Wind Cave National Park is best known for the cave beneath it, but above ground its prairie and ponderosa pine forest in the Black Hills support some of the most visible wildlife in the region. Protection began with the Wind Cave National Game Preserve in 1912, which brought bison, elk and pronghorn back to the area, and the park continued that work by reintroducing endangered black-footed ferrets in 2007. Several hundred bison now live here. Black-tailed prairie dogs are the park’s most common rodent, and their towns feed and shelter many other animals, from American badgers to burrowing owls, which raise their chicks in old prairie dog burrows. Mule deer are often seen around the visitor center, white-tailed deer live here as well, and coyotes are the predator visitors spot most. Elk are harder to find, and bobcats and mountain lions are rarely seen. The park’s mouse-sized bats roost in trees and under rocky overhangs.
Because the Black Hills sit near the middle of the continent, Wind Cave’s birds are a mix of eastern and western species. Eastern bluebirds and red-headed woodpeckers share the park with black-billed magpies, golden eagles and mountain bluebirds, and many male northern flickers here show the black mustache stripe of eastern birds with the reddish wing and tail feathers of western birds. Western meadowlarks sing across the prairie in summer, and wild turkeys and sharp-tailed grouse wander the grasslands. Black-backed woodpeckers, birds mostly of Canada, have a small isolated population in the Black Hills. With no permanent lakes, amphibians depend on seasonal ponds filled by snowmelt and spring rain, and toads are often seen crossing park roads on spring nights. Bullsnakes, the largest snakes in South Dakota, sometimes imitate rattlesnakes, but the prairie rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in the park. Keep reading to see featured photos of Wind Cave’s wildlife and to learn more about wildlife photography.
Featured Wind Cave National Park Wildlife Photographs
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Wildlife Photography Tips
Wildlife photography in the US National Parks offers a unique and enriching experience, as these protected areas are havens for diverse species and pristine natural landscapes. Capturing wildlife in such settings requires preparation and respect for both the environment and its inhabitants. Photographers should familiarize themselves with the specific animals and ecosystems of the park they are visiting, as each park hosts different species and behaviors. Early mornings and late afternoons, known as the golden hours, provide the best light and increased wildlife activity. Different seasons also offer different wildlife viewing opportunities. Patience and stillness are key, as the best moments often come to those who wait quietly.
If wildlife does present itself, always make sure to maintain a safe distance. Using a telephoto lens allows for close-up shots without intruding on the animals’ space. If you already own or want to own a professional grade mirrored camera like the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR, we recommend using a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens zoom lens for wildlife photography. If you have or are interested in a newer mirrorless model like the Canon EOS R5 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera, we recommend using a Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM Black for long distance shots.
Not quite ready to invest in traditional professional-grade camera equipment but want to enhance the quality of your cell phone photographs? Consider using a Moment Tele 58mm Mobile Lens II for improved reach, and use a Moment camera case with a lens mount to attach it to your phone. Since cell phones generally cannot provide the same reach as a dedicated telephoto camera lens, never compensate by moving dangerously close to wildlife. As with any visit to a national park, it’s important to follow park regulations, practice “Leave No Trace” principles, and prioritize safety while photographing wildlife.
Want to take your wildlife photos further? Featured photographer Vella Torvik shares her field-tested advice on gear, camera settings, light, composition and safely approaching wildlife in our Wildlife Photography 101: Insider Tips From the Field masterclass.
Wind Cave Wildlife Education and Resources
Want to learn more about Wind Cave National Park and the wildlife that inhabits it? Check out these guides & books:
- Peterson Field Guide To Mammals Of North America: Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide To Birds Of Western North America, Fifth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song
- Peterson Field Guide To Western Reptiles & Amphibians, Fourth Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Peterson Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Second Edition (Peterson Field Guides)
- Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar North American Species (Wildlife and Nature Identification)
Please note, by making purchases through our affiliate links, you are supporting our mission to celebrate and showcase our National Parks and the photographers who frequent them. As an Amazon Associate, National Park Photographer earns from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. We appreciate your support.
