Wildlife
What lives in Badlands
Last verified NPS species database
Every animal below comes from the National Park Service’s own species list for Badlands: 37 mammals, 206 birds, 6 reptiles, 5 amphibians and 15 fish recorded as present. Status words (present, unconfirmed, not in park) are the NPS’s, not ours.
Animals people ask about
Coyote
Canis latrans · Common
Mountain lion
Puma concolor · Rare
Bobcat
Lynx rufus · Uncommon
Bison
Bison bison · Common
Bighorn sheep
Ovis canadensis · Common
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana · Common
Rattlesnakes
Crotalus viridis · Common · any rattlesnake species
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus · Common
Golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos · Common
Elk
Cervus elaphus
By group
Species counts
Present or probably present per the NPS list. “Listed” includes species the NPS has evaluated but marks unconfirmed or not in park.
- Mammals
- 49
- 64 listed · 1 non-native
- Birds
- 209
- 239 listed · 4 non-native
- Reptiles
- 9
- 13 listed
- Amphibians
- 5
- 10 listed
- Fish
- 16
- 24 listed · 1 non-native
Endangered Species Act
1 threatened or endangered species
Federal listing status as recorded in the NPS species database.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern long-eared bat | Myotis septentrionalis | Uncommon | Endangered |
Mammals
All 49 mammals recorded in Badlands
Most abundant first, as the NPS rates them.
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Bison | Bison bison | Common | ||
| Arizona black-tailed prairie dog | Cynomys ludovicianus | Common | ||
| Bat | Myotis ciliolabrum | Common | ||
| Big Brown Bat | Eptesicus fuscus | Common | ||
| Bighorn Sheep | Ovis canadensis | Common | ||
| Coyote | Canis latrans | Common | ||
| Mouse | Peromyscus leucopus | Common | ||
| Mouse | Peromyscus maniculatus | Common | ||
| Mule Deer | Odocoileus hemionus | Common | ||
| Pronghorn | Antilocapra americana | Common | ||
| Raccoon | Procyon lotor | Common | ||
| White-tailed Deer | Odocoileus virginianus | Common |
Show the other 37 mammals ↓The other 37
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badger | Taxidea taxus | Uncommon | ||
| Bat | Myotis lucifugus | Uncommon | ||
| Bobcat | Lynx rufus | Uncommon | ||
| Ferret | Mustela nigripes | Uncommon | ||
| Hoary Bat | Lasiurus cinereus | Uncommon | ||
| Long-legged Myotis | Myotis volans | Uncommon | ||
| Mule-eared bat | Corynorhinus townsendii | Uncommon | ||
| Myotis thysanodes pahasapensis | Myotis thysanodes pahasapensis | Uncommon | ||
| Northern long-eared bat | Myotis septentrionalis | Uncommon | Endangered | |
| Prairie vole | Microtus ochrogaster | Uncommon | ||
| Red Fox | Vulpes vulpes | Uncommon | ||
| Striped Skunk | Mephitis mephitis | Uncommon | ||
| Swift Fox | Vulpes velox | Uncommon | ||
| Beaver | Castor canadensis | Occasional | ||
| Common Gray Fox | Urocyon cinereoargenteus | Occasional | ||
| Domestic Horse | Equus caballus | Occasional | Non-native | |
| Long-tailed Weasel | Mustela frenata | Occasional | ||
| Muskrat | Ondatra zibethicus | Occasional | ||
| Mountain Lion | Puma concolor | Rare | ||
| 13 Lined Ground Squirrel | Spermophilus tridecemlineatus | Probably Present | ||
| Bat | Lasionycteris noctivagans | |||
| Black-tailed Jack Rabbit | Lepus californicus | Probably Present | ||
| Chipmunk | Tamias minimus | |||
| Desert cottontail | Sylvilagus audubonii | |||
| Eastern Cottontail | Sylvilagus floridanus | Probably Present | ||
| Eastern Fox Squirrel | Sciurus niger | Probably Present | ||
| Meadow Vole | Microtus pennsylvanicus | Probably Present | ||
| Mouse | Mus musculus | Probably Present | Non-native | |
| Northern Pocket Gopher | Thomomys talpoides | Probably Present | ||
| Plains Harvest Mouse | Reithrodontomys montanus | Probably Present | ||
| Porcupine | Erethizon dorsatum | |||
| Spotted ground squirrel | Spermophilus spilosoma | Probably Present | ||
| Spotted Skunk | Spilogale putorius | Probably Present | ||
| Weasel | Mustela nivalis | |||
| Western Harvest Mouse | Reithrodontomys megalotis | Probably Present | ||
| White-tailed Jackrabbit | Lepus townsendii | Probably Present | ||
| Woodrat | Neotoma cinerea |
Birds
209 birds — show the list ↓
Birds
209 birds — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper's Hawk | Accipiter cooperii | ||
| Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | Accipiter striatus | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper | Actitis macularius | ||
| Western Grebe | Aechmophorus occidentalis | ||
| White-throated Swift | Aeronautes saxatalis | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird | Agelaius phoeniceus | ||
