Located in the North Central United States, South Dakota features rich grasslands and prairie habitats as part of the Great Plains region. The Black Hills mark the southwestern side of the state, where the famous Mount Rushmore is located.
Hundreds of amazing animals are native to the state, thanks to the different types of habitats it offers. Wildlife-watching spots like the Badlands National Park, Black Hills National Forest, and Custer State Park attract animal enthusiasts from summer to fall every year.
List of Different Types of Animals Found in South Dakota
Mammals
Elk
White-tailed Deer
Mule Deer
Pronghorn
Bison
Bighorn Sheep
Cougar
American Black Bear
Red Fox
Gray Fox
Swift Fox
Coyote
Bobcat
American Badger
Virginia Opossum
Raccoon
Long-tailed Weasel
Mink
North American River Otter
Striped Skunk
Spotted Skunk
Woodchuck
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Plains Pocket Gopher
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
Eastern Chipmunk
Fox Squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Northern Flying Squirrel
Muskrat
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Eastern Cottontail
Mountain Cottontail
Black-footed Ferret
Southern Red-backed Vole
Plains Pocket Mouse
Meadow Jumping Mouse
Silver-haired Bat
Hoary Bat
Red Bat
Big Brown Bat
The state used to be home to grizzly bear and gray wolf, but their populations have been extirpated. The American bison and black-footed ferrets have been reintroduced to the state, and have steady populations now.
Birds
Northern Cardinal
Ring-Neck Pheasant
Mourning Dove
American Robin
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Purple Finch
Canada Goose
Greater Prairie Chicken
Prairie Grouse
Northern Harrier
Reptiles
Common Snapping Turtle
Painted Turtle
Ornate Box Turtle
Common Sagebrush Lizard
Prairie Skink
Six-lined Racerunner
Prairie Rattlesnake
Ring-necked Snake
Plains Hog-nosed Snake
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Milksnake
Common Watersnake
Lined Snake
Smooth Green Snake
North American Racer
Western Foxsnake
Dekay’s Brownsnake
Plains Gartersnake
Common Gartersnake
Terrestrial Gartersnake
Gopher Snake
Red-bellied Snake
Amphibians
Boreal Chorus Frog
Northern Leopard Frog
Wood Frog
Great Plains Toad
Western Tiger Salamander
Eastern Tiger Salamander
Mudpuppy
Fishes
Northern Pike
Walleye
Yellow Perch
Smallmouth Bass
Largemouth Bass
Bluegill
Crappie
Channel Catfish
Flathead Catfish
Carp
Freshwater Drum
Sauger
White Bass
Rock Bass
Pumpkinseed
Longnose Gar
Bowfin
Shovelnose Sturgeon
Goldeye
Lake Sturgeon
Mooneye
Brook Trout
Rainbow Trout
Brown Trout
Black Bullhead
Yellow Bullhead
Black Crappie
Redhorse Sucker
Silver Carp
Bigmouth Buffalo
Insects And Invertebrates
Western Honey Bee
Cabbage White Butterfly
Common House Fly
Convergent Lady Beetle
American Burying Beetle
Mosquitoes
Northern Paper Wasp
Boxelder Bug
Colorado Potato Beetle
Western Black Widow
Brown Recluse
Common House SpiderÂ
Barn Funnel Weaver
State Animals of South Dakota
State Animal
Coyote
State Bird
Ring-necked Pheasant
State Fish
Walleye
State Insect
Western Honey Bee
FAQ
What are the most dangerous animals in South Dakota?
The deadliest animals in South Dakota include large carnivores like black bears and cougars, while the venomous prairie rattlesnakes, black widows, and brown recluses are no less dangerous. White-tailed deer, bison, and elk can also become aggressive if provoked.
Are there any endangered animals in South Dakota?
Northern long-eared bat, piping plover, red knot, whooping crane, and American burying beetle are the most notable species considered endangered in the state.