Wind Cave National Park Species List
The wildlife at Wind Cave National Park is beautiful and diverse. There are a variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish to view. Check out all the incredible species this park has to offer! Click on the links below to see the different animal species that inhabit Wind Cave National Park:
Species Spotlight
Photo posts of animals you’ll find in Wind Cave.
ElkMammal · Abundant
American RobinBird · Abundant
American BisonMammal · Common
CoyoteMammal · Common
Mule DeerMammal · Common
White-tailed DeerMammal · Common
Bald EagleBird · Common
BobcatMammal · Uncommon
PronghornMammal · Uncommon
Sandhill CraneBird · Uncommon
American BadgerMammal · Occasional
Bighorn SheepMammal · OccasionalWind Cave National Park Mammals
54 species
- American Badger Photo post(Taxidea taxus)
- American Beaver(Castor canadensis)
- American Bison Photo post(Bos bison)
- American Mink(Mustela vison)
- Big Brown Bat(Eptesicus fuscus)
- Bighorn Sheep Photo post(Ovis canadensis)
- Black-footed Ferret(Mustela nigripes)
- Black-tailed Prairie Dog(Cynomys ludovicianus)
- Bobcat Photo post(Lynx rufus)
- Bushy-tailed Woodrat(Neotoma cinerea)
- Coyote Photo post(Canis latrans)
- Deer Mouse(Peromyscus maniculatus)
- Desert Cottontail(Sylvilagus audubonii)
- Eastern Cottontail(Sylvilagus floridanus)
- Eastern Red Bat(Lasiurus borealis)
- Elk Photo post(Cervus elaphus)
- Ermine(Mustela erminea)
- Fox Squirrel(Sciurus niger)
- Fringed Myotis(Myotis thysanodes)
- Hayden’s Shrew(Sorex haydeni)
- Hispid Pocket Mouse(Chaetodipus hispidus)
- Hoary Bat(Lasiurus cinereus)
- House Mouse(Mus musculus)
- Least Chipmunk(Tamias minimus)
- Least Shrew(Cryptotis parva)
- Little Brown Myotis(Myotis lucifugus)
- Long-legged Myotis(Myotis volans)
- Long-tailed Weasel(Mustela frenata)
- Meadow Jumping Mouse(Zapus hudsonius)
- Meadow Vole(Microtus pennsylvanicus)
- Mountain Cottontail(Sylvilagus nuttallii)
- Mountain Lion Photo post(Puma concolor)
- Mule Deer Photo post(Odocoileus hemionus)
- Muskrat(Ondatra zibethicus)
- Northern Flying Squirrel(Glaucomys sabrinus)
- Northern Long-eared Bat(Myotis septentrionalis)
- Northern Pocket Gopher(Thomomys talpoides)
- Olive-backed Pocket Mouse(Perognathus fasciatus)
- Prairie Vole(Microtus ochrogaster)
- Pronghorn Photo post(Antilocapra americana)
- Raccoon(Procyon lotor)
- Red Fox Photo post(Vulpes vulpes)
- Red Squirrel(Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
- Silver-haired Bat(Lasionycteris noctivagans)
- Southern Red-backed Vole(Clethrionomys gapperi)
- Striped Skunk(Mephitis mephitis)
- Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel(Spermophilus tridecemlineatus)
- Townsend’s Big-eared Bat(Corynorhinus townsendii)
- Western Harvest Mouse(Reithrodontomys megalotis)
- Western Small-footed Myotis(Myotis ciliolabrum)
- White-footed Mouse(Peromyscus leucopus)
- White-tailed Deer Photo post(Odocoileus virginianus)
- White-tailed Jackrabbit(Lepus townsendii)
- Yellow-bellied Marmot(Marmota flaviventris)
No mammals match.