| Wood Duck | Aix sponsa | ||
| Grasshopper Sparrow | Ammodramus savannarum | ||
| Northern Pintail | Anas acuta | ||
| American Wigeon | Anas americana | ||
| Northern Shoveler | Anas clypeata | ||
| Green-winged Teal | Anas crecca | ||
| Cinnamon Teal | Anas cyanoptera | ||
| Blue-winged Teal | Anas discors | ||
| Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | ||
| Gadwall | Anas strepera | ||
| American Pipit | Anthus rubescens | Probably Present | |
| Sprague's Pipit | Anthus spragueii | ||
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | ||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Archilochus colubris | ||
| Great Blue Heron | Ardea herodias | ||
| Short-eared Owl | Asio flammeus | ||
| Long-eared Owl | Asio otus | ||
| Burrowing Owl | Athene cunicularia | ||
| Lesser Scaup | Aythya affinis | ||
| Redhead | Aythya americana | ||
| Ring-necked duck | Aythya collaris | ||
| Canvasback | Aythya valisineria | ||
| Upland Sandpiper | Bartramia longicauda | ||
| Cedar Waxwing | Bombycilla cedrorum | ||
| Bohemian Waxwing | Bombycilla garrulus | ||
| American Bittern | Botaurus lentiginosus | ||
| Canada Goose | Branta canadensis | ||
| Snowy Owl | Bubo scandiacus | ||
| Great Horned Owl | Bubo virginianus | ||
| Bufflehead | Bucephala albeola | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk | Buteo jamaicensis | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk | Buteo lagopus | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk | Buteo platypterus | ||
| Ferruginous Hawk | Buteo regalis | ||
| Swainson's Hawk | Buteo swainsoni | ||
| Lark Bunting | Calamospiza melanocorys | ||
| Northern Flicker | Calaptes auratus | ||
| Lapland Longspur | Calcarius lapponicus | ||
| Chestnut-collared Longspur | Calcarius ornatus | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper | Calidris bairdii | ||
| Stilt Sandpiper | Calidris himantopus | ||
| Least Sandpiper | Calidris minutilla | ||
| Semipalmated Sandpiper | Calidris pusilla | ||
| Common Redpoll | Carduelis flammea | ||
| Pine Siskin | Carduelis pinus | ||
| Lesser Goldfinch | Carduelis psaltria | ||
| American Goldfinch | Carduelis tristis | ||
| House Finch | Carpodacus mexicanus | ||
| Turkey Vulture | Cathartes aura | ||
| Hermit Thrush | Catharus guttatus | ||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush | Catharus minimus | Probably Present | |
| Swainson's Thrush | Catharus ustulatus | ||
| Canyon Wren | Catherpes mexicanus | ||
| Willet | Catoptrophorus semipalmatus | ||
| Brown Creeper | Certhia americana | ||
| Belted Kingfisher | Ceryle alcyon | ||
| Killdeer | Charadrius vociferus | ||
| Snow Goose | Chen caerulescens | ||
| Black Tern | Chlidonias niger | ||
| Lark Sparrow | Chondestes grammacus | ||
| Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | ||
| Northern Harrier | Circus cyaneus | ||
| Evening Grosbeak | Coccothraustes vespertinus | ||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus americanus | ||
| Black-billed Cuckoo | Coccyzus erythropthalmus | ||
| Common Flicker | Colaptes auratus | ||
| Rock Pigeon | Columba livia | Non-native | |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | Contopus cooperi | ||
| Western Wood Pewee | Contopus sordidulus | ||
| American Crow | Corvus brachyrhynchos | ||
| Blue Jay | Cyanocitta cristata | ||
| Trumpeter Swan | Cygnus buccinator | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | Dendroica coronata | ||
| Magnolia Warbler | Dendroica magnolia | ||
| Palm Warbler | Dendroica palmarum | ||
| Yellow Warbler | Dendroica petechia | ||
| Pine Warbler | Dendroica pinus | ||
| Blackpoll Warbler | Dendroica striata | ||
| Bobolink | Dolichonyx oryzivorus | ||
| Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | ||
| Least Flycatcher | Empidonax minimus | ||
| Willow Flycatcher | Empidonax traillii | ||
| Horned Lark | Eremophila alpestris | ||
| Rusty Blackbird | Euphagus carolinus | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird | Euphagus cyanocephalus | ||
| Merlin | Falco columbarius | ||
| Prairie Falcon | Falco mexicanus | ||
| Peregrine Falcon | Falco peregrinus | ||
| American Kestrel | Falco sparverius | ||
| American Coot | Fulica americana | ||
| Wilson's Snipe | Gallinago delicata | ||
| Common Yellowthroat | Geothlypis trichas | ||
| Sandhill Crane | Grus canadensis | ||
| Pinyon Jay | Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus | ||
| Bald Eagle | Haliaeetus leucocephalus | ||
| Barn Swallow | Hirundo rustica | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | Icteria virens | ||
| Bullock's Oriole | Icterus bullockii | ||
