportunities.
Mountain goats are most frequently seen in the nearby Black Hills area. We saw several mountain goats on the Iron Mountain Road near Mount Rushmore, mere feet from the highway!
Final thoughts
Although wildlife are abundant in the Badlands and Black Hills areas, they are still wild and roam freely. If seeing Badlands National Park animals is a high priority for your visit, plan to spend a few days in the area. Visiting multiple parks and sites will provide the best opportunities to see wildlife.
Happy Travels!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there bears in Badlands National Park?
There are no bears or grizzly bears in Badlands National Park. You may spot bears in the nearby Black Hills area of South Dakota.
Are there wolves in Badlands National Park?
There are no wolves in Badlands National Park. The Black Hills area of South Dakota has occasionally seen visiting wolves, but there are no resident wolves.
Are there mountain lions in Badlands National Park?
On occasion, mountain lions (also known as pumas or cougars) have been spotted inside Badlands National Park. However they are uncommon.
© Copyright Jennifer D. Warren 2022. Updated: March 4, 2025.
I’ve always wanted to visit the badlands, since the geography is stunning. I love that you made a post about all the wildlife you can find there as well.
We were really surprised and delighted by all the wild animals to see!
The wildlife is amazing and those Bison how huge are they. Even I have heard of the badlands it’s great to see all the wild life. I never knew there were several different rattlesnakes either 😂 thanks for my learning curve.
The rattlesnakes were a surprise to me too!
That’s a wonderful landscape view and Im glad its allowed to be near with the animals. Wish I could visit too.
I hope you get to visit one day! Badlands is really quite unique.
It’s really cool that you got to see all these wild animals in their habitat and not locked up somewhere in a zoo. I would love to see a bison up close, I find them truly majestic!
Majestic is exactly right. So powerful!
This post is very timely because we are planning on visiting the Badlands in June and now reading your post I can’t wait. We are also planning on going to Custer Park. Looking forward to seeing the vastness and all the animals.
You’re gonna LOVE it! We can’t wait to get back to South Dakota!
I had no idea there were so many different animals at Badlands National Park! My kids would love seeing the bison and burros up close.
Loved the burros! So soft and cute!
The Badlands have always been on my list but I never realized how much wildlife is there! The bison look fascinating. I cannot wait to see it all and plan my trip!
We were also surprised at the amount of wildlife in Badlands, and in other areas of South Dakota.
Observing animals in their natural habitat is so exciting compared to seeing how they struggle in zoos. I have never seen bisons in my life, so I’d definitely love to visit Badlands National Park.
It was an unforgettable experience – bison are AWESOME.
Love all these animals at Badlands National Park! The Badlands are so cool!
Yes they are.