Wind Cave National Park Birds
217 species
- Alder Flycatcher(Empidonax alnorum)
- American Avocet(Recurvirostra americana)
- American Bittern(Botaurus lentiginosus)
- American Coot(Fulica americana)
- American Crow(Corvus brachyrhynchos)
- American Goldfinch(Carduelis tristis)
- American Kestrel(Falco sparverius)
- American Pipit(Anthus rubescens)
- American Redstart(Setophaga ruticilla)
- American Robin Photo post(Turdus migratorius)
- American Tree Sparrow(Spizella arborea)
- American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
- American Wigeon(Anas americana)
- Baird’s Sparrow(Ammodramus bairdii)
- Bald Eagle Photo post(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Baltimore Oriole(Icterus galbula)
- Bank Swallow(Riparia riparia)
- Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica)
- Bell’s Vireo(Vireo bellii)
- Belted Kingfisher(Ceryle alcyon)
- Black Tern(Chlidonias niger)
- Black-and-white Warbler(Mniotilta varia)
- Black-backed Woodpecker(Picoides arcticus)
- Black-billed Cuckoo(Coccyzus erythropthalmus)
- Black-billed Magpie(Pica hudsonia)
- Black-capped Chickadee(Poecile atricapillus)
- Black-headed Grosbeak(Pheucticus melanocephalus)
- Black-throated Blue Warbler(Dendroica caerulescens)
- Blackpoll Warbler(Dendroica striata)
- Blue Grosbeak(Passerina caerulea)
- Blue Jay(Cyanocitta cristata)
- Blue-winged Teal(Anas discors)
- Bobolink(Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
- Bohemian Waxwing(Bombycilla garrulus)
- Bonaparte’s Gull(Larus philadelphia)
- Brewer’s Blackbird(Euphagus cyanocephalus)
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird(Selasphorus platycercus)
- Brown Creeper(Certhia americana)
- Brown Thrasher(Toxostoma rufum)
- Brown-headed Cowbird(Molothrus ater)
- Bufflehead(Bucephala albeola)
- Bullock’s Oriole(Icterus bullockii)
- Burrowing Owl(Athene cunicularia)
- Canada Goose(Branta canadensis)
- Canada Jay(Perisoreus canadensis)
- Canyon Wren(Catherpes mexicanus)
- Cassin’s Finch(Carpodacus cassinii)
- Cassin’s Kingbird(Tyrannus vociferans)
- Cattle Egret(Bubulcus ibis)
- Cedar Waxwing(Bombycilla cedrorum)
- Chestnut-collared Longspur(Calcarius ornatus)
- Chestnut-sided Warbler(Dendroica pensylvanica)
- Chipping Sparrow(Spizella passerina)
- Cinnamon Teal(Anas cyanoptera)
- Clark’s Nutcracker(Nucifraga columbiana)
- Clay-colored Sparrow(Spizella pallida)
- Cliff Swallow(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
- Common Grackle(Quiscalus quiscula)
- Common Nighthawk(Chordeiles minor)
- Common Poorwill(Phalaenoptilus nuttallii)
- Common Redpoll(Carduelis flammea)
- Common Yellowthroat(Geothlypis trichas)
- Cooper’s Hawk(Accipiter cooperii)
- Cordilleran Flycatcher(Empidonax occidentalis)
- Dark-eyed Junco(Junco hyemalis)
- Dickcissel(Spiza americana)
- Double-crested Cormorant(Phalacrocorax auritus)
- Downy Woodpecker(Picoides pubescens)
- Dusky Flycatcher(Empidonax oberholseri)
- Eared Grebe(Podiceps nigricollis)
- Eastern Bluebird(Sialia sialis)
- Eastern Kingbird(Tyrannus tyrannus)
- Eastern Meadowlark(Sturnella magna)
- Eastern Phoebe(Sayornis phoebe)
- Eastern Screech-Owl(Megascops asio)
- European Starling(Sturnus vulgaris)
- Evening Grosbeak(Coccothraustes vespertinus)
- Ferruginous Hawk(Buteo regalis)
- Field Sparrow(Spizella pusilla)
- Franklin’s Gull(Larus pipixcan)
- Gadwall(Anas strepera)
- Golden Eagle(Aquila chrysaetos)
- Golden-crowned Kinglet(Regulus satrapa)
- Grasshopper Sparrow(Ammodramus savannarum)
- Gray Catbird(Dumetella carolinensis)