| Baltimore Oriole | Icterus galbula | ||
| Orchard Oriole | Icterus spurius | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco | Junco hyemalis | ||
| Northern Shrike | Lanius excubitor | ||
| Loggerhead Shrike | Lanius ludovicianus | ||
| Ring-billed Gull | Larus delawarensis | ||
| Franklin's Gull | Larus pipixcan | ||
| Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch | Leucosticte tephrocotis | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher | Limnodromus scolopaceus | ||
| Red Crossbill | Loxia curvirostra | ||
| Eastern Screech-Owl | Megascops asio | ||
| Red-headed Woodpecker | Melanerpes erythrocephalus | ||
| Lewis' Woodpecker | Melanerpes lewis | ||
| Turkey | Meleagris gallopavo | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow | Melospiza lincolnii | ||
| Song Sparrow | Melospiza melodia | ||
| Common Merganser | Mergus merganser | ||
| Northern Mockingbird | Mimus polyglottos | ||
| Black-and-white Warbler | Mniotilta varia | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird | Molothrus ater | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire | Myadestes townsendi | ||
| Great Crested Flycatcher | Myiarchus crinitus | ||
| Long-billed Curlew | Numenius americanus | ||
| Black-crowned Night Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | ||
| MacGillivray's Warbler | Oporornis tolmiei | ||
| Ruddy Duck | Oxyura jamaicensis | ||
| Northern Parula | Parula americana | ||
| House Sparrow | Passer domesticus | Non-native | |
| Savannah Sparrow | Passerculus sandwichensis | ||
| Fox Sparrow | Passerella iliaca | ||
| Lazuli Bunting | Passerina amoena | ||
| Blue Grosbeak | Passerina caerulea | ||
| Indigo Bunting | Passerina cyanea | ||
| American White Pelican | Pelecanus erythrorhynchos | ||
| Gray Partridge | Perdix perdix | ||
| Cliff swallow | Petrochelidon pyrrhonota | ||
| Double-crested Cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus | ||
| Common Poorwill | Phalaenoptilus nuttallii | ||
| Northern Phalarope | Phalaropus lobatus | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope | Phalaropus tricolor | ||
| Ring-necked Pheasant | Phasianus colchicus | Non-native | |
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | Pheucticus ludovicianus | ||
| Black-headed Grosbeak | Pheucticus melanocephalus | ||
| Black-billed Magpie | Pica hudsonia | ||
| Downy Woodpecker | Picoides pubescens | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker | Picoides villosus | ||
| Spotted towhee | Pipilo maculatus | ||
| Western Tanager | Piranga ludoviciana | ||
| Eared Grebe | Podiceps nigricollis | ||
| Pied-billed Grebe | Podilymbus podiceps | Probably Present | |
| Black-capped chickadee | Poecile atricapillus | ||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | Poliptila caerulea | ||
| Vesper Sparrow | Pooecetes gramineus | ||
| Sora | Porzana carolina | ||
| Common Grackle | Quiscalus quiscula | ||
| Virginia Rail | Rallus limicola | ||
| American Avocet | Recurvirostra americana | ||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Regulus calendula | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | Regulus satrapa | ||
| Bank Swallow | Riparia riparia | ||
| Rock Wren | Salpinctes obsoletus | ||
| Eastern Phoebe | Sayornis phoebe | ||
| Say's Phoebe | Sayornis saya | ||
| Ovenbird | Seiurus aurocapilla | ||
| Northern Waterthrush | Seiurus noveboracensis | ||
| American Redstart | Setophaga ruticilla | ||
| Mountain Bluebird | Sialia currucoides | ||
| Eastern Bluebird | Sialia sialis | ||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta canadensis | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Sitta carolinensis | ||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Sphyrapicus varius | ||
| Dickcissal | Spiza americana | ||
| American Tree Sparrow | Spizella arborea | ||
| Brewer's Sparrow | Spizella breweri | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow | Spizella pallida | ||
| Chipping Sparrow | Spizella passerina | ||
| Field Sparrow | Spizella pusilla | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | Stelgidopteryx serripennis | ||
| Forster's Tern | Sterna forsteri | ||
| Western Meadowlark | Sturnella neglecta | ||
| European Starling | Sturnus vulgaris | Non-native | |
| Tree Swallow | Tachycineta bicolor | ||
| Violet-green Swallow | Tachycineta thalassina | ||
| Brown Thrasher | Toxostoma rufum | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs | Tringa flavipes | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs | Tringa melanoleuca | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper | Tringa solitaria | ||