- Gray Partridge(Perdix perdix)
- Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch(Leucosticte tephrocotis)
- Great Blue Heron(Ardea herodias)
- Great Crested Flycatcher(Myiarchus crinitus)
- Great Horned Owl(Bubo virginianus)
- Greater Yellowlegs(Tringa melanoleuca)
- Green-winged Teal(Anas crecca)
- Hairy Woodpecker(Picoides villosus)
- Harris’s Sparrow(Zonotrichia querula)
- Horned Lark(Eremophila alpestris)
- House Finch(Carpodacus mexicanus)
- House Sparrow(Passer domesticus)
- House Wren(Troglodytes aedon)
- Indigo Bunting(Passerina cyanea)
- Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus)
- Lapland Longspur(Calcarius lapponicus)
- Lark Bunting(Calamospiza melanocorys)
- Lark Sparrow(Chondestes grammacus)
- Lazuli Bunting(Passerina amoena)
- Least Flycatcher(Empidonax minimus)
- Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis)
- Lesser Yellowlegs(Tringa flavipes)
- Lewis’s Woodpecker(Melanerpes lewis)
- Lincoln’s Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii)
- Loggerhead Shrike(Lanius ludovicianus)
- Long-billed Curlew(Numenius americanus)
- Long-billed Dowitcher(Limnodromus scolopaceus)
- Long-eared Owl(Asio otus)
- MacGillivray’s Warbler(Oporornis tolmiei)
- Mallard(Anas platyrhynchos)
- Marbled Godwit(Limosa fedoa)
- Merlin(Falco columbarius)
- Mountain Bluebird(Sialia currucoides)
- Mourning Dove(Zenaida macroura)
- Northern Bobwhite(Colinus virginianus)
- Northern Flicker(Colaptes auratus)
- Northern Goshawk(Accipiter gentilis)
- Northern Harrier(Circus cyaneus)
- Northern Mockingbird(Mimus polyglottos)
- Northern Parula(Setophaga americana)
- Northern Pintail(Anas acuta)
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow(Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
- Northern Saw-whet Owl(Aegolius acadicus)
- Northern Shoveler(Anas clypeata)
- Northern Shrike(Lanius excubitor)
- Northern Waterthrush(Seiurus noveboracensis)
- Olive-sided Flycatcher(Contopus cooperi)
- Orange-crowned Warbler(Vermivora celata)
- Orchard Oriole(Icterus spurius)
- Osprey(Pandion haliaetus)
- Ovenbird(Seiurus aurocapilla)
- Palm Warbler(Dendroica palmarum)
- Peregrine Falcon(Falco peregrinus)
- Pied-billed Grebe(Podilymbus podiceps)
- Pine Siskin(Carduelis pinus)
- Pinyon Jay(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
- Plumbeous Vireo(Vireo plumbeus)
- Prairie Falcon(Falco mexicanus)
- Prairie Warbler(Dendroica discolor)
- Purple Finch(Carpodacus purpureus)
- Pygmy Nuthatch(Sitta pygmaea)
- Red Crossbill(Loxia curvirostra)
- Red-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta canadensis)
- Red-eyed Vireo(Vireo olivaceus)
- Red-headed Woodpecker(Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
- Red-naped Sapsucker(Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
- Red-necked Grebe(Podiceps grisegena)
- Red-necked Phalarope(Phalaropus lobatus)
- Red-tailed Hawk(Buteo jamaicensis)
- Red-winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus)
- Redhead(Aythya americana)
- Ring-billed Gull(Larus delawarensis)
- Ring-necked Duck(Aythya collaris)
- Ring-necked Pheasant(Phasianus colchicus)
- Rock Pigeon(Columba livia)
- Rock Wren(Salpinctes obsoletus)
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak(Pheucticus ludovicianus)
- Ross’s Goose(Chen rossii)
- Rough-legged Hawk(Buteo lagopus)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet(Regulus calendula)
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird(Archilochus colubris)
- Rufous Hummingbird(Selasphorus rufus)