| House Wren | Troglodytes aedon | ||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper | Tryngites subruficollis | ||
| American Robin | Turdus migratorius | ||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse | Tympanuchus phasianellus | ||
| Eastern Kingbird | Tyrannus tyrannus | ||
| Western Kingbird | Tyrannus verticalis | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler | Vermivora celata | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler | Vermivora chrysoptera | ||
| Tennessee Warbler | Vermivora peregrina | ||
| Bell's Vireo | Vireo bellii | ||
| Warbling Vireo | Vireo gilvus | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo | Vireo olivaceus | ||
| Wilson's Warbler | Wilsonia pusilla | ||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird | Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus | ||
| Mourning Dove | Zenaida macroura | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow | Zonotrichia leucophrys | ||
| Harris' Sparrow | Zonotrichia querula |
Reptiles
9 reptiles — show the list ↓
Reptiles
9 reptiles — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common snapping turtle | Chelydra serpentina | Probably Present | ||
| Eastern Painted Turtle | Chrysemys picta | Common | ||
| Eastern Racer | Coluber constrictor | Common | ||
| Prairie Rattlesnake | Crotalus viridis | Common | ||
| Western Plains Hognose Snake | Heterodon nasicus | Rare | ||
| Eastern Milk Snake | Lampropeltis triangulum | Probably Present | ||
| Bullsnake | Pituophis catenifer | Common | ||
| Eastern Fence Lizard | Sceloporus undulatus | Probably Present | ||
| Western plains garter snake | Thamnophis radix | Common |
Amphibians
5 amphibians — show the list ↓
Amphibians
5 amphibians — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiger Salamander | Ambystoma tigrinum | Common | ||
| Great Plains Toad | Bufo cognatus | Common | ||
| Woodhouse's toad | Bufo woodhousii | Common | ||
| Northern Leopard Frog | Rana pipiens | Common | ||
| Plains spadefoot | Spea bombifrons | Common |
Fish
16 fish — show the list ↓
Fish
16 fish — show the list ↓
| Species | Scientific name | Status in park | Abundance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | Ameiurus melas | |||
| River Carpsucker | Carpiodes carpio | |||
| Red shiner | Cyprinella lutrensis | |||
| Common carp | Cyprinus carpio | Non-native | ||
| Goldeye | Hiodon alosoides | |||
| Western silver minnow | Hybognathus argyritis | |||
| Plains Minnow | Hybognathus placitus | |||
| Channel catfish | Ictalurus punctatus | |||
| Sturgeon chub | Macrhybopsis gelida | |||
| Shorthead Redhorse | Moxostoma macrolepidotum | |||
| Sand shiner | Notropis stramineus | |||
| Stonecat | Noturus flavus | |||
| Fathead Minnow | Pimephales promelas | Probably Present | ||
| Flathead chub | Platygobio gracilis | |||
| Longnose dace | Rhinichthys cataractae | |||
| Sauger | Sander canadensis |
Where this comes from
NPSpecies is the National Park Service’s database of the species documented in each park. We show its vertebrate lists as published: a species is “present” when the park has confirmed it, “unconfirmed” when reports exist without verification, and “not in park” when the NPS has ruled it out (often tagged “historical” for animals that once lived there). Lists lag reality by months or years and seeing an animal is never guaranteed. Plants, insects and other invertebrates are not included here. Browse the full NPSpecies list for Badlands.
Sources · 2
- 1.NPSpecies — the National Park Service species database (IRMA), full and detail species lists — Badlands (BADL) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 2.Badlands National Park — Nature & wildlife (nps.gov) · National Park Service
FAQ
Badlands wildlife questions
- Are there bears in Badlands?
- The NPS species list for Badlands does not include black bear, so there is no record of them in the park.
- Are there wolves in Badlands?
- The NPS species list for Badlands does not include gray wolf, so there is no record of them in the park.
- Are there mountain lions in Badlands?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Badlands records mountain lion as present, listed as rare.
- Are there rattlesnakes in Badlands?
- Yes. The NPS species list for Badlands records rattlesnakes as present, listed as common.
- How many animal species live in Badlands?
- The NPS species database lists 37 mammal, 206 bird, 6 reptile, 5 amphibian and 15 fish species as present or probably present in Badlands, including 1 federally threatened or endangered species. Plants and invertebrates are not counted here.
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