- Sage Thrasher(Oreoscoptes montanus)
- Sandhill Crane Photo post(Grus canadensis)
- Savannah Sparrow(Passerculus sandwichensis)
- Say’s Phoebe(Sayornis saya)
- Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk(Accipiter striatus)
- Sharp-tailed Grouse(Tympanuchus phasianellus)
- Short-eared Owl(Asio flammeus)
- Snow Bunting(Plectrophenax nivalis)
- Snow Goose(Chen caerulescens)
- Snowy Owl(Bubo scandiacus)
- Solitary Sandpiper(Tringa solitaria)
- Song Sparrow(Melospiza melodia)
- Sora(Porzana carolina)
- Spotted Sandpiper(Actitis macularius)
- Spotted Towhee(Pipilo maculatus)
- Swainson’s Hawk(Buteo swainsoni)
- Swainson’s Thrush(Catharus ustulatus)
- Tennessee Warbler(Vermivora peregrina)
- Thick-billed Longspur(Calcarius mccownii)
- Townsend’s Solitaire(Myadestes townsendi)
- Tree Swallow(Tachycineta bicolor)
- Trumpeter Swan(Cygnus buccinator)
- Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura)
- Upland Sandpiper(Bartramia longicauda)
- Veery(Catharus fuscescens)
- Vesper Sparrow(Pooecetes gramineus)
- Violet-green Swallow(Tachycineta thalassina)
- Warbling Vireo(Vireo gilvus)
- Western Grebe(Aechmophorus occidentalis)
- Western Kingbird(Tyrannus verticalis)
- Western Meadowlark(Sturnella neglecta)
- Western Tanager(Piranga ludoviciana)
- Western Wood-Pewee(Contopus sordidulus)
- White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis)
- White-crowned Sparrow(Zonotrichia leucophrys)
- White-throated Sparrow(Zonotrichia albicollis)
- White-throated Swift(Aeronautes saxatalis)
- Wild Turkey(Meleagris gallopavo)
- Willet(Catoptrophorus semipalmatus)
- Willow Flycatcher(Empidonax traillii)
- Wilson’s Phalarope(Phalaropus tricolor)
- Wilson’s Snipe(Gallinago delicata)
- Wilson’s Warbler(Wilsonia pusilla)
- Winter Wren(Troglodytes troglodytes)
- Wood Duck(Aix sponsa)
- Yellow Warbler(Dendroica petechia)
- Yellow-breasted Chat(Icteria virens)
- Yellow-headed Blackbird(Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
- Yellow-rumped Warbler(Dendroica coronata)
No birds match.
Wind Cave National Park Reptiles
11 species
- Bullsnake(Pituophis catenifer)
- Common Garter Snake(Thamnophis sirtalis)
- Common Snapping Turtle(Chelydra serpentina)
- Milksnake(Lampropeltis triangulum)
- North American Racer(Coluber constrictor)
- Painted Turtle(Chrysemys picta)
- Plains Garter Snake(Thamnophis radix)
- Plains Hognose Snake(Heterodon nasicus)
- Prairie Rattlesnake(Crotalus viridis)
- Smooth Greensnake(Liochlorophis vernalis)
- Terrestrial Garter Snake(Thamnophis elegans)
No reptiles match.
Wind Cave National Park Amphibians
6 species
- Boreal Chorus Frog(Pseudacris maculata)
- Great Plains Toad(Bufo cognatus)
- Northern Leopard Frog(Rana pipiens)
- Plains Spadefoot(Spea bombifrons)
- Tiger Salamander(Ambystoma tigrinum)
- Woodhouse’s Toad(Bufo woodhousii)
No amphibians match.
Wind Cave National Park Fish
8 species
- Black Bullhead(Ameiurus melas)
- Brook Stickleback(Culaea inconstans)
- Brook Trout(Salvelinus fontinalis)
- Creek Chub(Semotilus atromaculatus)
- Fathead Minnow(Pimephales promelas)
- Longnose Dace(Rhinichthys cataractae)
- Mountain Sucker(Catostomus platyrhynchus)
- White Sucker(Catostomus commersonii)
No fish match.
Note: The wildlife species included in the lists above have been confirmed with the National Park Service to be present in Wind Cave National Park. Other species may exist in the park that are currently under review or not yet known.
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